The+Wagon+Reinforcing+Activity


 * __Grade __****: ** 8
 * __Theme __****: ** U.S. Studies from 1492 to 1877: Exploration through Reconstruction
 * __Topic __****: ** Civil War and Reconstruction
 * __Content Statement __****: ** 12. The Reconstruction period resulted in changes to the U.S Constitution, an affirmation of federal authority and lingering social and political differences.


 * Materials: **
 * Text
 * Pencil
 * Book
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Graphic Organizer

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Before this activity, students should have been introduced to the American Civil War and Reconstruction period. The goal of this activity is for students to examine the events of the Civil War and its end through the eyes of the boy in the book.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Procedures: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">First, read //The Wagon// aloud. Discuss the emotions and feelings portrayed in the book as it is read. Some sample questions could be:

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">What major events are taking place? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Which war is being referenced? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">How would you feel if you were in their place? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">How does the feelings at the end of the book compare to the ones at the beginning?

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">After completing the book, distribute the Character/Reaction worksheet (see below). The goal of this activity is to use the knowledge that they have obtained from the text to complete the graphic organizer, comparing and contrasting the reactions of the characters in the book to the war’s end and the family’s journey away from slavery. Even though they do not say much about the war in the book, they can build off prior knowledge from material covered in class. They will complete the sheet using the characters of the boy, Papa, grandma, and their Master. Ask students to examine not only what emotions they showed but hypothesize why the felt this way. This can spark a class discussion on lingering results and effects of the Civil War.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Have students write a one page reflection on the feelings and emotions presented in the book and the reactions to the Civil War and the new freedom of slaves as if they were a slave on the same farm in the novel.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Extending Activities: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Other Standards: **
 * __<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Grade __ **** <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> 6
 * __<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Theme __****<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> World Studies from 750 B.C. to 1600 A.D.: Ancient Greece to the First Global Age
 * __<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Topic __****<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Historical Thinking and Skills
 * __<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Content Statement __****<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. Historians and archaeologists describe historical events and issues from the perspectives of people living at the time to avoid evaluating the past in terms of today’s norms and values.