Ranger-Led Field Trips at Andersonville Prison Site

Park ranger leads college students in a discussion in front of the stockade wall

NPS/B. Warren

Description

Programs are free of charge, but require two weeks advance notice. Ranger-led programs are subject to staff availability, optimal weather conditions, and require a reservation which must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the desired date of the program. Programs are available to groups no larger than 50 students per time slot. Please call 229-924-0343 or email [e-mail] for available dates and to request the Field Trip Planner and application. The Field Trip Registration Form can also be accessed online.

The park offers three ranger-led programs for school groups. Ranger programs are fifty minutes in length and can accommodate up to 55 students. "Relics of Civilization" is for younger students up to the fifth grade and mixed-grade home-school. This program can also be offered to distance-learning groups. "Roll of Honor" is designed for students sixth to eighth grade and mixed-grade home school. This program can also be offered to distance-learning groups. "Profiles" is designed for ninth through twelfth grade.

Please note that field trip confirmation may take up to seven days.

"Relics of Civilization"

Program Overview:

Students will examine the experience of Union prisoners of war through objects in their surroundings. From cannons to canteens, these objects could mean the difference between life and death for these men. Students will study these and other items and discuss how they affected prisoners. This outdoor walking program will enable students to see and touch objects like the ones Civil War soldiers saw and touched, and will give them a better understanding of the Civil War period at Andersonville.

Grade Levels:

This 50-minute activity is intended for younger students up to fifth grade and mixed-grade homeschool groups. It can also be offered as a distance-learning program.

Group Size:

55 Students or fewer

"Roll of Honor"

Program Overview:
Students will examine the experience of Union prisoners of war through items, ideas, and locations that defined their captivity, and discover what made the prison at Andersonville infamous. This program involves hands on learning as students discover the top three causes of death at the prison.

Applicable Georgia performance Standards:
SS8H5b--Analyze the impact of the Civil War on Georgia. Explain Georgia’s role in the Civil War; include the Union blockade of Georgia’s coast, the Emancipation Proclamation, Chickamauga, Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, Sherman’s March to the Sea, and Andersonville.
SS8H6b-- Analyze the impact of Reconstruction on Georgia. Explain the key features of the Lincoln, the Johnson, and the Congressional Reconstruction plans.
SS8G1d--Describe Georgia’s geography and climate. Analyze the importance of water in Georgia’s historical development and economic growth.
CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RST.6-8.4-- Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
CCSS.ELA.Literacy.RH.6-8.1-- Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.

Intended Grade Levels:
This activity is geared toward middle school students in grades 6 – 8, mix grade homeschool, and distance learning groups.

Program Length:
This activity is approximately 50 minutes in duration.

Logistics:
Students will meet the ranger at the National Prisoner of War Museum courtyard before going to the prison site. This is an outdoor program on uneven surfaces; students must wear close-toed shoes and be appropriately dressed for the weather.

Learning Objectives:
1.    Students will be able to describe day-to-day challenges prisoners faced.
2.    Students will be able to identify at least three common causes of death at Andersonville and describe why they were deadly.
3.    Students will be able to describe at least three challenges prisoners faced in Andersonville.

Group Size:
55 students or less

"Profiles"

Program Overview:

Students will explore the personal experiences of Union prisoners of war during the Civil War. Students will receive a prisoner profile card with the details of a real Civil War soldier. Throughout the program they will be asked to consider things from the perspective of their historical identity. This outdoor walking tour will address prison life, including harsh conditions and methods of survival. At the end of the program, students will discover what happened to their historical prisoner.

Grade Levels:

This 50-minute activity is designed for ninth through twelfth grades.

Group Size:

55 Students or fewer; minimum of 25 participants required