Last updated: March 4, 2020
Lesson Plan
War at Your Doorstep: The Story of the Mumma Family at
the Battle of Antietam
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6.L.1, 6.L.2, 6.L.3, 6.L.4, 6.L.5, 6.L.6, 7.L.1, 7.L.2, 7.L.3, 7.L.3.a, 7.L.4, 7.L.5, 7.L.6, 8.L.1, 8.L.2, 8.L.3, 8.L.4, 8.L.5, 8.L.6, 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.3, 6-8.RH.4, 6-8.RH.5, 6-8.RH.6, 6-8.RH.7, 6-8.RH.8, 6-8.RH.9, 6-8.RH.10, 6.RI.1, 6.RI.2, 6.RI.3, 6.RI.4, 6.RI.5, 6.RI.6, 6.RI.7, 6.RI.8, 6.RI.9, 6.RI.10, 7.RI.1, 7.RI.2, 7.RI.3, 7.RI.4, 7.RI.5, 7.RI.6, 7.RI.7, 7.RI.8, 7.RI.9, 7.RI.10, 8.RI.1, 8.RI.2, 8.RI.3, 8.RI.4, 8.RI.5, 8.RI.6, 8.RI.8, 8.RI.9, 8.RI.10, 6.W.1, 6.W.2, 6.W.3, 6.W.4, 6.W.5, 6.W.7, 6.W.8, 6.W.9, 6.W.10, 7.W.1, 7.W.2, 7.W.3, 7.W.4, 7.W.5, 7.W.7, 7.W.8, 7.W.9, 7.W.10, 8.W.1, 8.W.2, 8.W.3, 8.W.4, 8.W.5, 8.W.7, 8.W.8, 8.W.9, 8.W.10
- Additional Standards:
- Grades 6-8- UCLA National Center for History in the Schools: Historical Thinking & US History Era 5, Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877).
National Council for the Social Studies: Themes I-IV, VI & X. - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
How did the Battle of Antietam and its aftermath have a
profound and lasting impact on the civilians
near the battlefield?
Objective
1. Name three impacts of the Battle of Antietam on the local citizens.
2. Explain what happened to the Mumma farm and Mumma family during the Battle of Antietam.
3. Use primary and secondary sources to perform historic research.
4. Analyze and interpret a historic building, structure, or site in their community.
5. Demonstrate the value of historic places.
Background
The Bloodiest Day in American History 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Afterwards the area on and around the battlefield became a huge hospital and burial ground. The only deliberate destruction of someone’s home during the battle was the burning of the Mumma Farm right in the middle of the battlefield. Confederate soldiers were ordered to burn these structures to prevent their use by Union sharpshooters. Fortunately, Samuel Mumma and his family had fled to safety before the battle. The Mumma family rebuilt the home in 1863.
Preparation
This lesson plan contains maps, readings, historic photographs, letters, and architectural drawings. The materials can either be used directly on the computer, projected on the wall, or printed out, photocopied, and distributed to students. Many of the links for these documents and images will take you to high-resolution images that your students can study in detail.
Materials
This lesson plan will use primary and secondary sources related to the Mumma Farm and family to help students understand how the Battle of Antietam and its aftermath had a profound and lasting impact on the Mumma family and other families near the battlefield.
Download War at Your Doorstep: The Story of the Mumma Family at the Battle of Antietam
Lesson Hook/Preview
"Just in front of us a house was burning, and the fire and smoke, flashing of muskets and whizzing of bullets, yells of men …were perfectly horrible."
Procedure
Students will use primary documents to learn about the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam and its impact on the civilians in Sharpsburg, MD. Each section contains primary documents for students to analyze followed by discussion questions. There are also three activities at the end of the sections to tie everything together.