4/19: Today, we will be looking at the lives and hardships of soldiers during the Civil War. This is what our essential question for the day is based on. That essential questions is:
EQ: What was the role and daily life of an average soldier (northern or southern) in the Civil War, and what difficulties/hardships did soldiers face?
You will be answering this essential question through a group writing assignment about the lives of Civil War soldiers. We will begin class by going over the Daily Slides below to become acquainted with some of the commanders during the Civil War. We will also be marking the Potomac on our Virginia map. See the Potomac on the daily slides. After we complete the daily slides (we will not discuss the battles on the slides, but that resource is there for you), each of you will receive one of 5 readings (reading 1 and 2, reading 3 and 4, reading 5 and 6, reading 7 and 8, and reading 9 and 10. See the 2nd link called "Soldier Readings"). You will have a few minutes to read through both sides of your reading, then you will get with any other student that had your reading and discuss the guiding questions at the top. Finally, the last thing we will do is begin our group essay on the life of a Civil War Soldier. This essay will be the opportunity to discuss the Essential Question for today. This group essay will be done in self-selected groups of 3. One group member should complete the intro and conclusion paragraphs, and the other two group members should have the two body paragraphs (one for each of the two group members). We do not have a lot of time to spend on this essay, so you should begin the essay in class with your group members, then FINISH THE ESSAY AT HOME FOR HOMEWORK. This short writing assignment DUE ON MONDAY, and we are going to be starting a new small project tomorrow. This group essay WILL BE A MINOR ASSESSMENT, SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE THE ESSAY BY THE DUE DATE MONDAY. See the directions and rubric below.
Add-On: There is a survey on the last link about the Civil War battles. Please complete.
EQ: What was the role and daily life of an average soldier (northern or southern) in the Civil War, and what difficulties/hardships did soldiers face?
You will be answering this essential question through a group writing assignment about the lives of Civil War soldiers. We will begin class by going over the Daily Slides below to become acquainted with some of the commanders during the Civil War. We will also be marking the Potomac on our Virginia map. See the Potomac on the daily slides. After we complete the daily slides (we will not discuss the battles on the slides, but that resource is there for you), each of you will receive one of 5 readings (reading 1 and 2, reading 3 and 4, reading 5 and 6, reading 7 and 8, and reading 9 and 10. See the 2nd link called "Soldier Readings"). You will have a few minutes to read through both sides of your reading, then you will get with any other student that had your reading and discuss the guiding questions at the top. Finally, the last thing we will do is begin our group essay on the life of a Civil War Soldier. This essay will be the opportunity to discuss the Essential Question for today. This group essay will be done in self-selected groups of 3. One group member should complete the intro and conclusion paragraphs, and the other two group members should have the two body paragraphs (one for each of the two group members). We do not have a lot of time to spend on this essay, so you should begin the essay in class with your group members, then FINISH THE ESSAY AT HOME FOR HOMEWORK. This short writing assignment DUE ON MONDAY, and we are going to be starting a new small project tomorrow. This group essay WILL BE A MINOR ASSESSMENT, SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE THE ESSAY BY THE DUE DATE MONDAY. See the directions and rubric below.
Add-On: There is a survey on the last link about the Civil War battles. Please complete.
4/18: Today, combined, we will be looking at the different strategies during the Civil War. That is, what was the North's strategy/goal for the Civil War, and what was the South's strategy/goal for the Civil War. We will begin with two readings; one reading is on the North's strategy and the Anaconda Plan, the other is on the South's "Offensive-Defensive" strategy. You will read through both of these documents, then click on the "Strategy Questions" below and respond to the questions, including the essential question, in your NOTES, also using pages 360-362 in your book. Finally, there are also two maps for you. One is a map of Virginia, one is a map of the eastern half of the United States. We will continue to use these maps to plot battles or important regions in the Civil War. Wait for my specific directions before you mark anything on the map. Today, the only thing you are marking and labeling on your map is the Anaconda Plan. So, you will mark up and around the Mississippi River, then the Union Blockade. Hint, use the image of the Anaconda Plan from the document below, or look up another image.
4/17: Today, we will be combined again. For history, we will go over the Daily Slides, looking at our essential question for today (What efforts, if any, were taken to prevent the country from splitting apart before the Civil War began?), and then reviewing Fort Sumter/how the war began. Afterwards, each student should read both of the documents below, using them to complete the Google Form also posted below. The first document is called the "Crittenden Compromise," as it focuses on a compromise proposed by John Crittenden of Kentucky in order to hold the country together. The other is an article written to show the author's personal opinions about how Lincoln, not accepting this compromise, basically ensured the Civil War was going to happen. Knowing this, and reading the articles, you should be able to complete the Google Form.
4/16: Today we will be combined for an English/History day. After you complete your English work for Mrs. Johnson, you should move on to the first link, Background Reading on Secession. As you will see at the bottom of that reading, when we are studying the Civil War, we will have an essential question every day. It is your responsibility to respond to the guiding and essential questions for each day in your notes. These responses should, of course, be done in complete sentences. The more effort you put in to your responses, the better you are likely to do on our Unit 5 test. Regardless, after you complete the background reading and respond to the questions, you should move on to the Battle At Fort Sumter Google form. The resources you need for this Google form are both in the description of the form and posted here. Also, please copy today's WOTD below.
WOTD: Secession: The act of withdrawing or breaking away from your membership in an organization. In this case, secession is a state breaking away from their membership in the United States.
WOTD: Secession: The act of withdrawing or breaking away from your membership in an organization. In this case, secession is a state breaking away from their membership in the United States.