Round Tops Field Trip

A Ranger leads a Round Tops Field Trip Program

NPS Photo

Theme

Hike in the footsteps of the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment as they try to find the end of the United States Army on July 2, 1863.

Goal

The Round Tops Field Trip Program seeks to personalize the battle by having each class walk in the footsteps and learn about the sacrifice of those who fought here. We hope to humanize these people and bring thier experiences to life. We do this by exploring the memory of what happened here through two men who fought against each other. Colonel William Oates of the 15th Alabama never forgot what happend here. For the rest of his days he worked diligently to reconstruct the battle from his perspective. His opponent, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, shaped the way the battlefield looks and we understand the battle today. What Role does memory play in history?

Objectives

The students will:

• Understand what role memory plays in historical analysis
• Explore the terrain, gaining appreciation for the hardships of military life
• Discover the lives of William Oates and Joshua Chamberlain and how they are interconnected
• Understand determination and how it played a role in the battle

A Note to Teachers

Your students will gain the most benefit from this program if they are prepared for their visit. The preparatory information and activities in the attached booklet 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 with some base of knowledge upon which the ranger can build. These activities should be reviewed in the classroom prior to 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.

New pre-visit and post-visit activities will be posted soon as a simplification of the attached booklet.

Battlefield Footsteps Booklet

Grade Level and Program Options

This program can be tailored to grades 4-12. Please allow 90 mintues for this field trip option. If you have addtional time, this hike can be extended.

 

Explore our other Field Trip options