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The life of a Civil War soldier was full of hardships, sacrifices, and challenges.
Goal
The Join the Army Field Trip Program seeks to humanize the average soldier who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. We will challenge students to learn more about individual people and their reasons for joining the military.
Objectives
After completing the pre-visit and post-visit activities and participating in the Park Ranger-led student education program at Gettysburg National Military Park, the students will be able to:
Explain at least 3 factors that lead to the Civil War
Identify at least 2 reasons why soldiers joined the army
Discuss the purpose and uses of equipment and uniforms
Follow simple commands given for the drills
Articulate some of the difficulties of a soldier’s life
Make the decision, as soldiers, as to whether or not they would reenlist in the army given the opportunity.
Your students will gain the most benefit from this program if they are prepared for their visit. The preparatory information and activities in the above links are helpful as students retain the most information when they are prepared for the field trip, knowing what to expect, what is expected of them, and have some base of knowledge upon which the ranger can build. These activities should be reviewed in the classroom prior to, and after your visit. The grade level of enclosed information may not be appropriate to the level of understanding of your students. We leave the interpretation of this information up to you.
Grade Level and Program Options
This program can be tailored to grades 2-9. Please allow 60-90 minutes for this field trip option. 10 Students minimum/35 students maximum per program. Multiple programs may run concurrently to accommodate large groups.
