Emerging America - How Civil War Veterans Transformed Disability

Apr 7

Emerging America - How Civil War Veterans Transformed Disability

*This lesson was developed by Emerging America and links to an external source.

Summary:
All the grades 8-10 units begin with a brief introduction to the topic. Lessons 1 & 2 could anchor study of the Second Great Awakening and other reforms of the period or integrate within a larger unit. Lesson 2 introduces some of the problems with larger scale institutionalization and thus could provide a foundation for further study of the exposés and struggles for independent living throughout the 20th century.

Intro Lesson: Introduction to Disability History

Introductory lesson slides call students to use words about disability with respect. The slides include a definition of disability and photos from the Library of Congress that show tools for access.

Lesson 1: A Nation Shocked by War

Lesson 1 slides offer a compelling battlefield drawing as a question focus for the Question Formulation Technique.

Lesson 2: Care for Wounded and Disabled Soldiers

Students discuss the Union's ability to care for injured veterans. Students predict how disability might impact veterans and the nation. Lesson 2 slides provide data and historical context.

Lesson 3: Stories of Men and Women Who Served

The class analyzes a story of care for a disabled veteran. Pairs or groups analyze one of seven stories and share the main points for discussion. Lesson 3 slides share images and words of veterans.

Lesson 4: Agents of Care

Students analyze and discuss profiles of ten institutions that served veterans. In the unit assessment, students explain how the experiences of nurses and veterans changed views about the responsibilities of government.

Lesson 5: Veterans Today

Students examine experiences of disabled veterans through video interviews from the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Students may research veterans' needs and organize a project to support them.

How Civil War Veterans Transformed Disability - Exhibit

This exhibit should be used to supplement the lessons in this unit.

How Civil War Veterans Transformed Disability supports the unit of the same name in the Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum. It is one of a collection of online exhibits by the Collaborative’s Emerging America program. Each exhibit showcases gems from the collections of Massachusetts museums and models strategies to engage learners through compelling stories and source materials with profound national impacts. This exhibit features 250 sources, featuring the collections of the Library of Congress.

This entry links to the resources that are owned by the creators and listed here for easier access within our database of lessons and resources.

Subject and topic:

Civics and History, Disability History

Grade level:

8 - 10

Duration:

Intro lesson: 55 minutes.

Lesson 1: 55 minutes.

Lesson 2: 35 minutes.

Lesson 3: 115 minutes.

Lesson 4: 125 minutes, incl. homework.

Lesson 5: 80 minutes + 90-120 minutes extension & projects.

Our Notes for teaching these lessons:

Please note that the format of Emerging America lessons at the time of review was not well-suited for screen readers with the excessive use of tables and images with insufficient descriptions. We share this for blind teachers as well as teachers who have blind students who may need additional description provided.

We welcome your feedback as you teach these lessons, Please share your notes with us by emailing us.

Lesson 1: