Life in the Civil War

AHTC 2009 Summer Institute-Reform, Reformers and Reformatories

By Staci Ward

Lesson 1: Caught in Enemy Territory

To download this lesson in PDF format, click here.

Goal:   Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to reflect and discuss the similarities and differences in the lives of different types of people who lived during the Civil War. 

Essential Questions:

· What were some of the consequences of the war?

Materials: notebooks or journals for each student, Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco, pencils

Procedure:

1. Have students create a Civil War journal by combining several pieces of notebook paper and attaching a construction paper cover (if you choose) for use throughout the next few days. 

2. Lead a general discussion about what students believe happen to families during a war. (ex: family members go away to fight in the war, others stay home and take care of the house and other family members, some have to get jobs, some people die, etc.)

3. Have students write their ideas in their journals after the discussion.

4. Next, introduce the book, Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco.  It is a Civil War story passed down from the author’s grandparents.  It is about two young Union soldiers who get caught in Confederate territory.

5. Read aloud and discuss the story but do not read the last three pages of text, this will be read the next day.  Ask the students to think about what happened to the families in the story and what happened to Pink and Say, were the consequences the same when they were caught?

6. After students have had the opportunity to discuss the their thoughts about the men and story, point out that they were sent to Andersonville, a prison camp for Union soldiers in Georgia.

7. Tell students that we will be learning more about what life might have been like for people who lived during the civil war and specifically about prisoners of war in places like Andersonville.

Assessment:

Students should be observed for participation throughout discussion and journal entries can be reviewed for their completion.

Resources:

Polacco, P.  Pink and Say. Philomel Books ,1994 New York, NY 10014.