Lesson Plan

Civil War Medicine: Fact or Fiction

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Young historians compare the presentation of medical care during the Civil War in passages from fictional and nonfictional texts. They examine passages from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen, and compare these descriptions to information found in historical documents. The big idea here is to use credible evidence to separate fact from fiction.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Invite either or all: emergency doctor, war veterans, military medics to come and speak to the students about handling trauma
  • Compare and contrast the abilities of an athlete vs. an athlete on steroids
Classroom Considerations
  • Preview all the resources, especially the YouTube video, to determine which are appropriate to your learning situation
  • The video comes with a caution that some scenes may be too graphic for younger students
  • Have a copy of the books Soldier's Heart and Gone with the Wind for pupils to view
Pros
  • The seven-page packet includes links to related resources, activities, graphic organizers, discussion questions, and an assessment
Cons
  • Does not include a rubric for the assessment activity