Mediagraphy for the American Civil War

The rapid expansion of available resources and formats has made it easier than ever before for students to “experience” history, rather than just study it. The Civil War is no exception. With the advent of photography and expansion of literacy, many participants and residents of the 19^th century recorded their experiences. With expanding technology, these are now more readily available, especially primary documents.

This topic is very applicable, for in eighth grade social studies the Civil War is the subject of Indiana Academic Standards 8.1.21-8.1.23. In addition, standards 8.1.27-8.1.30 could be addressed. With the standards themselves being more inclusive of higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, it is incumbent upon us to provide a variety of experiences to meet these standards, and to increase understanding. A well-crafted unit should be adaptable enough that students completing projects can meet the standards for additional subjects as well, possibly through interdisciplinary units crafted by a team of teachers.

Audio and video resources are very instrumental in study of this period in history, partly because there are many of high quality and authenticity. Through their inclusion, students might be more able to make connections of past to present. Inclusion of the music of the period and “witnessing” first-person accounts will also aid understanding.

Criteria for selection included grade level appropriateness (especially in the case of theatrical films), availability for purchase, format, cost, uniqueness, recommendations/reviews, and accompanying materials for classroom use.

The American Civil War Series, 1996, VHS or DVD, $199 for either. United Learning, www.unitedlearning.com “This unit of study presents the major events, key concepts, and social implications that are essential for an understanding of the Civil War, its causes and effects. It combines dramatic film scenes, live-action reenactment and historic visuals. In addition, quotes from journals of the period, original and historic music of the time, and colorful graphics and maps add to the sense of realism. Interactive Video Quizzes, Comprehensive Teacher's Guide with lesson plans, student activities, discussion questions and script.”

Review: This series received a favorable review and inclusion in the California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse. http://www.clrn.org

“A Biography of America”, 2000, VHS, color. Consists of 26 programs, 30 minutes each. Produced by WGBH of Boston, in cooperation with the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. Distributed by Annenberg/CPB, PO Box 2345, S. Burlington, VT 05407-2345; 800-LEARNER (800-532-7637) http://www.learner.org/resources/resource.html?uid=123&sj=

This is a prime example of a format “hybrid”. It is available free via satellite, on the Annenberg/CPB channel, via broadband, or for purchase on VHS. Among the 26 episodes are “Slavery”, “The Coming of the Civil War”, “The Civil War” and “Reconstruction” The website above encompasses the video programs, coordinated books, and teacher materials; it also includes broadcast dates and times.

Review from http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/emro/emroDetail.asp?Number=651 (Educational Media Reviews Online)

“Thought-provoking debates and lectures encourage critical analysis of the forces that have shaped America. First-person narratives, photos, film footage, and documents reveal the human side of American history — how historical figures affected events, and the impact of these events on citizens' lives.” Highly recommended.

Ken Burns’ “Civil War”. 1990. PBS Home Video. 11 Hours. Available on VHS ($73.00) or DVD ($110.48) at www.amazon.com

No mediagraphy on the topic could be complete without this Emmy award-winning work. Burns set a new standard for successful blending of “static” resources with thorough research and great storytelling to create an absorbing documentary. “The most successful public-television miniseries in American history, the 11-hour Civil War didn't just captivate a nation, reteaching to us our history in narrative terms; it actually also invented a new film language taken from its creator.” A classroom teacher would need to select the segments that would complement the curriculum. Much additional information, including teacher materials, is available through the PBS website at http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/

Reviews available at www.amazon.com

Civil War Maps from the American Memory Collection http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/cwmhtml/cwmhome.html

The Civil War Map collection of the Geography and Map Division consists of reconnaissance, sketch, coastal, and theater-of-war maps which depict troop activities and fortifications during the Civil War. One of the advantages of using American Memory is that they provide many explanations of how to understand and use the collection, and provide links to related information. Periodically there are even training sessions in which teachers participate in workshops in Washington, D.C.

Civil War Minutes DVD and Video Series 2001. Inecom Entertainment, (877)201-7040, 180 minutes,$79.95.

http://www.inecom.com/default.asp

“Civil War Minutes is less a documentary than a series of show-and-tell lessons. In segments of four to eight minutes, historian Michael Kraus explains various aspects of the common soldier's life, from the weapons he used to the clothing he wore. Interspersed with these artifact-laden episodes are bits in which Kraus reads from soldiers' diaries and letters. Period photographs or sketches, and sound effects such as battle noises form a backdrop to these portions, adding welcome drama to the recitations…The three-hour series, divided into four 45-minute parts, is a great educational tool. Because of its episodic format, it can be enjoyed in bites to fit the appetite of the viewer. An added bonus is several interludes of period music, performed by folk musicians David Kincaid and Greg Singer. Any student or fan of the Civil War will enjoy this informative, entertaining look at the myriad aspects of the common soldier's experience.” Due to the success of this series, more episodes have been produced and are in production.

Review reprinted from Civil War Times Illustrated Magazine, February, 2002.

http://militaryhistory.about.com/library/prm/blrcivilwarminutesdvd.htm

Review from American History Magazine, February, 2002.

http://americanhistory.about.com/library/prm/blrcivilwarminutes.htm

”Gettysburg” 1993. 261 minutes, Turner Home Video, Inc.  $43.45 DVD (no VHS currently) at www.amazon.com

This adaptation of the book “Killer Angels” was praised by many for its authenticity, and the fact that its goal was to present an impartial account of the war from both sides. Perhaps much of that is due to the expanding trend of including Civil War reenactors as movie extras. This could also be a film in which a teacher uses only parts of the film to illustrate different points about the war.

Reviews at www.amazon.com, http://www.movieprop.com/tvandmovie/reviews/gettysburg.htm and the “All Movie Guide” http://entertainment.msn.com/Movies/Movie.aspx?m=175956

Gettysburg: The Turning Point 15 minutes, VHS, Media Sleuth, 1-800-926-8328, $19.95. “Sketches the causes leading to the Civil War and then focuses on the Battle of Gettysburg and its significance. Uses archival photographs blended with pictures taken of an 1988 reenactment. Covers the essential strategic elements of the battle while showing locations of the important engagements. Touches on weaponry, medicine, and photography of the period. Includes a teacher's guide for discussion questions, activities, and suggested reading list.”

Review at www.mediasleuth.com

”Glory”, 1989, 122 minutes, Columbia Tri-Star, special edition  $25.49 DVD,  $14.95 VHS at www.amazon.com

Starring Matthew Broderick, with Denzel Washington receiving an Academy Award for supporting actor. This film was noted for its inclusion of the stories of black soldiers who fought in the Civil War. While using the DVD version could make it easier for teachers who feel the need to edit part of the film, there is an edited VHS version available for purchase through www.socialstudies.com for $19.95. Direct link:

http://catalog.socialstudies.com/c/@AalqXpP_MhPbA/Pages/product.html?record@SS48230 However, there are many worthwhile features in the DVD for teachers to consider, including interviews with the director and stars, related documentary footage, deleted scenes, the trailer, and more.

Reviews at www.amazon.com and http://www.dvdmoviecentral.com/ReviewsText/glory.htm

“Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Gettysburg Address (A Few Appropriate Words)”, 2002, VHS, color, 35 min. Kaw Valley Films, Distributed by Chip Taylor Communications; 800-876-CHIP.

This highly recommended film is a documentary on the Gettysburg Address and surrounding circumstances. It includes scenes from the actual sites involved, period photographs, events leading up to the battle, a chronology of the day, and a depiction of Lincoln’s spiritual journey of life.

Review from http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/emro/emroDetail.asp?Number=296 (Educational Media Reviews Online)

http://slj.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleId=CA210886&display=searchResults&stt=001&text=video “School Library Journal” review from May, 2002.

Teach with Movies Website

The website http://www.teachwithmovies.com/samples/gettysburg.html provides a very thorough guide for the film “Gettysburg” for free. This website has recently been revamped, but offers excellent suggestions for using films in an educational way. The home page is www.teachwithmovies.org, but it appears that it might be in the process of migrating to www.teachwithmovies.com Formerly, it offered many more study guides for free, but it is still well worth consulting. There are several Civil War movies listed at http://www.teachwithmovies.org/us-history-culture-subject-list.htm#5

United Streaming

unitedstreaming.com Subscription-based streaming video and audio (800) 323-9084 or (847) 328-6700, fax (847) 328-6706, e-mail info@unitedlearning.com, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 100, Evanston, Illinois 60201, USA.

History-Social Science Grades 6-8 is a library of video clips and materials that includes more than 2000 videos and 20,000 video clips from more than 100 producers and nine publishers. These support the history/social studies curricula. The clips are indexed and can be searched by keyword, grade level, subject area, or curriculum strand. Teacher's Guides, blackline masters, assessment tools, Internet resources, and scripts of narration are available as PDF files. There are even some states that are purchasing subscriptions for school use, much like Indiana students have had the availability of www.inspire.net free of charge at school. In New York, schools have partnered with the public television stations.

Upon further investigation, I was able to find a price through this website: http://mars.ecesc.k12.in.us/UStreaming.html

The nine Educational Service Centers in Indiana, in cooperation with United Streaming, are offering streaming for $500 per school, per year.

Review from California Learning Resources http://www.clrn.org/search/details.cfm?elrid=1747

Review from School Library Journal of April 1, 2003. “The conclusion of an independent study by the Center of Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), which recently gave its highest ranking to UnitedStreaming (www.unitedstreaming.com), an online service that offers schools and libraries videos (from Weston Woods, CalTech, and other educational video producers) that target core curriculum subjects.” The actual “review” is of a study on the effects of using streaming video in third and eighth grade Virginia classrooms. This article can be read at http://caret.iste.org/dsp_printStudy.cfm?studyid=852

Additional Resources:

The Children’s Museum has a kit, #20K002, with artifacts from the Civil War. It can be borrowed through the Teacher Resource Link. Using these items as examples could encourage students to see if they have family members who might provide another excellent source of items for study.

Conner Prairie has an experiential program called “Follow the North Star”. Offered in the spring and fall, it has participants play the part of runaway slaves. Reservations are a must, as the program generally sells out. More information can be found at http://www.connerprairie.org/events/fns.html The cost is $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

Education World http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson186.shtml

“Civil War Lesson Plans and Activities” site. This has many valuable links and lessons, including integrated units.

Eduscapes 42explore by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson, http://www.42explore.com/civilwar.htm contains an invaluable compendium of web resources and activities for the Civil War. Included are many links to primary documents.

Quia.com webpage with Civil War resources. http://www.quia.com/pages/crestoncivilwar.html

Previously I created this page for students; adding the audio and video resources will make this a more complete package for classroom teachers.

Appendix: The MARC for the first episode of Ken Burn’s “Civil War”:

LC Control Number:	91712576
000	03565cgm 22006737a 450
001	11551224
005	20030320135901.0
007	vfuccahru
007	vfuccahru
007	mr caaadu||||||||1989--
007	vf cbaho|
008	910227s1990 xxu101 mleng
035	__ |9 (DLC) 91712576
906	__ |a 7 |b cbc |c orignew |d u |e ncip |f 19 |g y-movingim
010	__ |a 91712576
017	__ |a PA504-988 |b U.S. Copyright Office
040	__ |a DLC |c DLC |d DLC |e amim
043	__ |a n-us---
050	00 |a VAJ 1861 (viewing copy)
050	00 |a VBH 1434-1435 (viewing copy)
050	00 |a VBG 9474-9475 (viewing copy, copy 2)
050	00 |a FUA 0148-0149 (arch pos)
245	04 |a The Civil War. |n Episode 1, |p 1861--the cause / |c a Florentine Films production ; produced in association with WETA-TV ; executive producer, Ken Burns ; produced by Ken Burns and Ric Burns ; a film by Ken Burns ; written by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ric Burns with Ken Burns.
257	__ |a United States
260	__ |a United States : |b PBS, |c 1990.
300	__ |a 1 videocassettes of 1 (ca. 101 min.)(VHS) : |b sd., col. ; |c 1/2 in. |3 viewing copy.
300	__ |a 2 videocassettes of 2 (ca. 101 min.) : |b sd., col. ; |c 3/4 in. |3 viewing copy.
300	__ |a 2 videocassettes of 2 (ca. 101 min.) : |b sd., col. ; |c 3/4 in. |3 viewing copy (copy 2)
300	__ |a 2 reels of 2 (ca. 3600 ft.) : |b sd., col. ; |c 16 mm. |3 arch pos.
500	__ |a Copyright: American Documentaries, Inc. Appl. au.: Florentine Films, a division of American Documentaries, Inc., employer for hire. DCR 1989; PUB 1Feb90; REG 28Dec90; PA504-988.
500	__ |a Copyright notice on film: Kenneth Lauren Burns ; 1989.
508	__ |a Narrator and senior creative consultant, David McCullough ; consultants, Shelby Foote, Barbara Fields.
511	0_ |a With: Shelby Foote, Barbara Fields.
500	__ |a For viewing copy, copy 2 only: This episode may continue at the beginning of Episode 2 (VBG 9478). |5 DLC
500	__ |a Index to series available from reference librarian. |5 DLC
500	__ |a On cassette container (copy 1): CIVW 101. |5 DLC
500	__ |a Reference sources used: M/B/RS Descriptions files; WETA, September, 1990, p. 27; PBS Video catalog, 1990-1991, p. 99-101.
541	__ |d Received: 11-19-1996; |3 viewing copy; |c transfer; |a Library of Congress:Loan Division.
541	__ |d Received: 2-7-91; |3 viewing copy; |c purchase, purchase order no. 0203326; |a LC Purchase Collection.
541	__ |d Received: 10-23-90; |3 viewing copy, copy 2; |c off-air taping; |a LC Off-Air Taping Collection.
541	__ |d Received: 7-15-91; |3 arch pos; |c copyright deposit--adv. sel.; |a Copyright Collection.
651	_0 |a United States |x History |y Civil War, 1861-1865.
655	_7 |a Historical films and video (Nonfiction) |2 mim
655	_7 |a War documentaries. |2 mim
655	_7 |a Television. |2 mim
700	1_ |a Burns, Ken, |d 1953- |e filmmaker.
700	1_ |a Burns, Ric, |e production.
700	1_ |a Ward, Geoffrey C., |e writing.
700	1_ |a McCullough, David G., |e narration.
710	2_ |a LC Collection (Library of Congress) |5 DLC
710	2_ |a LC Purchase Collection (Library of Congress) |5 DLC
710	2_ |a LC Off-Air Taping Collection (Library of Congress) |5 DLC
710	2_ |a Copyright Collection (Library of Congress) |5 DLC
740	0_ |a 1861--the cause.
952	__ |a Partially viewed for credits only.
953	__ |a TE01
991	__ |b c-MP&TV |h VBH 1434-1435 (viewing copy) |w MUMS VM File
991	__ |b c-MP&TV |h VBG 9474-9475 (viewing copy, copy 2) |w MUMS VM File
991	__ |b c-MP&TV |h FUA 0148-0149 (arch pos) |w MUMS VM File

Mediagraphy Created by

Susie Highley, Media Specialist

Creston Middle School

shighley@warren.k12.in.us

April, 2003