History Labs

An open yellow trunk contains Civil War soldier uniform items
The "You Are A Soldier" History Lab

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What Are History Labs?


"History Labs" are complete place-based, hands-on, and collaborative lesson plans and materials that teachers reserve and pick up on the day of their field trip. Each lesson takes approximately 45 – 60 minutes to complete, and most are adaptable for students Grades 4-12. “Teach the Teacher” videos as well as lesson instructions are available prior to your field trip.

Information on how to register for a History Lab can be found below.

What History Labs Do We Offer?


Battlefield Sketch Artist
Grade Level: 2-6
Location: East Cemetery Hill (Recommended)
Essential Question: How did Americans get their news from the Battlefield?Activity: Sketch East Cemetery Hill while learning about artist Alfred Waud at Gettysburg.

You Are A Soldier
Grade Level: 2-6
Location: Lunch Area Near Bus Parking Lot at Visitor Center (Recommended)
Essential Question(s): How did soldiers dress?What did they carry?How did they train?
Activity: See and feel some uniform and equipment items; participate in some basic infantry drills

Signal Flag Communication
Grade Level: 4-12
Location: Meade's Headquarters
Essential Question(s): What skills and abilities were necessary to effectively send and receive messages during a Civil War campaign?
Activity: In teams, send and receive messages using two signal flags and a cipher code.

Battlefield Science
Grade Level: 5-10
Location: Devil's Den
Essential Question(s): How can understanding science improve our understanding of history, and vice versa?
Activity: Classify & date battlefield boulders; triage battle wounded;examine medical technology.

The Gettysburg Address
Grade Level: 6-12
Location: Gettysburg National Cemetery
Essential Question(s): What were the motivating factors for Lincoln’s trip to Gettysburg, and was the trip and his speech effective?
Activity: Tour the National Cemetery; piece together the Gettysburg Address where it was delivered.

After The Battle
Grade Level: 6-12
Location: Gettysburg National Cemetery
Essential Question: What happened on Cemetery Hill after the battle, and how did it affect the meaning of the war?
Activity: Identify soldiers based on their personal effects; read soldier letters, graveside.
 

History Lab Request Form

History Lab lesson plans and instructions are available prior to Field Trip Day. Pick up the kit and head out on to the battlefield with your students.

Each lesson takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. Kit materials are designed for a class of up to 40 students.

Please indicate which lab or labs you are interested in, and include all possible date(s) for check-out (which will either be from the Visitor Center Main Lobby or the bus parking lot) as well as the approximate pick-up and drop-off times. A confirmation with further details will be emailed to you.
 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

Last updated: August 11, 2025

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1195 Baltimore Pike
Gettysburg, PA 17325

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