Celebrating the Unsung

A Civil War Biography Project

The Swannanoa Valley Historical Society has decided to

create a room dedicated to unsung figures from the Civil War and
has asked you to research and propose a soldier to be included in the
room. You will use databases of letters and diaries written by
soldiers during the Civil War to select a single soldier who has
written enough letters, or a complete diary, to show what the
experience of a foot soldier was like.
As part of your proposal you are to create a digital display
that chronicles your chosen persons experiences during the Civil
War. Your display will include a combination of text, images, links to websites, as well as videos that all
explain what your person did, where they were, what larger campaign or battle they were involved in, and
how they felt about it.
Your display should contain a minimum of ___ events, but more is expected. Each event should
include an image, a paragraph in your words explaining how your soldier was feeling at the time, AND at
least one link to an outside source, text, or video that gives the viewer a clearer idea of what your soldier
was doing. For example, if your soldier was on guard duty you can include a link to a website that gives
information on camp life or a video of a soldier on guard duty. If your soldier was in a hospital with a
wound, you could include a link to video that explains Civil War medical procedures, finally, if your soldier
was in a skirmish that was part of the Vicksburg campaign, then you could include a link to videos, text,
maps, or websites about that campaign.
Before you begin your digital project, you are required to print at least ___ letters from your soldier.
Each letter will need a brief summary, your interpretation of the letters tone, evidence for that tone, and
evidence that shows you researched where the letter was written. These must be presented to me BEFORE
you begin the digital part of your project.
The Swannanoa Valley Historical Society has asked that your display be one of the following:
1. An interactive timeline. Use the web2.0 tool www.timetoast.com to cr eate a timeline with inter active dates
along a chronological sequence that allow your viewer to see images, read original text, explore links, and/or
view videos that tell the story of your persons experiences.
2. A Google Earth field trip. Fly your audience to the geogr aphical locations that your per son was in dur ing
the war and explain what they were doing there and what was happening using images and original text, videos
and/or links to outside sources. The path your viewer takes should be in the order in which the events occurred.
Not the easiest option, but the flashiest. This option must be used if you intend to attempt tiers 2 and 3.
3. A website. Using the site www.weebly.com, constr uct a website that shows the exper iences of your soldier
during the war in the order in which they occurred. Each section on your webpage should contain dates with an
image and original text, videos, and/or links .
4. Your Choice (With My Approval) If you have proven yourself dependable and trustworthy, you will be allowed
to either use the Media Centers Green Screen software or the digital software of your choosing to create your
display. Again, this must be approved by me.

A rubric has been supplied by the Swannanoa Valley Historical Society so that you may better understand
their expectations. It is on the other side of this paper. Check this rubric often throughout your project and
have a friend review it before you submit your project for consideration.
Also, as you sign up for the sites above, please remember to use your school email as most sites will need
you to retrieve an authentication email to verify your identity. You can only check the k12bcs.org email at
school. Use your password strategy.
Your project will be submitted to Canvas account by: Wednesday, January 20th