2010 Teacher Institute

From the Educators

July 2010
Dear Civil War Educator and Preservationist,

I am pleased to announce the completion of another successful Teacher Institute. This year we hosted the largest number of teachers, toured the most famous battlefield, and held discussions with some of the most respected Civil War historians and authors.

To many of our attendees, this was the best professional development they had ever been to. I cannot express how pleased we are to have created this opportunity for them. All year long we work to insure that our deserving educators receive only the best because we know how challenging it is to teach the Civil War. Our goal is to provide our educators with the tools, resources, and practical knowledge they need to get their students interested and involved with the history of the American Civil War. Getting students interested today will create the preservationists of tomorrow.

Over the past nine years we have given hundreds of educators the resources they need to teach the Civil War, thus providing tens of thousands of students with a solid education on this historic moment. And so the work continues as we strive to make the Tenth Annual Teacher Institute our best yet.

Thanks to everyone who attended this year, we'll see you in Tennessee next July!

-Nicole Osier, Senior Manager of Education Programs

Donate to the CWPT Education Fund

Join CWPT

Lesson Plan Center

Teacher Institute

CWPT Gifted & Talented Curriculum

Civil War Curriculum

Submit Your Document Based Questions

Contact Us »

Follow @cwpt_edu
CWPT Photos on Flickr
CWPT's YouTube Channel

 

The 2010 Best Civil War Lesson Winner
Sponsored by History™

Perform the play "Uncommon Bonds," created and written by Joanne Bowman, a 5th Grade Teacher from Risen Savior Lutheran School in Arizona in order to teach the Civil War, human kindness, and preservation.

2010 Best Civil War Lesson »

 

Gettysburg Address Materials

One of the most popular speakers at this year's Teacher Institute in Gettysburg was Chuck Teague's presentation on the Gettysburg Address, for which he provided this magnificent Power Point presentation.

Download the Power Point »

 

Anniversary of Gettysburg and Vicksburg

In July 1863 Generals Meade and Grant achieved great victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. The Union gained much-needed control of the Mississippi, a boost in morale, as well as its first lieutenant general since George Washington: Ulysses S. Grant.

Learn about Vicksburg »

Learn about Gettysburg »

 

Civil War Book Collection Available for Deserving School or Library

The family of the late John Peter Canavan would like to donate his Civil War book collection to a school or library for the use of Civil War studies. The collection of more than 500 books must be obtained and retained in its entirety.

Contact Us for More Information »

 

The Battle of New Market

The Battle of New Market is one of the most-written about minor engagements of the entire Civil War. This fascination is in large part due to the participation of the Corps of Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute.

Find our more about the VMI Cadets »

 

Book of the Month

Billy Boy: The Sunday Soldier of the 17^th Maine
By Jean Mary Flahive

Twenty year-old Billy Laird can't read or write, and as his Pa says, "his mind just don't work the way most folks' do." But, when his friend Harry, the only one in town who's ever stood up for him, enlists in the Union army, Billy joins as well. Billy manages military life with Harry's help until he is reassigned to an artillery battery because of his fear of gunfire. The men in the new unit tease him mercilessly, Unaware of the consequences of desertion, Billy leaves the army and follows the North Star toward home. Along the way he meets and travels the Underground Railroad with a runaway slave named Elijah. Billy and Elijah become close friends and hope to see each other again after parting ways. Billy, however, must first face the consequences of desertion.

Written from the perspective of a mentally challenged soldier, this book provides a unique look at the Civil War and includes a compelling portrayal of the battle of Fredericksburg, for which CWPT's interactive map allows one to follow the movements of the Harry's regiment, the 17th Maine

Buy the Book »

 

Trivia from the Archives

A) On July 5, 1852, this former slave delivered his famous 'Fourth of July' speech to the Lady's Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York, in which he discussed the slave's relationship with America's Fourth of July celebration.

B) On July 31, 1863 General Robert E. Lee writes to this man, the president of the Confederacy, discussing the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg and the public's reaction to the Confederate loss.

Answers from the Archives »