Introduction to Civil War Writing

From the Kentucky Museum May 2011 Objective: This unit is designed to give students hands-on experience with writing utensils from the period between 1850-1900. The student should understand technology and handwriting during this time. It is suggested that this be used in conjunction with our Josie Underwoods Civil War Diary lesson. Suggested for use in 4th and 5th grade classrooms. Standards: SS-04-5.1.1 Students will use a variety of primary and secondary sources (e.g., artifacts, diaries, timelines) to describe significant events in the history of Kentucky and interpret different perspectives. SS-04-2.2.1 Students will describe social institutions (government, economy, education, religion, family) in Kentucky and how they respond to the needs of the people. SS-04-5.2.1 Students will identify significant historical documents, symbols, songs and selected readings (e.g., state flag, United We Stand, Divided We Fall, My Old Kentucky Home,) specific to Kentucky and explain their historical significance. SS-05-5.1.1 Students will use a variety of primary and secondary sources (e.g., artifacts, diaries, maps, timelines) to describe significant events in the history of the U.S. and interpret different perspectives. SS-05-3.4.1 Students will describe production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in the history of the U.S. (Colonization, Industrialization, Twentieth Century to Present). Time: 30 minutes Materials: Introduction to Civil War Writing Powerpoint (included) Class set of inkwells (7 included) Class set of fountain pens (25 included) Ink (Included, washable. If you need to make your own, combine two parts black tempera paint to one part water) Handwriting samples (Included) Parchment or construction paper

Instructions: Introduce students to the idea that ballpoint pens were not around during the Civil War by asking them to examine the pens in front of them. Prepare students to write. Students should dip the tips of the pens into the inkwells, coating the bottom 2/3 of the nib. Holding the pens with the flat side of the nib up and the tip against the paper at a 45 degree angle, instruct the students to pull the pen toward them to draw a straight line. This should introduce them to the way that the ink flows from the pen. Instruct the students to practice their signatures with the pens. Talk about letters and diaries, where hundreds of pages were written with pens like these. For clean up: rinse inkwells and pens with water. Use mild detergent if necessary.