Civil War: Life and Times
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Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO -- School Library Journal, 04/19/2007
(Incite! Learning Series). DVD. approx. 35 min. with tchr’s guide, thought sheets, sticky notes, poster. Don Johnston. 2006. ISBN 1-4105-0847-8. $149.99.
Gr 6-10–Civil War is a collection of four short films that highlight aspects of life during the American Civil War. It opens with a very brief "Time and Place" introduction that places the Civil War geographically and on a timeline. Footage of reenactors in "6th New Hampshire" depict the often dull routine of daily camp life in the regiment, which had many musicians in its ranks and used music to relieve the monotony of the camp. "Atlanta Diary" follows a 14-year-old girl during the 1864 Union attack on the city.She writes in her diary about her alternating boredom and fear, and about how her mother was killed by a Union shell, leaving her an orphan. "Siege at Petersburg" also uses reeactments to highlight the hardships of life for Confederate soldiers under siege during the autumn of 1864. "Underground Railroad" follows an enslaved boy who runs away. During his flight, he hears his mother's voice giving him instructions on how to elude slave catchers and find sanctuary on the Underground Railroad. The four main segments run from five- to eight-minutes each, and lesson plans and classroom instructional materials help students reflect upon and analyze these segments. Although Inecom's Gettysburg and Stories of Valor (Nov. 2004, p. 78) presents life during the Civil War in a more traditional documentary format, these films, which feature young people as the main characters, will appeal to teen viewers, making them a good supplementary choice for libraries that need material about life during the Civil War.
