PURPOSE: This activity will give the students a sense of belonging to a group that functions together as trained soldiers did, and to help them appreciate the discipline involved.
TYPICAL COMPANY IN FORMATION, READY TO ADVANCE
G F G
FRONT RANK: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOC
REAR RANK: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS
FILE CLOSERS: S Lt. S Lt. S
Key:
F G- flagbearer and color guards
C- captain of the company
OOOOO- privates and corporals
Lt. S- lieutenants and sergeants
PROCEDURE:
Using elected officers and this diagram as a reference, have the students get into formation on a large open area. Students should line up shoulder to shoulder, each line labeled as a rank. You can use just one Lieutenant and one Sergeant as file-closers. The file-closers always stay to the rear while on the march. The flag-bearers will always be at center-front of the formation when on the march and always lead the company in the direction the captain wishes for it to go. The captain will give the orders to the company, always starting with the word "Company". The Lieutenant may also practice giving orders. It is the job of the sergeants and corporals to make certain everything goes smoothly.
Try some of the following commands with our class-company . . .
"ATTENTION, COMPANY!". (stand tall, face forward, silence)
"COMPANY! RIGHT FACE!". (quarter turn right)
"COMPANY! LEFT FACE!" (quarter turn left)
"COMPANY! ABOUT FACE!" (half turn)
"COMPANY! AT EASE!. (relax, stay in place, silence)
"COMPANY! FORWARD MARCH!". (move forward in step)
"COMPANY, HALT!" (stop)
"COMPANY, DRESS THE LINE!". (straighten up positions)
"Gettysburg: The Soldiers’ Battle" Pre-broadcast Activities
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Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325