Field Trips
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
Fort Pulaski guarded the mouth of the Savannah River to prevent enemy ships from attacking the city. The fort was considered to be invincible when it was finished in 1847, and it was built with many advanced features. But by the time of the Civil War in 1861, new cannons had been developed. The fort's strong brick walls were no match for the new cannons. The Confederates defending the fort surrendered to the attacking Union forces in less than two days.
This is a teacher-guided activity to be done on-site at the fort. Students will learn about the fort's construction and history. Plentiful photographs and a fort map will assist teachers in leading this tour through the fort. Each stop of the tour includes a question for teachers to ask the students. Correct answers and subsequent discussion will allow teachers to assess students' learning.
At the end of this activity, students will be able to:
1) Explain the significance of Fort Pulaski in the Civil War.
2) Explain the importance of Fort Pulaski to Savannah in the Civil War.
3) Explain the role of new technology in the quick surrender of Fort Pulaski.
Vocabulary
Casemate--a strongly built room designed to hold a cannon.
Magazine--a roomdesigned to hold gunpowder and ammunition.
Parade ground--a large, flat grassy area where soldiers practiced marching and loading their weapons.
Materials
Download Field Trip Guide (self-guided tour materials)
Tags: forts
Last updated: September 7, 2018