Book List: Civil War Era

Book List: Civil War Era

Greetings Fellow Homeschoolers!  Throughout the summer, in response to numerous requests, I will be posting book lists that correspond with each unit study on this U READ Thru History blog.   Following is a list of titles (organized by grade level) that will be used for the Year 4 unit study on the Civil War Era (see the tab at the top of this blog).  If your library does not carry these books, you may be able to obtain them through interlibrary loan.  Of course, all of these titles can also be purchased on Amazon.com or abebooks.com.

May God continue to bless your homeschool adventure!

– Gwen

Grades K – 3:

1. A Picture Book of Sam Houston by David Adler
2. Gold Fever by Catherine McMorrow
3. View Harriet Tubman (Nest Animated Hero Classics) OR Read: A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David Adler
   
4. The Drinking Gourd by F.N. Monjo
5. View Abraham Lincoln by Nest Animated Hero Classics OR Read: A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by David Adler OR Abe’s Honest Words by Doreen Rappaport OR Abraham Lincoln by Pamela Hill Nettleton
6. A Picture Book of Frederick Douglass by David Adler OR Frederick Douglass by Suzanne Slade
7. Samuel F. B. Morse by Jean Lee Latham
8. Runaway Balloon by Burke Davis
9. The Monitor by Gare Thompson
10. Juneteenth by Vaunda Nelson & Drew Nelson
11. If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War (Read only pgs 20 – 37; & 50 – 58) by Kay Moore
12. Just A Few Words Mr. Lincoln by Jean Fritz
13. Clara Barton: Spirit of the American Red Cross by Patricia Lakin
14. The Code of the Drum by L.L. Owens
15. Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (read also “Author’s Note” on the last page) by Eleanor Coerr
16. A Picture Book of Sitting Bull by David Adler

Grade 4:

1. A Picture Book of Sam Houston by David Adler
2. Gold Fever by Catherine McMorrow
3. Go Free Or Die by Jeri Ferris
4. Meet Addy by Connie Porter (Please also read “A Peek Into the Past” at the end of the book)
5. Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary
6. Frederick Douglass by Catherine Welch
7. Samuel F. B. Morse by Jean Lee Latham
8. Runaway Balloon by Burke Davis
9. The Monitor by Gare Thompson
10. Juneteenth by Vaunda Nelson & Drew Nelson
11. If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War (whole book) by Kay Moore
12. Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C.M. Butzer
13. Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne AND Clara Barton’s biography from this site: http://www.ducksters.com/biography/women_leaders/clara_barton.php
14. The Code of the Drum by L.L. Owens
15. Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (read also “Author’s Note” on the last page) by Eleanor Coerr
16. Sitting Bull by Susan Aller

Grade 5:

1. The Mexican War by Carrie Nichols Cantor
2. Gold Fever by Catherine McMorrow
3. Go Free Or Die by Jeri Ferris
4. Meet Addy by Connie Porter (Please also read “A Peek Into the Past” at the end of the book)
5. Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary
6. Frederick Douglass by Catherine Welch
7. Read Samuel F. B. Morse by Jean Lee Latham AND View this Youtube video about the telegraph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0hSZ9R_Xk
   AND Read this article on “Early American Railroads” by clicking on this link: http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp
8. Runaway Balloon by Burke Davis
9. The Monitor by Gare Thompson
10. The Emancipation Proclamation by Charles Carey
11. If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War (whole book) by Kay Moore
12. Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C.M. Butzer
13. Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne AND Clara Barton’s biography from this site: http://www.ducksters.com/biography/women_leaders/clara_barton.php
14. The Code of the Drum by L.L. Owens
15. Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (read also “Author’s Note” on the last page) by Eleanor Coerr
16. Sitting Bull by Susan Aller

Grade 6:

1. The Mexican War by Carrie Nichols Cantor
2. The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung (My Name is America Series) by Laurence Yep.  Be sure to read Epilogue and “Historical Note” at the end of the book.
3. Go Free Or Die by Jeri Ferris
4. Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Young Folks’ Edition ISBN 9781617205163) by Harriet Beecher Stowe
5. Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary
6. Frederick Douglass by Catherine Welch
7. Read Samuel F. B. Morse by Jean Lee Latham AND View this Youtube video about the telegraph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0hSZ9R_Xk
   AND Read this article on “Early American Railroads” by clicking on this link: http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp
8. Runaway Balloon by Burke Davis
9. The Monitor by Gare Thompson
10. The Emancipation Proclamation by Charles Carey
11. Growing Up in the Civil War by Duane Damon
12. A Three-Minute Speech by Jennifer Armstrong
13. Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne AND Clara Barton’s biography from this site: http://www.ducksters.com/biography/women_leaders/clara_barton.php
14. America: The Story of US video: (Civil War: Disk 2 Section 1) You may be able to see the video for free by clicking on this website:  http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/america-the-story-of-us-civil-war?m=5189717d404fa&s=All&f=1&free=false
15. Buffalo Bill Cody by Charles Shields
16. Sitting Bull by Susan Aller

Grades  7 – 8:

1. The Mexican War by Carrie Nichols Cantor
2. The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung (My Name is America Series) by Laurence Yep.  Be sure to read Epilogue and “Historical Note” at the end of the book.
3. Go Free Or Die by Jeri Ferris
4. Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Young Folks’ Edition ISBN 9781617205163) by Harriet Beecher Stowe
5. Don’t Know Much About Abraham Lincoln by Kenneth C. Davis
6. Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist and Author by Norma Jean Lutz OR Voice of Freedom by Maryann N. Weidt
7. View this Youtube video about Samuel Morse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGs57VQHt7M AND View this Youtube video about the telegraph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0hSZ9R_Xk AND Read this article on “Early American Railroads” by clicking on this link: http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp AND Read Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen & Roger MacBride Allen (Read only Prologue “The Spirit of Invention”, Chapter 1 “Lincoln’s Secret Train”, & chapter 11 “Rails & Wires at War”)
8. Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen & Roger MacBride Allen (Read only Chapter 5 “Riding the Wing of Battle”)
9. Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen & Roger MacBride Allen (Read only Chapter 6 “The Ironclads”)
10. The Emancipation Proclamation by Charles Carey
11. Growing Up in the Civil War by Duane Damon
12. A Three-Minute Speech by Jennifer Armstrong
13. The Story of Clara Barton by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack AND This article on surgery before Anesthesia: http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2014/07/16/the-horrors-of-pre-anaesthetic-surgery/ AND This article on Anesthesia: http://www.jlrmedicalgroup.com/about-anesthesia/agony-to-anesthesia  AND This article on Medical Innovations of the Civil War: http://mentalfloss.com/article/31326/5-medical-innovations-civil-war
14.  America: The Story of US video: (Civil War: Disk 2 Section 1) You may be able to see the video for free by clicking on this website:  http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/america-the-story-of-us-civil-war?m=5189717d404fa&s=All&f=1&free=false
15. Buffalo Bill Cody by Charles Shields
16. Sitting Bull by Kenneth Davis

Posted by Gwen Fredette on August 19th, 2015

 

Civil War Era History Test

Week 17: Civil War Era History Test

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Note: Following is the Civil War Era History Test.  7th and 8th graders should be able to do all of this test.  4th through 6th graders should be able to do most of the test.   K – 3rd graders will be able to do a lot of this test orally.   Each question is worth 2 points.  This test is OPTIONAL.   Please feel free to skip it; scale it; eliminate parts of it; use it merely as a review, or do whatever best suits your family!  If you choose to give your children this test, I would recommend reviewing the “Discussion Questions” from the last 16 weeks’ lesson plans the day before you give the test.

Following the test you will find a teachers’ answer key.

Name: _______________________________ Date: ___________

Civil War Era History Test

Directions: Write “T” if the answer is true.  Write “F” if the answer is false. 

1. T/F Texas eventually won independence from Mexico by defeating the Mexican army. ______
2. T/F Before the Mexican War, California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, & parts of Colorado and Utah were part of Mexico. ______
3. T/F California had a large population before the Gold Rush. ______
4. T/F Harriet Tubman had a strong faith in God. _____
5. T/F Most Civil War battles were fought in the North. _____
6. T/F All boys who fought in the Civil War were 18 or older. _____

Directions: Circle the Letter of the correct answer.

7. Who was the first president of the Republic of Texas?
A.) Santa Anna                      B.) Sam Houston
C.) Zachary Taylor                D.) James Polk

8. Which of the following was NOT an issue of conflict between the Texans and the Mexican government?
A.) Religion                            B.) Slavery
C.) Gold                                   D.) Dictatorship vs. democracy

9. Circle the three ways people could get to California during the Gold Rush?
A.) Traveled across the states by covered wagon.
B.) Traveled by train.
C.) Sailed in a ship around the bottom of South America.
D.) Sailed in a ship to Panama – then crossed a dangerous jungle and caught a boat on the other side to get to California.

10. What was NOT one of the problems Chinese miners faced during the California Gold Rush?
A.) They began opening Chinese restaurants.
B.) They had to pay special tax just because they were Chinese.
C.) If someone stole their property, they couldn’t take them to court because a non-white’s testimony wasn’t valid.
D.) Chinese were persecuted and bullied by many white miners.

11. How many people did Harriet Tubman free from slavery?
A.) About 100                     B.) Over 300
C.) Over 500                       D.) Over 1000

12. Harriet Tubman did all of the following except ….?
A.) Wrote her own autobiography.
B.) Worked as a nurse during the Civil War
C.) Worked as a spy and scout during the Civil War
D.) Helped slaves escape to Canada.

13. Which of the following was NOT a job Abraham Lincoln held?
A.) Store keeper                 B.) Fireman
C.) Lawyer                          D.) President

14. Which of the following was NOT true of Frederick Douglas?
A.) He gave speeches about the evils of slavery.
B.) He wrote an autobiography of his life.
C.) He became friends with President Abraham Lincoln.
D.) He moved to Africa.

15. Who is famous for inventing the telegraph and Morse Code?
A.) Frederick Douglas        B.) Franklin Roosevelt
C.) Samuel Morse               D.) James Polk

16. He was general of the Confederate army during Civil War. He led the most successful southern army, and won many, many battles. However, he eventually could not beat a larger, better supplied Northern army.
A.) McClellan                      B.) Houston
C.) Lee                                  D.) Grant

17. He was general of Union army during the second half of Civil War. He was known for “Unconditional Surrender”. He never gave up. However, he had an alcohol problem.
A.) McClellan                     B.) Houston
C.) Lee                                 D.) Grant

18. He was general of Union army during beginning of Civil War. He organized disciplined troops; his soldiers loved and followed him. However, he was reluctant to pursue battles, and he made poor judgements regarding the sizes of enemy armies.
A.) McClellan                     B.) Houston
C.) Lee                                 D.) Grant

19. Who urged Union generals to use balloonists to help in the war?
A.) Lincoln                         B.) McClellan
C.) Lee                                D.) Grant

20. The Plan by the North to block all of the South’s ports so they could not receive needed supplies was called the …
A.) The Strategy               B.) Morse Code
C.) Anaconda Plan          D.) Lincoln Plan

21. What did slaves do when they heard they had been set free?
A.) Many joined the Union army.
B.) Many looked for loved ones.
C.) Many stayed on plantations because they had nowhere to go.
D.) All of the Above.

22. All of these slave states stayed in the Union except?
A.) Texas
B.) Delaware
C.) Maryland
D.) Kentucky

23. When the Civil War began, England and France continued to buy and sell with the Confederacy because they needed their supplies. Why did these countries eventually stop aiding the South?
A.) The Civil War turned into a war about slavery.
B.) They no longer needed cotton from the South.
C.) All of the cotton fields were destroyed in battles, so there was no cotton left to buy and sell.
D.) They couldn’t get past the naval blockade.

24. The battlefield of Gettysburg was turned into a ….
A.) A place to give speeches.
B.) The Lincoln Memorial.
C.) A national cemetery.
D.) A cornfield.

25. Which of the following was NOT true of Clara Barton?
A.) She was a teacher.
B.) She helped slaves escape.
C.) She collected clothes, food, medicine, other supplies for soldiers.
D. ) She was called the “Angel of the Battlefield.”

26. Which of the following was NOT a medical innovation during the Civil War?
A.) Penicillin
B.) Lifesaving amputations
C.) Anesthesia inhaler
D.) Ambulances to ER

27. Where did Southern generals surrender and sign a peace treaty to end the Civil War?
A. ) The Alamo
B.) Gettysburg
C.) Appomattox Court House
D.) Washington, D.C.

28. Which of the following was NOT true of Buffalo Bill?
A.) He was a pony express rider when he was young.
B.) He was a major general during the Civil War.
C.) He was friends with many Native American Indians.
D.) He was called “Buffalo Bill” because while men worked to build the railroad, he supplied buffalo meat to workers.

29. Which of the following is true of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show?
A.) It was half history lesson, half circus.
B.) There were shooting matches.
C.) After seeing the show, many Americans viewed Native Americans as a people with strong and proud identity who had been driven from their homeland.
D.) All of the Above.

30. Which of the following was NOT something Native Americans did with buffalo?
A.) Shot them for fun.
B.) Ate their meat.
C.) Used their skin to make clothes, tepees, and blankets.
D.) Made ropes and belts from their hair.

31. Why was Sitting Bull angry with white settlers?
A.) They killed millions of buffalo for sport.
B.) They broke peace treaties they had made with his people and traveled over their lands.
C.) They didn’t share their gold.
D.) Both answers “A” & “B”.

32. Why were the Black Hills important to the Lakota Sioux?
A.) Holy Mountains; they believed sacred spirits of their people lived there.
B.) They believed gold was there.
C.) Buffalo lived in the hills.
D.) None of the above.

33. Which of the following was true about Indian Reservations?
A.) They were areas of land where Native Americans were being forced to relocate so white settlers could live in their land.
B.) Sitting Bull wanted to live on the reservation.
C.) Native Americans had plenty of buffalo to hunt there.
D.) Native Americans didn’t have to live there. They could choose to stay where they were.

34. Which of the following was true regarding schools the U.S. government started for Native American children?
A.) Native Americans didn’t like them.
B.) Native American children were taught English, not their own Indian language.
C.) Native American children had to live away from home at school and had to dress like white settlers.
D.) All of the above.

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
35. What was the Underground Railroad? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
36. What great man from the Old Testament was Harriet Tubman compared to? Why? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
37. What were Abolitionists? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
38. What was the Fugitive Slave Act? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
39. Many of the “conductors” on the Underground Railroad were of what faith?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
40. Why did the Civil War begin? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
41. During the Civil War, a famous document was issued that stated all slaves currently part of the Confederacy were free. What was this famous document called?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

42. Where did Abraham Lincoln give his most famous speech?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
43. When the war first started, what was Lincoln’s goal in winning the war?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
44. What did the southern states call their new “country”?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
45. How long did the Civil War last? ___________________________________________________________
46. How did Abraham Lincoln die?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
47. As Commander-in-Chief during the Civil War, what two important inventions did Lincoln take control of after taking office?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
48. Why were hot air balloons used during the Civil War?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
49. Name the two iron clad warships used during the Civil War?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
50. Who was president of the southern states?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Extra Credit:
Grades K – 3:
What did slaves call their owners? ________________________
What was Sitting Bull’s name when he was little? ____________________
Grades 4 – 6:
Frederick Douglas started an anti-slavery newspaper. What was it called? _________________________________________________________________________________
Who worked in northern factories while the men were away fighting the Civil War? _________________________________________________________________________________
Grades 7 & 8:
What was the name of the dictator of Mexico during the Mexican War? ______________________
Many gold seekers coming to California were called? ___________________________

 

Answer Key:

• 1.  T
• 2.  T
• 3.  F
• 4.  T
• 5.  F
• 6.  F
• 7.  B
• 8.  C
• 9.  A, C, & D
• 10.  A
• 11.  B
• 12.  A
• 13.  B
• 14.  D
• 15.  C
• 16.  C
• 17.  D
• 18.  A
• 19.  A
• 20.  C
• 21.  D
• 22.  A
• 23.  A
• 24.  C
• 25.  B
• 26.  A
• 27.  C
• 28.  B
• 29.  D
• 30.  A
• 31.  D
• 32.  A
• 33.  A
• 34.  D
• 35.  A series of safe houses that an escaped slave could travel to and spend the night.  The house owners would give directions to the escaped slave to know how to reach the next safe house.  Escaped slaves would travel from house to house, eventually making it North to freedom.
• 36.  Moses:  She led her people out of slavery.  She was a great leader and risked her life for her people.
• 37.  People who wanted to abolish slavery.
• 38.  A law that said all citizens were obligated to return escaped slaves to their owners.
• 39.  Quakers
• 40.  Many southern states were not pleased that Lincoln had been elected president.  They broke away from the Union and started their own country.  Southerners officially began the war when they fired on Fort Sumter.
• 41.  Emancipation Proclamation
• 42.  Gettysburg, PA
• 43.  To make the United States united again.
• 44.  The Confederate States of America
• 45.  4 years
• 46.  He was shot by John Wilkes Booth while watching a play at Ford’s Theatre.
• 47.  the Train and the Telegraph
• 48.  They were used to spy on the movements of the their enemies and to determine the size of enemy armies.
• 49.  Monitor & the Virginia (Merrimac)
• 50.  Jefferson Davis

Extra Credit K – 3:  Master, Slow

Extra Credit 4 – 6:  The North Star, Women & Children

Extra Credit: 7 – 8:  Santa Anna, Forty-Niners

Copyright May 6th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Sitting Bull

Week 16: Sitting Bull

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Read K – 3: A Picture Book of Sitting Bull by David Adler 

4 – 6: Sitting Bull by Susan Aller

7 – 8: Don’t Know Much About Sitting Bull by Kenneth Davis

Discuss:

• What were the many ways Indians used buffalo? (ate meat, used skin to make clothes, tepees, blankets, used horns to make spoons and cups, made ropes and belts from hair)
• Did Indians kill buffalo for fun? (no, only killed what they needed)
• What was Sitting Bull’s name as a child? Why? (Slow; never seemed to be in a hurry)
• How did he get the name Sitting Bull? (Hit a Crow Warrior and knocked the bow and arrow from his hand.)
• Why was Sitting Bull angry with white settlers? (They killed millions of buffalo for sport; they traveled through their lands and built houses, towns, and forts on their land; they broke peace treaties they had made with his people.)
• What were Reservations? (areas of land where Native Americans were being forced to relocate so white settlers could live in their land)
• Did Sitting Bull want to live on the reservation? (no)
• What happened to Native Americans who refused to move to reservations? (they had to face the U.S. military)
• Who won the Battle of Little Bighorn? (Sitting Bull & the Native Americans)
• What famous Colonel was killed? (Custer)
• Why did Sitting Bull lead the Sioux tribe to Canada? (thought they would be safe there)
• Why didn’t they stay in Canada? (not enough food; starving)
• What famous show did Sitting Bull become a part of? (Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show)
• Why was Sitting Bull killed? (The Sioux tribe performed a wild dance in the hopes of bringing back dead family and to bring herds of buffalo and floods to drown white enemies; Whites thought it was a war dance and killed Sitting Bull, his son and others.)

Questions for Grades 4 – 8:

• How did the Lakota Sioux use Buffalo droppings? (fuel for fires)
• What was the Pacific Railroad Act? (law that gave millions of acres of land to railroad companies for railroads and telegraph wires)
• The Pacific Railroad act was signed into law in 1862. Who was president at this time? (Abraham Lincoln)
• Who did this land belong to? (Native American tribes)
• Why were whites hired to kill buffalo? (so Native Americans would not need to roam the plains any more and would have to live on the reservations; to feed the men working to build the railroad.)
• How did the railroad affect the buffalo? (they were scared of it)
•  Why were the Black Hills important to the Lakota Sioux? (Holy Mountains; they believed sacred spirits of their people lived there.)
• Why were the Black Hills important to the government? (They believed gold was there.)
• Did the government honor their treaty to stay out of the Great Sioux Reservation? (no; thousands of gold seekers rushed to the Black Hills.)
• What happened to Native Americans who refused to move to reservations? (They were killed)
• Could Native Americans hunt buffalo on reservations? (No)
• How did they eat? (farmed; given food)
• Did the Native Americans like the schools for their children? (no, kids were taught English; had to live away from home at school; had to dress like white settlers.)
• What did Sitting Bull do with the money he earned from the Wild West Show? (used it to help his people and the poor)
• Does the Lakota tribe still live on reservations? (Many still do.)

Activities: K – 2:  Draw your own picture of Sitting Bull. Underneath the picture write 3 sentences telling 3 things you learned about this great chief.
3 – 5: From this site: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/sitting_bull.html read many statements spoken by Sitting Bull. Choose 5 quotes and copy them onto a separate sheet of paper. Then, tell why you think they are famous.
6 – 8: Choose one of the following for a 5 paragraph, 3 proof essay topic:

1. In what ways did the U.S. government wrong the Lakota Sioux tribe?
2. In your opinion why was Sitting Bull such a great Indian chief?
3. Describe how Indian reservations killed Native American culture.

Copyright April 29th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Buffalo Bill

Week 15: Buffalo Bill

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Read K – 5: Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr (read also “Author’s Note” on the last page)

6 – 8: Buffalo Bill Cody by Charles Shields

Discuss:

• What famous man rode for the Pony express when he was young? (Buffalo Bill)
• Why was Bill called “Buffalo Bill”? (while he worked on the railroad, he supplied buffalo meat to workers)
• Was Buffalo Bill truthful? (no)
• Was Buffalo Bill friends with Indians? (yes)
• The Pony Express existed in the early 1800’s.  What did it deliver? (mail)
• Why did mail stop being delivered by the Pony express? (telegraph lines & railroad)
• Was being a Pony Express rider dangerous? (Yes)
• Why? (bandits, Indians, weather, wild animals)

Questions for Grades 6 – 8:

• About how many buffalo lived in the Great Plains in the 1850’s? (millions)
• How many buffalo were left by the late 1800’s? (just over 500)
• Why were so many killed? (to provide meat for railroad workers, for sport)
• How did Buffalo Bill become famous? (writer began writing cheap novels about him, embellishing the facts to make him look like a folk hero; Buffalo Bill began acting in plays portraying himself.)
• What bad habit did Bill develop while performing his shows? (drinking)
• Describe Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show? (half history lesson, half circus, riders leaped from one horse to another, fake Indian attacks, shooting matches, buffalo hunt, reenactment of Custer’s Last Stand)
• What famous Native American chief became part of his show? (Sitting Bull)
• How did most white Americans view Native Americans before the Wild West show? (as savages)
• How did many Americans view Native Americans after seeing the Wild West show? (people with strong and proud identity who had been driven from their homeland)
• How did the Native Americans who performed in his shows view Buffalo Bill? (as a friend)
• According to Bill, why did Native Americans perform acts of violence? (broken promises by the government; “white man does not keep his word”)

Activities: K – 2: Pony express coloring page: http://nebraskahistory.org/oversite/kidstuff/ponyexpress.htm
3 – 5: Recreate your own “Wanted” poster for Pony Express riders similar to this one on this site: http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/ponyexpress/ponyexpress.htm
Then answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the company wanted young, skinny fellows?
2. Why do you think the company wanted orphans?

6 – 8:Answer 3 of the following in paragraph form (Buffalo Bill worksheet see attached):  Buffalo Bill Worksheet

1. Compare and contrast Buffalo Bill’s life with that of a modern famous entertainer.
2. Do you think Native Americans today would have appreciated Buffalo Bill’s shows or found them to be insulting? Why or why not?
3. Through Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, many whites became aware of how unfair they had been to Native Americans by moving on to their lands. If Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show had been performed 100 years earlier, do you think white settlers would have been reluctant to settle on Native American land? Why or why not?
4. If you had the opportunity to see a show like Buffalo Bill’s would you want to go? Why or why not?
5. Of all of Buffalo Bill’s accomplishments, what do find most interesting? Why?

Copyright April 22nd, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Soldier’s Life, Civil War

Week 14: Soldier’s Life, Civil War

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Read K – 5: The Code of the Drum by L.L. Owens  & Read NOTE* (see below)

View 6 – 8:  America: The Story of US video: (Civil War: Disk 2 Section 1) & Read NOTE (see below)  You may be able to see the video for free by clicking on this website:  http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/america-the-story-of-us-civil-war?m=5189717d404fa&s=All&f=1&free=false

Parents: The above video is a bit bloody and intense.  I recommend viewing it first before showing it to your children.

Note: The end of the Civil War was considered to be Total War.  Union armies marched through the South destroying anything that might help the Confederates keep fighting.  They burned buildings and took food and valuables from peoples’ homes.  Finally Grant’s army of 100,000 Union soldiers surrounded Lee’s army of 26,000 Confederates and Lee surrendered.  Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9^th, 1865 at Appomattox Court House.  The war had lasted 5 years.  By the end of the war, one out of every 10 men from the North was killed or wounded.  From the South, one out of every three men was killed or wounded.

Discuss:

Questions: For K – 5 Only:

• What was the infantry? (Soldiers trained to fight on foot)
• How heavy were the soldiers’ packs? (30 pounds)
• Why were drum calls important during the Civil War? (told soldiers what to do)
• Were boys able to be in the army? (yes)
• What did many boys do in the army? (played drum or bugle)
• Could drummers be killed during battles? (yes)
• What other jobs did young boys do around the soldiers’ camp? (carried water, delivered messages, helped wounded, mended uniforms, served food, cut hair)
• T/F There were more than 10 different drum calls during the Civil War. (true)
• Name some of the reasons there were drum calls? (roll call, to march, to assemble, to awaken camp, to come to alarm posts, etc.  There was even a call to bring soldiers to church!)

Questions for All Grades:

• How many years did the Civil War last? (5)
• How many men from the North were killed or wounded? (1/10)
• How many men from the South were killed or wounded? ( 1/3)
• Who surrendered? (Lee)
• Where did he surrender? (Appomattox Court House)

Activities: K – 2:  Color this Civil War drummer coloring page: http://www.timeforhistory.net/HistoricalInformationPageImages/AmericanCivilWar/ACWColoringImages/DrummerBoys.jpg   AND

K – 5: Then Listen to Civil War Drum calls on YouTube by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WChcIrQz8-E&list=PL9dIQhxcBmXMBLCQq_NNz2Hfy5a14Clfq

Grades 3 – 5:   Write paragraphs to answer the following questions.

• Do you think Jacob made the right decision to join the Union army at such a young age? Why or why not?
• How do you believe his mother is reacting to his decision?
• Did Jacob’s decision to fight for the Union save lives? What would have happened if he hadn’t become a drummer for the Union army?

6 – 8: None!

Copyright April 15th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Medical Advances, Civil War

Note: To find out about the Nationwide “PHB” HOMESCHOOL ART CONTEST, click  HERE:  https://phillyhomeschool.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/homeschool-art-contest-2015/

Entries must be postmarked by SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2015!  

 

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Week 13: Medical Advances, Civil War

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Read K – 3: Clara Barton: Spirit of the American Red Cross by Patricia Lakin

4 – 6:

1. Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne AND
2. Clara Barton’s biography from this site: http://www.ducksters.com/biography/women_leaders/clara_barton.php

7 – 8:

1. The Story of Clara Barton by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack AND
2. This article on surgery before Anesthesia: http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2014/07/16/the-horrors-of-pre-anaesthetic-surgery/
   
3. This article on Anesthesia: http://www.jlrmedicalgroup.com/about-anesthesia/agony-to-anesthesia  AND
4. This article on Medical Innovations of the Civil War: http://mentalfloss.com/article/31326/5-medical-innovations-civil-war  AND
   
5. Read “Note”.  See below.

Note: The word “Anesthesia” comes from 2 Greek words meaning “Without Sensation”

Discuss:

•  Who started the American Red Cross? (Clara Barton)
• Describe what happened to Clara’s brother David and how Clara helped? (David fell and was injured; he became very weak and sick; Clara cared for him for 2 years until he recovered)
• What was Clara’s first job? (teacher)
• How did Clara help during the Civil War? (collected clothes, food, medicine, other supplies for soldiers, helped injured soldiers)
• Was Clara’s work dangerous? (yes; she helped injured soldiers right at battle sites; one time a bullet shot through her sleeve and killed a soldier she was helping)
• What was Clara’s nickname during the Civil War? (angel of the battlefield)
• The American Red Cross helps what people? (victims of wars and natural disasters)
  Questions for Grades 7 – 8:
• The discovery of what substance before the Civil War revolutionized Medical care around the world? (Anesthesia)
• What were operations like before anesthesia? (agonizing pain; traumatic, many died from pain)
• What does anesthesia do for patients? (causes them to fall asleep, feel no pain)
• What is anesthesia made from? (ether)
• What does the word anesthesia mean? (without sense)
• Name 5 other medical innovations during the Civil War? (amputations, anesthesia inhaler, closing chest wounds, facial reconstruction, ambulances to ER)

Activities: K – 3: Pick 3 worksheets from this Disney American Red Cross booklet for your child to complete: http://public-static.disneystorycentral.com/ddb/redcross/9781423198451/index.html#/page/4
4 – 6: Clara Barton worksheets: http://www.nps.gov/clba/forkids/upload/jrranger_worksheet_travelingcb_final.pdf
7 – 8: Complete these worksheets: http://www.nps.gov/clba/forkids/upload/jrranger_worksheet_travelingcb_final.pdf
Then, consider the following:
• Medical attention on the battlefield (from Clara Barton & other nurses)
• Anesthesia
• Amputations
• Anesthesia Inhaler
• Closing chest wounds
• Facial reconstruction
• Ambulances to ER
Which of these do you consider to be the most important contribution to the Medical field during the Civil War? Explain your answer in writing on the back of one of the above worksheets.

Copyright April 8th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Gettysburg

Week 12: Gettysburg

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Read K – 3: Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln by Jean Fritz

4 – 5: Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C.M. Butzer

6 – 8: A Three-Minute Speech by Jennifer Armstrong

Discuss:

• Who won most of the battles in the beginning of the Civil War, the North or the South? (South)
• In what state did the battle of Gettysburg occur? (Pennsylvania)
• About how many Southern soldiers were killed in the battle of Gettysburg? (20,000)
• About how many Northern soldiers were killed? (23,000)
• Who won the battle of Gettysburg? (the North)
• Why did people decide to create a special cemetery in Gettysburg? (so many died there; to honor fallen soldiers)
• Who was to be the special guest speaker that day? (Edward Everett)
• Who was invited as an afterthought? (President Lincoln)
• About how many people went to Gettysburg the day the cemetery was dedicated? (15,000 to 20,000 people)
• How long did Mr. Everett speak? (2 hours)
• How long did Abraham Lincoln speak (a few minutes)
• Did Lincoln believe people liked his speech? (no)
• What did Mr. Everett say about Lincoln’s speech? (The president had said more in 2 minutes than he said in 2 hours.)
• How do you think people feel about his speech today? (considered to be one of the best speeches of all time)

Questions for Grades 4 – 8:

• Who was the general in charge of the Southern army at the battle of Gettysburg? (Robert E. Lee)
• Describe Lee’s reputation? (considered to be one of the greatest military commanders of his generation)
• Who was the general in charge of the Northern army at the battle of Gettysburg? (George Meade)
• Why did the Southern army have the disadvantage in this battle? (The Northern army had the high ground; it was easy to shoot the Southern army as they stormed cemetery ridge.)
• Why was creating the cemetery so difficult? (so many thousands died; had to be buried quickly)

Questions for grades 7 – 8:

• What supplies did the Confederate army desperately need and hope to find in Gettysburg? (shoes)
• Did people live in Gettysburg before the battle? (yes)
• Where did they go? (Some hid in their basements; Some ran to find safety elsewhere)
• Did the battle of Gettysburg end the war? (no)
• Why didn’t Meade pursue the Confederate army? (army was exhausted; so many dead and wounded to care for)
• Why were the bodies decaying so quickly? (broiling July heat)
• What did the townspeople do with the dead horses and mules? (burned them)
• What made Lincoln’s speech so special? (He didn’t dedicate a cemetery; he dedicated the whole war to the pursuit of freedom and democracy.)

 

Activities K – 3: Coloring page Battle of Gettysburg: http://www.usa-printables.com/Events/Civil_war/02-civil_war-010.htm

4 – 5:  Complete the worksheet, “Understanding the Gettysburg Address” on page 4 of this pdf file: http://www.illinois.gov/alplm/museum/Learning/Documents/The_Gettysburg_Address.pdf

6 – 8:  Complete the reading and worksheet on the Gettysburg Address by clicking on this link: http://chnm.gmu.edu/7tah/unitdocs/unit3/lesson1/gettysburgorigins.pdf.  Also, complete the worksheet, “Understanding the Gettysburg Address” on page 4 of this pdf file: http://www.illinois.gov/alplm/museum/Learning/Documents/The_Gettysburg_Address.pdf

 

Copyright March 25th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

 

 

Daily Life, Civil War

Week 11: Daily Life, Civil War

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Read K – 3: If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War by Kay More (Read only pgs 20 – 37 & 50 – 58)

4 – 5: If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War by Kay More (whole book)

6 – 8: Growing Up in the Civil War by Duane Damon

Discuss:

• Where were most Civil War battles fought, in the North or the South? (South)
• T/F Most Blacks in the army were soldiers. (False – given other jobs to do within army)
• T/F All boys who fought in the war were 18 or older. (False)
• Who did work in the North when men joined the Union to fight as soldiers? (Women & children)
• Who did work on plantations in the South when men joined the Confederacy to fight? (at first slaves, but then many left with Union army when it moved through the South; after the slaves left, women and children were left to do the work)
• What happened to food prices during the war? (prices went higher; people had to eat less or work more hours to buy what they needed.)
• Who was president of the Confederacy? (Jefferson Davis)

Question for Grades 6 – 8: What tragedy occurred in both the Lincoln family and the Davis family? (both experienced one of their sons dying)

Activities: K – 3: Coloring page Union Flag: http://www.yescoloring.com/images/54_United_States_Country_flag_1861_at_coloring-pages-book-for-kids-boys.gif
Coloring page Confederate Flag: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/usa-flags/official-confederate-flag.html
4 – 8: Using these sites for help:

1. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/army/ig/Selected-Union-Generals/
2. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/army/ig/Selected-Confederate-Generals/ and
3. http://www.nps.gov/apco/february-1861.htm

Do the following: (You will need a poster board for this assignment.)

1. First, print out pictures of the following presidents and major generals:
UNION:

• Lincoln (President, Union)
• McClellan
• Grant
• Meade
• Burnside
• Sherman

CONFEDERACY:

• Jefferson Davis( President, Confederacy)
• Lee
• Jackson
• Bragg
• Stuart

2.  Next, take a large poster board and divide it into 2 columns and 3 rows. At the top of the left half write “Union”. Next to this title put the picture of Abraham Lincoln and label it. At the top of the right half write “Confederacy”. Next to this title put the picture of Jefferson Davis and label it.

3.  Next, on the “Union” half of the board, on the second row place the pictures of McClellan & Grant, two important commanders of the Union army. On the third row on the left side place the photos of the other Union generals. Under each picture write the general’s name and the “Principal Battles” they presided over. (This information can be found on the same site where the photos are located.  Click on the general’s name below each picture to find out what battles they participated in.)

4.  Finally, do the same assignment on the “Confederacy” half of the board with the Confederate generals, placing general Robert E. Lee on the second row, above the other Confederate leaders.

Copyright March 20th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Emancipation Proclamation

Week 10: Emancipation Proclamation

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Read K – 4: Juneteenth by Vaunda Nelson & Drew Nelson

5– 8: The Emancipation Proclamation by Charles Carey

Discuss:

• What was the order that freed slaves in confederate states called? (The Emancipation Proclamation)
• When was the order issued? (1863)
• Did all the slaves hear about the order right away? Why?(No; slave masters did not want to tell them.)
• How did slaves find out about the order? (Union troops told them as they moved through the South.)
• What did many slaves do when they heard the order? (Laughed, cried, joined the Union army, looked for loved ones, moved away; many stayed on plantations because they had nowhere to go.)

Question for grades K – 4 only:

• How long did it take Texan slaves to hear about the Emancipation Proclamation? (2 years)
• Why is Juneteenth a special holiday in many states? (June 19th is the day that slaves in Texas were finally set free.  The special day eventually became known as Juneteenth, and as African American families moved to other states they began celebrating the special day other places. It is now a holiday in many states across the country.)

Questions for grades 5 – 8:

• Did the Emancipation Proclamation free all of the slaves? (No)
• Which slaves did the Emancipation Proclamation free? (slaves in rebellion against the Union: all states in the Confederacy except Tennessee)
• Why did Southerners want to keep slaves? (work on Plantations)
• How did most Northerners feel about slavery? (felt it was wrong)
• Which slave states stayed in the Union? (Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, & Missouri)
• What was originally the purpose of the Civil War? (keep Union together)
• Why was Lincoln reluctant at first to free the slaves? (wanted to keep Union together; hoped Southern states would come back without battles; didn’t want to anger the Southern states or the border states that supported the Union)
• What changed Lincoln’s mind? (Southern slaves were being used to help build a Confederate fort.)
• Why did many slaves want to join the Union army? (to help bring freedom to the South)
• How did Great Britain and France feel about slavery? (were against it)
• In the beginning of the War Great Britain & France supported the South. Why? (needed cotton from the South)
• When the Civil War turned into a war about slavery, how did Great Britain & France react? (stopped helping the South)
• Why was it suggested that Lincoln wait to free the slaves? (North had not won any major battles; People might think Lincoln was freeing the slaves because he was afraid of losing the war.)
• What state rejoined the Union because of the Emancipation Proclamation? (Tennessee)
• How did Confederates react to the Emancipation? (hated it)
• How did Northerners in slave states react? (didn’t like it; afraid Lincoln would free their slaves next)
• How did Abolitionists react? (unhappy; wanted Lincoln to free ALL the slaves)
• How did most Northerners react? (in favor of it; believed Lincoln handled things as well as he could)
• How did Southern slaves react? ( very happy; thousands tried to escape)
• How did Lincoln respond when he was asked to give up the Emancipation Proclamation? (He said, “Should I do so, I should deserve to be damned through all eternity.)
• About how many former black slaves joined the army after the Emancipation? (200,000)
• Which Amendment to the Constitution made slavery illegal everywhere? (13th)

 

Activities: K – 2: Draw your own picture of slaves hearing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Union Soldiers.
3 – 4: View this famous Civil War drawing by Thomas Nast: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/cartoons-and-pics/emancipation.html
Then answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper:

1. Not everyone in America was happy about Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. How do you think the artist felt about it? Why?
2. Do you think the artist thought Abraham Lincoln was a good president? Why or why not?
3. This picture is really a collage of many pictures. Which one do you like the best? Why?
4. What beings are in the clouds on the top left? What being is in the clouds on the top right? What do you think the artist is trying to communicate by showing these beings?

5 – 6: Read the information printed on this site about the Emancipation Proclamation: http://mrkash.com/activities/emancipation.html
Then answer questions 1- 10 from this site (see above) on a separate sheet of paper.
7 – 8: Emancipation Proclamation Analysis worksheet (pgs 4 – 6) & The Public Reacts Worksheet (pgs 11 – 14) on this site: http://telegraph.civilwar.org/education/curriculum/High/3%20Antietam%20&%20Emancipation/Antietam%20and%20Emancipation%20Lesson%20Package_High%20School.pdf

Copyright March 12, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Battle of Ironclads

Week 9: Battle of the Ironclads

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Read K – 6: The Monitor by Gare Thompson

7 – 8: Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen & Roger MacBride Allen (Read only: Chapter 6 “The Ironclads”)

Discuss:

• What was the Union blockade or “Anaconda plan”? (Plan by the North to block all of the South’s ports so they could not receive needed supplies.)
• What does an Anaconda do? (strangles victims)
• Was the blockade working? (yes)
• Why did the South want to build an ironclad warship? (could easily defeat wooden ships blocking their ports)
• Where did the South get their ironclad warship? (Rebuilt the “Merrimac”, a northern warship, into their own southern warship, renamed the “Virginia”.)
• How did the North respond when they heard the South was building an ironclad? (Began designing and building their own ironclad.)
• Which ironclad got to the North’s naval blockade first? (The “Virginia”)
• What effect did it have on the enemy ships? (Destroyed 2 ships)
• Did wooden warships damage the Virginia? (no)
• When did the “Monitor” arrive at the battle? (the next day)
• How were the “Virginia” and the “Monitor” similar? (both ironclads; both had cannons)
• How were they different? (Most of the “Monitor” was below the waterline, keeping it safe from enemy fire. Also, the “Monitor” had a rotating gun turret; it could turn in any direction regardless of what way the ship was facing. The Monitor was small.  The “Virginia” had a ram it used to destroy enemy ships. The Virginia was a huge ship. Its cannons were located on the ships’ sides, so it could only shoot correctly if it was facing the right direction.)
• Were the two ironclads able to damage each other? (not much)
• How did the battle of the ironclads change battles at sea? (Countries stopped building wooden warships.)
• After the battle of the ironclads, was the North’s blockade broken? (No, the “Monitor” saved most of their ships.)
• Why was the Virginia destroyed? (so it wouldn’t fall into enemy hands)
  Questions for Grades 7 – 8:
• Why did the Union send the Monitor to the blockade before its sea trials were completed? (A freed slave working for one of the engineers of the Virginia heard about its progress and traveled north to let leaders know it would be finished soon.)
• How was Lincoln involved in the recapture of Norfolk and Gosport Navy Yard? (Lincoln had come to visit McClellan’s base and found that there was no plan in place to recapture these Navy Yards. He decided to create a plan himself, and gave orders to the commander of the Monitor to ensure it was done.)

 

Activities: All Grades: Using this blank map of the United States from eduplace.com: CLICK HERE , and this map of the Union and Confederacy: CLICK HERE  create your own Naval Blockade map similar to the one on page 8 of your text or the map on this site: http://www.juniorgeneral.org/civil%20war/anaconda/anaconda.html. by doing the following:

1. Color all the Union States Blue
2. Color all the Confederate states Grey.
3. Draw triangles or ships around the perimeter of the Confederacy coastline to show where Union ships were likely located.

3 – 8:

1. Print the Civil War Battles Chart from this site: http://iss.schoolwires.com/cms/lib4/NC01000579/Centricity/Domain/3240/Civil%20War%20Battles%20Chart.pdf
2. Then use the information on the chart to complete this worksheet: Civil War Battles

Copyright March 5th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette