The Civil War: An Interdisciplinary 8th Grade Unit
The Civil War
An Interdisciplinary Eighth Grade Unit
As part of the eighth grade team’s year-long interdisciplinary work, we are currently working on the Civil War unit. Each discipline has incorporated relevant and coordinated activities into its curriculum.
Mrs. Blatchley has an extensive program which covers the beginnings of slavery in the United States to the aftermath of the Civil War. This varied and wide-ranging curriculum includes a wide-ranging review and study of the slavery issue and its impact on the United States, the long-term effects of the Civil War, and the ante-bellum period.
Mr. Kim, the eighth grade mathematics teacher, is examining ten significant battles of the Civil War in terms of the mathematical implications. Students can infer the impact of the battles’ casualties in mathematical terms!
Mr. Prichard completes an extensive unit on the Battle of Gettysburg in conjunction with Mr. Marx, our LRC director. A detailed study of the battle is presented and the geological characteristics and features of the battle site are studied.
Mr. Dybeck and Ms. Mersky complete a broad overview of Civil War literature. The curriculum includes readings from short stories, biographies, poetry, and comprehensive novel study. Detailed analysis of President Lincoln, the issue of slavery, and the Civil War are highlighted.
Mr. Marx has also provided a wealth of information and ancillary materials for the eighth grade team’s projects. Based upon the picture book, Drummer Boy, an LRC Power Point presentation reviews the events of the Civil War through photos and period music. In addition a new slide show revealing the secrets of a Civil War submarine includes information and storyline from the Story of the H.L. Hunley and Queenie's Coin and Secrets of a Civil War Submarine.
The culmination of this eighth grade interdisciplinary unit is the viewing of the highly acclaimed Civil War movie, Glory. In it, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
