Lesson 5

A Virtual Tour of Cival War Battlefields

Lesson 5: Surrender at Appomattox

Grade Level: 9 - 12

Subjects: Driver Education, English/Language Arts, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:

students will develope an appreciation for the importance of the Battle of Appomattox as the final conflict in the U.S. Civil War
students will be able to identify the geographic influences affecting why the battle took place where it did (ie., what was Lee trying to do; what was Grant trying to do?)
students will be able to explain why the war finally ended after Appamattox

Duration of Lesson: One 90 minute class period

Materials:

Technology Tools/Courseware: Internet access, MS Word, , television and VCR

Teacher Notes:

Students will be utilizing the Computer Lab to conduct internet research for at least 50 minutes. All applicable rules and provisions for use of the lab will be observed.

Students may utilize outside resources as desired

Procedures:

The teacher will show the short film, A Stillness at Appommattox

Students will then choose to be either a soldier from the Confederacy or the Union (their choice) and using MS Word, they will write a long letter home describing their feelings now that the war is over. They may express thoughts of elation that they have made it through, saddness that their cause has been lost, anger - determination to carry on the fight, or just sheer joy at the idea of returning home to loved ones. The paper will be due at the end of the period.

Modifications: Students can work in small groups allowing each student to do a task at their level of comfort/ competence. The teacher may read directions and demonstrate with a projection device.

Enrichment Activities: Have Mr. Given dress in his Civil War Confederate uniform which he wears to battle reenactments and come in and talk with the students.

Evaluation/Assessment: Review each student's letter home.
                                                Rubric:        4 - complete, grammatically correct, shows understanding of concept
                                                                   3 - complete, very few grammatical errors, show understanding
                                                                   2 - incomplete, several errors, some understanding
                                                                   1 - participated, many errors, little understanding
                                                                   0 - did not participate

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives's

Language Arts: 9.3, 9.25, 9.34, 9.39, 9.59, 9.77, 9.90, 9.92, 9.95, 10...
Social Studies: 9.30, 9.31, 9.39, 9.51, 9.52, 9.53, 9.54, 10.25, 10.60
Driver Education: DE1, DE5, DE33, DE35, DE38, DE39, DE43

National Standards

Language Arts
1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process
4. Gathers and uses information for research purposes
7. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts
9. Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media
10. Understands the characteristics and components of the media
Social Studies
1. Understands and knows how to analyze chronological relationships and patterns
2. Understands the historical perspective
14. Understands the course and character of the Civil War and its effects on the American people
Geography
2. Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment
17. Understands how geography is used to interpret the past
Technology
1. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems
2. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs
6. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

Job/Career Clusters

Health, Human Services, Business/Marketing, Engineering/Technical

References:

Downey, M., Giese, J., & Metcalf, F. (1996). United States History: In the Course of Human Events. New York: NTC Publishing Group

video film A Stillness at Appommattox

Authors: Gary King Jill James Bill Powers

Braxton County High, 200 Jerry Burton Drive, Sutton, WV 26601


Unit Overview	Lesson 1	Lesson 2	Lesson 3	Lesson 4	Lesson 5