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The Battle of Gettysburg: Would You Lead the Fight?
By: Elaine Landau
Publisher: Enslow Elementary; Enslow Prod. Inc.
Copyright: 2009
Genre: Nonfiction, Civil War, History
Grade Level: 4th, 5th, or 6th
Brief Synopsis: By 1863, the Civil War was far from over. Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his troops to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. President Abraham Lincoln sent a large Union army, hoping he was in time to stop the Confederate army's advance. On July 1, the battle of Gettysburg began. Thousands of men were killed, but this deadly battle was a turning point that changed the war. After the battle's end, Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address. Author Elaine Landau helps the reader ponder the difficult questions that faced the leaders during this brutal battle.
About the Author:
Elaine Landau- she is a highly acclaimed author of over 300 nonfiction books. She has written on such subjects as terrorism, earth science, the supernatural, planets, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, ecology and a broad range of contemporary issues. Elaine has a BA degree in English and Journalism and a Masters degree in Library and Information Science. Ms. Landau lives in tropical Miami with her husband, Norman, and her son, Michael.
Themes: - Learning about the Battle of Gettyburg
- Important key Historic Figures during the Civil War
- Learning how to read and learn from nonfirction books
- Learning how to read and learn from nonfirction books
Pre-Reading Activities- The students will have to be learning about the Civil War in history. Review with the students the events that led up to the Battle of Gettysburg. They can do this by writing notes or answering questions with a partner.
- Make a list of the main historical figures that were involved in the Battle of Gettysburg. By identifying them they will not look so foreign when we begin the read the book together.
Post Reading Activities:- Answer the question: Do you prefer reading a book like this over reading the information in your textbook? Why? By getting this feedback from students it will help to plan what type of nonfiction book to use in the future.
- Give questions after each section read together (or alone based on the students you are teaching). What would you do if... These questions are provided in the book. They can answer the questions and then discuss them with a partner.
- Watch a short viedo on the Battle of Gettysburg...what information is the same in the book and video? And what information was new? Which source is more reliable? Why? By being able to evaluate their own sources the students will be able much better equipped to research accurately in the future.
Reflection: I liked this book because it contained a lot of information, and it got the students thinking about what they would do if they were put in the same situation. One reason we learn history is so that we can learn and grow from the past, and this is a way we can see where the students stand after they have the information. I like that the book is sectioned off on different events and people from the Battle. It also offers a "words to know" section and index to make reading the book easier. I love that they include website and books for the students to learn more in because we could even use these sources to compare to. This can be used in the sources reliability activity from the post-reading activities.
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