Slyder Family Farm Field Trip

Theme

The Battle of Gettysburg affected not just the soldiers who fought it, but the civilians in and around the town - destroying property, stability and livelihoods.

Goal

The Slyder Family Farm Field Trip seeks to instill a sense of ownership for the Slyder farm in the minds of all students who visit, thereby establishing a sensitivity and connection to the impact that wars have on entire generations of Americans - soldier and civilian.

Objectives

The students will:

• Determine the key causes of the American Civil War
• Follow military movements of the Gettysburg campaign and the battle
• Articulate the Gettysburg civilians' "experience of war," particularly that of the Slyder family
• Discuss 19th century farming procedures, and explain at least two of them from experience (i.e. building a fence, harnessing a horse, loading a wagon, and/or blacksmithing)
• Apply their Slyder Farm visit and experience to civilians touched by the Civil War, and to all societies touched by wars throughout history

Pre-Visit Lesson

Post-Visit Lesson

Note to Teachers

Your students will gain the most benefit from this program if they are prepared for their visit. The preparatory information and activities in the above links are helpful as students retain the most information when they are prepared for the field trip, knowing what to expect, what is expected of them, and with some base of knowledge upon which the ranger can build. These activities should be reviewed in the classroom prior to, and after your visit. The grade level of enclosed information may not be appropriate to the level of understanding of your students. We leave the interpretation of this information up to you.

Grade Level and Program Options

This program can be tailored to grades 3-8. Please allow 90-120 minutes for this field trip option.

Explore our other Field Trip options