Grade 2 - The U.S. Civil war

The U.S. Civil War DR | Domain Review 161

You Were There: Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation,
Surrender at Appomattox

Have students pretend that they were at one of the important

events during the Civil War. Ask students to describe what they

saw and heard. For example, for the reading of the Emancipation

Proclamation, students may talk about seeing the soldier, the

scroll, etc. They may talk about hearing people cheering, clapping,

etc. Consider also extending this activity by adding group or

independent writing opportunities associated with the “You Were

There” concept. For example, ask students to pretend they are

newspaper reporters describing the surrender at Appomattox

Court House and write a group news article describing the event.

Class Book: The U.S. Civil War

Materials: Drawing paper, drawing tools

Tell the class or a group of students that they are going to make

a class book to help them remember what they have learned in

this domain. Have students brainstorm important information

about the Civil War, Robert E. Lee, Clara Barton, the Emancipation

Proclamation, Ulysses S. Grant, and Abraham Lincoln. Have each

student choose one idea to draw a picture of and then write a

caption for the picture. Bind the pages to make a book to put in

the class library for students to read again and again.

Using a Map

Use a map of the United States to review various locations from

the read-alouds. Ask questions such as the following:

• The bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South
  Carolina, marked the beginning of the Civil War. Can anyone fi nd
  South Carolina on a map? Was South Carolina part of the North
  or the South? (the South)


• General Lee surrendered to General Grant at the village of
  Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Can anyone fi nd Virginia
  on the map? Was Virginia part of the North or the South? (the
  South)