"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
