Alan Pitts
Civil War for 4th graders
Thu Dec 28 11:55:31 2000


This is a great age. A colorful map of Alabama was printed for the centennial in 1961 which would be helpful; I've seen them offered on ebay for about ten dollars. Any of the Time Life books will help, too. I've always liked Jack Coggins, Arms and Equipment of the Civil War, for illustrations and basic how-and-why information.

When I do school presentations, I ask for a VCR and show kids two or three five-minute scenes from "Gettysburg":
Part 1 - line of battle scene from Little Round Top,
showing muskets being loaded and fired;
Part 2 - Lewis Armistead talking with an English
officer about why his Virginians fight;
Part 2 - Armistead's Brigade forms line of battle -
wonderful scene.
I also like the opening scene from "Sommersby", in which Richard Geer walks home to Tennessee from prison camp. I don't really like his uniform, but otherwise it's unlike anything I've seen - great background scenes and music.

By this point your boys want to enlist and find Yankees to fight; hopefully you'll have their attention on anything else related to the war. For the girls, please find the story of Emma Samson and have that read. She's a great role model. I'd also check to see if you can find one or more of Bobby Horton's CD's or tapes for his Homespun Songs of the Ciil War. The books will be at your local library; if not, ask for help with interlibrary loan.

If your school is within reasonable driving distance of Birmingham, I might be able to arrange to take some time away from work and do a presentation.