Civil War Food Tasting

Thank you to our trusty volunteer, Mrs. F, the class got to taste hardtack and President Lincoln's favorite cookie recipe. Students actually did not mind the hardtack as much as one might think! They were encouraged to use their back teeth!

Civil War Centers 2020

Each year, students learn about life during the Civil War in Social Studies and we read many books that connect to this time in history. Students enjoy the "rotation" of centers where they get the opportunity to learn more about this time in history.

Cooking during Civil War

Partner Work with Reading Nonfiction

 Map Center Learning how the Geography 

changes from 1858-present.

Students learn about the role of Photography 

as it is introduced at this time in history.

Students are listening to a podcast that has transcribed 

voices of Missouri's enslaved men and women.

Using artifacts and replicates of historical items, students get 

to explore a Civil War trunk provided by the Missouri

State Museum.

Civil War Era Diary Entries or Notes Home

Students worked on a diary entry or a "letter home" to show their understanding of a Civil War era idea. Below are some examples demonstrating their understanding (and misconceptions) of the historical content. 

Civil War Trunk

Each year during our study of the Civil War students get to experience replicas from the Civil War era courtesy of the Missouri State Museum. 

   

Our incredible volunteer, Mrs. Fristche, made us hardtack to taste. She also surprised the students by making Mary Lincoln's gingerbread cookie recipe that President Lincoln loved. Students enjoyed tasting something savory and something sweet!

Here is the list of centers that students rotated through over the course of 11 days. Students worked with a partner and recorded some notes at some centers.

Students are trying a civil war staple... hardtack!

Students are trying a civil war staple known as hardtack. This class actually liked it! pic.twitter.com/kekuV4TQdT

— Ms.Thelen (@thelensthinkers) January 29, 2019

Civil War Centers

Students are rotating through a variety of exploration centers focused on the Civil War. Students will investigate the reasons for the civil war, the different economies of the north and south, the geography of the war, and the leaders of the war.  Over two weeks, students will read, listen and touch replica artifacts from the 1860's!

Building background knowledge and historical context for the Civil War

Students are buddy reading and responding to a variety of texts that are pertinent and conversation starters for challenges in the mid-1800's.
Using these books, students, rotated through one book each day, where they will end up reading four picture books.

 

                        

Students read the text, took notes, looked up new words, and recorded definitions of new words.

 

Civil War Research Center

Students have started rotating through a variety of "centers" to research, investigate, and inquire about the civil war.  Working in small groups, students are spending time with a variety of resources such as primary sources, photographs, audio and video, real objects from the Missouri State Museum, maps, and many books!

Deep in thought! Students are looking at the following lenses when learning about the civil war: geography, civics, economics, culture, history, and synthesizing all of these ideas to understand how this war is similar or different from the American Revolutionary war.