Introduction for Teachers

Designed by:

Catherine Blaney (catherine.blaney@fcps.edu)

Katie Graap (katherine.graap@fcps.edu)

Last updated: January 20, 2006

This lesson was developed as part of An Adventure of the American Mind Northern Virginia Partnership (AAMNVA), a federally funded professional development program to assist educators in using Library of Congress primary resources to support student learning.

This LibraryQuest is a project-based activity that introduces students to historically centered, real-world experiences.  Students will have a better understanding of the Virginia history timeline through participation in a cooperative learning activity.  The LibraryQuest may be best used as a culminating unit activity or a highly engaging SOL review.

Other Information

Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia

Unit Number/Title: Unit #5, The Civil War; SOL review

Conceptual Unit Question: What do artifacts tell us about the people who lived in Virginia’s past?

Enduring Understanding: Students will better understand Virginia history based on the conclusions they draw from artifacts given to them.

Knowledge Goals: Students will discover what everyday life was like for a white southern family during the Civil War.

Skill Goals: Students will identify and interpret artifacts to understand events in history.  Students will draw conclusions, make generalizations, and interpret ideas and events from different historical perspectives.

Key Concepts: Everyday life for Virginians has changed over the course of history.

Suggested reading:           

Home Place by Crescent Dragonwagon – This is a picture book that may be read before beginning this assignment to show students how to interpret clues from artifacts.