Bealeton, Va. Drum corps, 93d New York Infantry. Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1840-1882, photographer. Library of Congress, 1977. No. 1217

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A Civil War Web Quest

1. Preface: Setting the Stage
2. Introduction
3. Task
4. Process
5. Resources
6. Evaluation
7. Conclusion

Preface (Setting the Stage)

Click here to read before you go on to the introduction. (Then return to this screen.)

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Introduction

Imagine you are living in the mid-1800's. You are in the prime of your life, ready to begin your adulthood. However, your country is falling apart around you. Which side will you take? Will you fight to keep the Union together or will you join the Confederate States and fight for your right to become a new and separate nation? What will happen to you, to your family, to your home? Will you join the army or stay home? How will your life change? This is your life during the great American Civil War.

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Task

While you are enduring the horrors of the Civil War, you will keep a personal journal. Your journal will include what is happening to you and to those around you. You will provide details so that your children and grandchildren will understand what you experienced during these terrible times. They will understand the hardships and difficulties you endured. 

You will choose a role to play during the Civil War. You will write the journal from the standpoint of that role. The journal should have the appearance of a diary that has survived since the mid-1800's.   

• This diary will have at least 12 entries.
• Include the names of at least 2 battles, in proper chronological order.
• Include one letter you received from a loved one This can be either someone in the army or a loved one who was left at home.
• Your journal entries will be organized in booklet form, for possible publication.

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Process

• Construct your diary at home. Bring it to school blank.
• Choose a partner who has selected the same role as you.
• Decide names and characters to be portrayed in the diary. Your partner's diary should not be identical to yours.
• Conduct Internet research by going to the links in this Web Quest, listed under Resources or Roles. Be sure to work with your partner.
• Begin writing a diary. Be sure the reader can tell which role you are playing.
• Return to the Resource or Roles links for more research. Don't forget to take notes.
• Write down which Internet sites were most helpful.
• Complete the diary entries. Be sure to include names of battles, names of places, and other details learned about in your research.
• Check the Evaluation section for a scoring guide and an evaluation form to print and fill out at the end of the project.

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Resources

•  Timeline
• Diaries and Journals (See Roles)
• Letters (Also see Roles)
• More Photos : American Memory Collection. Scroll down & click on a year (1861, 1862, etc.). Then scroll through the timeline & click on a link to a photograph subject you want to view. The next screen will be a list of links to many photographs.)
• Women of the American Civil War
• Battle Statistics
• Battles
• Civil War Resources (Go to:  "To the Civil War Resources")

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Evaluation

You will be evaluated both on the process of completing a diary, and you will do a self-evaluation on how you worked with your partner during the Web Quest. Before you turn in your diary, please check the scoring guide to make sure you have completed each section to your satisfaction.

Self-evaluation and Reflection

After you have completed the diary, you are to write a one-paragraph self-evaluation for each of the following questions: (This means you are writing THREE paragraphs...one for each question.)

1. Did I use my class time wisely? How did I use my time?
2. How did my partner and I work together? Did we share information and work together cooperatively?
3. If I were to do this project again, what would I do differently?

Web Site Evaluation Form   

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Conclusion

You've looked at the Civil War from the viewpoint of one person. You have gained valuable insights, but don't forget that the Civil War was a complex conflict, with many viewpoints and many perspectives.  When you study it again, as you will, you can learn even more. 

You might want to remember that the Civil War was almost unbearably difficult for all the people in this country, whether they were from the North or from the South. Great sacrifices were made to ensure the future of a United States of America. In 1865, the task ahead was to make sure the country stayed united; the task that remains with us today is to ensure  freedom  and equality for all our citizens, including blacks, Native Americans, women, and immigrants from many countries. 

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Adapted (with permission & much gratitude!)  from a Civil War Web Quest by Mrs. Carter, Greenway Middle School, Phoenix, AZ.

Adapted for 5th grade Social Studies by Bobbi Traver & Susan Mason, Willow Springs Middle School, Willow Springs, MO.  

April 8, 2002