Educator's Guide: Science: Nothing Looks the Same

Background:

During the summer of 1863, Confederate soldiers were fighting in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Union soldiers surrounded Vicksburg, Mississippi. The common soldier of the Civil War experienced places they had only heard or read about. Many of these soldiers had never been away from their farm or community and were now walking the length and breadth of America. The landforms, and many of the plants and animals, were things they had never seen before. One Union soldier at Vicksburg spent hours watching the alligators in the bayous.

Method:

Students will research the plants and animals found in Mississippi and Pennsylvania. Students will create two charts using pictures or text. One chart will show which species were different, the second chart will show which were similar. The class can be divided into teams; each team research a species. Possible species to compare:

• Trees
• Wildflowers
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Mammals

* Remember the year was 1863; therefore, kudzu doesn't count!

Classroom Activities:

• Art
• Science
• Social Studies

Grades:

• 4 - 12

Objectives:

Students will analyze the ecosystems of a Northern Hardwood Forest and a Southern Hardwood Forest.

Materials:

Identification books, poster board, markers, old magazines, glue, scissors