Morse Code!

Today in class we learned all about Morse code and how it was used during the Civil War to send messages and news of the war quickly. We all had the opportunity to send and translate messages to each other. I think today's lesson was really cool because we were able to be participating in one of the activities soldiers in the Civil War did everyday while on the battlefields. Check out the short video we watched to hear how each of the letters sound in Morse code. Your student was also given a handout with the description of all the letters in Morse code, here's a copy of the handout if you'd like an extra one. Finally, I used this online Morse code translator in class to introduce Morse code, and it's a great website if you'd like to learn more about Morse code or want to practice translating into Morse code.

I hope you encourage your student to share with you what he/she learned in class today - it's pretty neat!

Civil War Songs

To further our understanding of the Civil War era, we will be exploring music from that time period. As a class we will discuss music that was written and listened to during that time period, as well as exploring specific music written during the Civil War from both sides. Check out this website to listen to some tradition music during that era. http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/index.html

The students will also complete an in-class project presenting a traditional Civil War era song. Students will work in groups of five to research a song, read the lyrics for historical context, get a feeling for the emotions it stirs up, and record themselves performing it. Check back later to see the videos once they're uploaded on the blog!

North vs South, Brother against Brother

In order for students to understand the conflict that soldiers had to deal with when forced to fight between their family and friends, students will be broken up into Union and Confederate soldiers and asked to research and persuade others to fight for their cause. Students will not be given a choice as to what side that they will be on, so they may be fighting for a different reason then some of their friends.

Students will draw from a bucket their side and position in which they will be fighting for. Then, as a group, students will use the computers to research their positions to help them create their presentations. The student who was assigned as a general will be giving the speech in front of the class. The major and lieutenant will be using the computers to research information regarding their position. The corporals will create recruitment posters, and the citizens will find and locate what their flag looks like in order to draw it. The citizens will also be asked to research what their flags stand for.

As a follow up to their presentations, students will be writing a persuasive letter home to you as if they were a soldier fighting in the Civil War. They will be asked to describe to you their position as they try to persuade you to help fight for their cause. Look for their letters to be arriving in the mail in the next week or so. I hope you enjoy them!

Hello fifth grade parents! Welcome to our new blog, which will serve as a resource to keep everyone updated on the exciting things we will be doing in class. At the end of the month we will be starting a new unit on the Civil War. Since we are located so close to Gettysburg, an important location to the war, we have some great opportunities for hands-on lea

rning. During our study, we will be engaging in a lot of fun activities that will help the students understand our country’s War Between the States. Some of these lessons will include the students researching the flags of the Union and Confederacy and creating their own, analyzing photographs and writing stories about them, writing articles or journals from the perspective of those present for the war, and learning about Civil War Era music from both sides.

One of the biggest and most exciting parts of our unit of study will be our fieldtrip to Gettysburg. We will be able to walk where the war’s turning point at the Battle of Gettysburg took place. Permission slips will be sent home shortly for you to fill out, as well as more information about our trip plans. We are also looking for volunteer chaperone to accompany us on our trip – if this appeals to you send a note in to either of us of your interest.

We look forward to this exciting unit and hope your students will enjoy it as much as we do!

Miss Giunta and Miss Moose