Professional Development

Teachers sitting at a table examining historic documents
"Days With Documents"

NPS Photo

 

"Days With Documents" Professional Development for Teachers

Your Common Core Connection


“Days With Documents”
Professional Development for Teachers
July 17 – 19, 2024
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.

We have selected a trove of compelling documents from three key battlefield locations that are sure to get your students excited and motivated to further explore this and other critical events in our nation's history.

Plus! This PD will be active--all about connecting your students to the past through critical thinking, key documents, and historic places!

Wednesday, July 17 – Little Round Top
Was Little Round Top really the key to victory at Gettysburg? Explore this newly restored and re-opened part of the battlefield through documentation of its defenders, attackers, commemorators, and restorers.

Thursday, July 18 – Seminary RidgeWhat’s the best way to teach potentially controversial history? Discover documents about Seminary Ridge – from soldiers’ letters, to farmers’ damage claims, and the building and contesting of Confederate monumentation.

Friday, July 19 – Cemetery Hill
Did the fighting on Cemetery Hill make a difference in the battle, and did Lincoln’s speech there make a difference in the Civil War? Unearth documents from and about this hill, from July 1 through November 19, 1863 and beyond.

Workshops and materials are free of charge but space is limited,
so apply today!


How To Apply:
Send the following information to gett_education@nps.gov

SUBJECT LINE: Days With Documents
1. Your Name
2. Name of School/Organization
3. Street Address, City, State, Zip
4. School/Contact Phone #
5. Email Address
6. Grade(s) and Subject(s)
7. Which dates would you like to attend?
8. Questions/Comments/Special Considerations

 
Opportunities for Teachers and Administrators.
Opportunities for Teachers and Administrators.

NPS Photo

 

Note: All programs and procedures subject to change.

 

SUGGESTED READING


GENERAL CIVIL WAR

Across Five Aprils; 1964; Hunt, Irene; the experiences of Jethro Creighton, an idealistic youth whose family and community are split by the Civil War; grades 5-8.

The American Civil War; 1987; Time Life; a series of 28 volumes with excellent maps, illustrations, and historic photographs;highly informative; grades 5-12.

Battle Cry of Freedom; 1988; McPherson, James, H.; prewar years including the political and social events leading up to and including the Civil War, complete with photographs, maps and illustrations; grades 9-12.

Battle in the Civil War; 1986; Griffith, Paddy; well written and nicely illustrated booklet highlighting strategy, tactics, and weaponry from the Civil War; grades 8-12.

A Battlefield Atlas of the Civil War; 1983; Symonds, Craig L.; short, descriptive articles about key Civil War battles accompanied with excellent maps, some photographs; grades 5-12.

Billy Yank: The Union Soldier in the Civil War; 1995; Archambault, Alan; coloring book complete with stories of soldier life during the war;easy reading, high interest level; grades 3-6.

The Civil War; 1974; Catton, Bruce; encompasses entire war, has maps and photographs; grades 6-12.

Civil War! America Becomes One Nation; 1992; Robertson, James, I. Jr.; Excellent overview of the war, complete with maps, pictures, and photographs; grades 5-8.

The Civil War Day by Day - An Almanac 1861-1865; 1971; Long, E. B.; excellent chronological listing of the wars events; grades 5-12.

Civil War Days: Everyday Life; 1987; Bowen, John; nice overview of soldier life during the Civil War; grades 5-12.

The Civil War Era, A House Divided, Vol. 1; 1996; Holzer, Harold, Ed.; Cobblestone Publishing; history magazine for young people; grades 4-8.

Dog Jack; 1990; Biros, Florence W.; Civil War life as seen through the eyes of a young, runaway African American slave, and his loyal dog, Jack; easy reading, part fiction; grades 5-8.

First Book of Civil War Land Battles; 1960; Dupuy, Trevor N.; grades 5-12.

Gods and Generals; 1996; Shaara, Jeff; prequel to Michael Shaara's novel, "Killer Angels", deals with the Civil War up to Gettysburg, fiction; grades 8-12.

Golden Book of the Civil War; 1961; Flate, Charles; covers entire war, has maps, photographs, excellent for young readers; grades 4-8.

The Image of War: 1861-1865; 1981; The National Historical Society; 6 vol. dealing with the war from its origins through its aftermath using extensive photographic approach; grades 5-12.

Johnny Reb: The Confederate Soldier in the Civil War; 1995; Archambault, Alan; coloring book complete with stories of soldier life during the war; easy reading, high interest level; grades 3-6.

The Photographic History of the Civil War; 1957; Miller, Francis, T.; 10 vol. pictorial nicely illustrating all areas of the entire Civil War; grades 5-12.

Red Badge of Courage; 1895; Crane, Stephen; excellent novel dealing with a soldier's (Henry Fleming) fears of battle; grades 5-12.

Red Cap; 1991; Wisler, Clifton G.; excellent novel dealing with a young boy's experiences during the war in which he is eventually captured and endures prison life, based on a true story; grades 5-8.

Sacred Ground, Americans And Their Battlefields; 1993; Linenthal, Edward Tabor; Second Edition, University of Illinois Press; discussion of public attitudes toward five American battlefields, including Gettysburg; teachers and grades 8-12.

CIVIL WAR WEAPONS

Arms and Equipment of the Civil War; 1961; Coggins, Jack; showcases the tools of the Union and Confederate Armies including infantry, cavalry, artillery and navy, over 500 illustrations dealing with equipment, clothing and weapons, good source book; grades 8-12.

Cannons: An Introduction to Civil War Artillery; 1985; Thomas, Dean; introduction to Civil War artillery, ammunition and its use during the war, complete with photographs and illustrations, reference booklet; grades 8-12.

Ready … Aim … Fire: Small Arms and Ammunition in the Civil War; 1981; Thomas, Dean; describes various types of ammunition used by each army corps and cavalry, numerous illustrations, reference booklet; grades 8-12.

WOMEN IN THE CIVIL WAR

Civil War Heroines; 1994; Canon, Jill; short biographical sketches of many Civil War era heroines, nicely illustrated, very readable; grades 3-8.

A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War; 1991; Chang, Ina; excellent book for young readers seeking to know more about the female role during the Civil War; grades 5-12.

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE CIVIL WAR

Army Life in a Black Regiment; 1962; Higginson, Thomas, W.; written by their first commanding officer, vivid account of the trials and triumphs of army life in a black regiment; grades 9-12.

Marching Toward Freedom: The Negro in the Civil War; 1967; McPherson, James, M.; service of African American perspective in the Civil War is presented via key extracts from newspapers, articles, books, speeches and letters; grades 8-12.

CIVIL WAR MEDICINE

Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield; 1982; Bains, Rae; biography of perhaps the most famous nurse during the Civil War; grades 4-12.

Hospital Sketches: An Army Nurse's True Account of Her Civil War Experiences; 1869; Alcott, Louisa, M.; personal account of the author's brief experience as a nurse during the Civil War; grades 8-12.

In Hospital and Camp: The Civil War Through the Eyes of its Doctors and Nurses; 1993; Straubing, Harold, E.; accomplishments and hardships of the medical profession described during the Civil War; grades 8-12.

CIVIL WAR MUSIC

The Civil War Songbook; 1977; (Introduction) Crawford, Richard; numerous Civil War songs, biographic sketches on era composers, history of Civil War music dealing with soldier life, patriotic songs and home scenes, music arranged for piano and voice; grades 5-12.

A Pictorial History of Civil War Instruments; 1985; Garifalo, Robert and Elrod, Mark; pictorial history of Civil War musical instruments, includes 33 1/3 RPM record of military band playing selected songs; grades 5-12.

Singing Soldiers: A History of the Civil War in Song; 1968; Glass, Paul; chronicles various aspects of the war through music from the period, categories include patriotism, politics, army life, love songs, battles and soldiers, musical arrangements for voice, piano, and guitar, good source book; grades 8-12.

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

At Gettysburg, or What a Girl Saw & Heard of the Battle; 1889; Pierce, Tillie A.; interesting first hand account of the battle as witnessed by the author when she was a young girl; grades 4-12.

The Battle of Gettysburg; 1988; Cobblestone; numerous short stories about the Battle of Gettysburg, complete with photographs, map, drawings, and crossword puzzle; grades 4-8.

The Battle of Gettysburg; Coffee, Vincent; describes prelude to Gettysburg, the battle itself, and aftermath, complete with photographs, nicely illustrated maps and color illustrations; grades 4-8.

The Battle of Gettysburg; 1994; National Park Service Series; well written booklet detailing the Battle of Gettysburg, complete with sketches, photographs & maps; excellent beginning source; grades 5-12.

Days of Darkness: The Gettysburg Civilians; 1986; Williams, William A.; novel dealing with personal experiences of Gettysburg civilians as a result of their involvement with the battle; grades 5-12.

Early Photography at Gettysburg; 1995; Frassanito, William A.; Thomas Publications; grades 8-12.

Gettysburg; 1952; Kantor, MacKinley; Battle of Gettysburg; fast moving, easy reading; grades 5-12.

Gettysburg; A Battlefield Atlas; 1992; Symonds, Craig L.; Battle of Gettysburg with numerous maps and articles; grades 5-12.

The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command; 1968; Coddington, Edwin, B.; definitive study on the campaign and Battle of Gettysburg, scholarly piece of work; grades 11-12.

Gettysburg: The Final Fury; 1974; Catton, Bruce; Battle of Gettysburg; good source for young readers; grades 5-12.

Gettysburg: High Tide of the Confederacy; 1987; Time Life; one of the 28 volumes previously mentioned; excellent use of maps, illustrations, and photographs; grades 5-12.

Gettysburg: A Journey in Time; 1975; Frassanito, William A.; excellent photographic approach to Battle of Gettysburg depicting where photos were taken after battle and contrasting with modern day photos; grades 8-12.

High Tide at Gettysburg; 1958; Tucker, Glenn; Battle of Gettysburg and the campaign; excellent beginners' source; grades 5-12.

Jimmy at Gettysburg; 1993; Beitler, Margaret Bigham; true story of young boy (Jimmy Bighams) experiences at Gettysburg; highly readable and quite short; grades 3-8.

Killer Angels; 1976; Shaara, Michael; Pulitzer prize winning novel dealing with the Battle of Gettysburg from which the movie "Gettysburg" was based; grades 8-12.

The Slopes of War; 1984; Perez, N. A.; excellent novel on the Battle of Gettysburg, fictitious characters intermixed with true personalities makes for an interesting read; grades 5-8.

Thunder at Gettysburg; 1975; Gauch, Patricia Lee; Battle of Gettysburg as seen through the eyes of young Tillie Pierce; based on a true story, recommended for young persons who struggle with reading; grades 2-6.

Window of Time; 1991; Weinberg, Karen; Battle of Gettysburg and life in Westminster, Maryland as experienced by a young time traveler; grades 5-8.

THE GETTYSBURG NATIONAL CEMETERY

Killed In Action; 1992; Coco, Gregory A.; Thomas Publications; short sketches of the deaths of many soldiers at Gettysburg; grades 8-12.

The Last Full Measure; 1998; Busey, John W.; Longstreet House; reference book on soldiers buried in National Cemetery; teachers and grades 8-12.

Lincoln And The Human Interest Stories Of The Gettysburg National Cemetery; 1995; Cole, James M. and Roy E. Frampton; Sheridan Press; grades 6-12.

Report of the Select Committee Relative to the Soldiers' National Cemetery; 1865; House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; reference material for teachers and good primary source; grades 9-12.

A Strange And Blighted Land; 1995; Coco, Gregory A.; Thomas Publications; grades 9-12.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Abraham Lincoln Coloring Book; 1987; Smith, A. G.; coloring book providing story of Lincoln's life from boyhood to presidency; grades 3-6.

Abraham Lincoln, A Documentary Portrait Through His Speeches And Writings; 1964; Fehrenbacher, Don E. (Ed.); Stanford University Press.

Abraham Lincoln In Print And Photograph; 1997; Byrd, Cecil K. and W. Ward Moore, editors; Dover Publications, Inc.

Abraham Lincoln And A Nation Worth Fighting For; 1996; Rowley, James A.; Harlan Davidson, Inc.

Abraham Lincoln, The Prairie Years And The War Years; 1954; Sandburg, Carl; One Vol. Edition, Harcourt Brace & Co.

The Emancipation Proclamation; 1995; Franklin, John Hope; Harlan Davidson, Inc.

Lincoln At Gettysburg; 1992; Wills, Gary; Simon & Schuster; grades 11-12 and adults.

The Historian's Lincoln; 1996; Boritt, Gabor, S. Ed.; University of Illinois Press.

The Last Best Hope On Earth; 1993; Neely, Mark E. Jr.; Harvard University Press.

Lincoln; 1995; Donald, David Herbert; Simon & Schuster.

The Lincoln No One Knows; 1993; Garrison, Webb; Rutledge Hill Press.

Lincoln: A Photobiography; 1987; Freedman, Russell; biography on Lincoln's life with numerous photographs, Newbury Medal Winner; grades 5-12.

Lincoln, A Pictorial History; 1993; Steers, Edward, Jr.; Thomas Publications.

Lincoln, The War President; 1992; Boritt, Gabor, S. Ed.; Oxford University Press.

AUDIO AND VISUAL AIDS VIDEOS – GETTYSBURG

Gettysburg 1863; documentary that imaginatively recreates the three day battle using the monuments that dot the battlefield today in silent vigil to the men who fought and died at Gettysburg. Color 18 minutes.

These Honored Dead; provides background for Lincoln's immortal Gettysburg Address. Color 11 minutes.


Numerous Civil War and Gettysburg videos are also available at the Visitors Center Bookstore. For more information please phone or write:

Events Network
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
1195 Baltimore Pike
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325
Phone (717) 334-2288

 

The Gettysburg Schoolbus: A Blog for Educators

Need tips, tools and tricks for teaching about the battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War? Subscribe to the Gettysburg Schoolbus blog!


 
 
 

Last updated: August 22, 2023

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1195 Baltimore Pike
Gettysburg, PA 17325

Contact Us