BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
(10 MINUTES)

Have students preview the play by examining its title, the central image, and the map.

FULL-CLASS READING
(20 MINUTES)

Assign roles and read the play aloud together. Encourage students to read their assigned roles with feeling.

CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS
(10 MINUTES)

Have students write their answer to each question, or use these prompts to guide a discussion.

• COMPARE AND CONTRAST: Based on information about the setting, compare and contrast daily life then and now. How is life for us today different from that of the characters in the play? How is it similar?

• TEXT STRUCTURE: What is the purpose of the narrators in this play? How does the narrators’ role contribute to your understanding of the historical event?

• MAIN IDEA: What historical event or person is featured in this play?

• CAUSE AND EFFECT: What is the cause of the conflict in the play? What is the result of that conflict?

• CITING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE: Which character in the play could be described as either a hero or a villain? Cite evidence in the text that supports your answer.

• TEXT FEATURES: What is the purpose of the map that is included with the play? How does it contribute to your understanding of the events in the play?

• MAKING INFERENCES: In the play, characters or countries form alliances. Explain: Why do they choose to work together? What does each hope to accomplish?

• SUMMARIZING: Describe the lasting historical significance of the key event and/or historical figures featured in the play.

• DRAWING CONCLUSIONS: Are any issues or conflicts occurring today related to the people or events featured in the play?

TEXT FEATURES
Assign the skills sheets Determining Key Ideas and Details: What’s the Story?, a graphic organizer for reviewing what they’ve read, and Building Vocabulary: Casting Call, key terms to know when discussing a play’s key characters and plot.

CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND CREATING A PRESENTATION
Have students research and create a time line of major events and battles during the Civil War using britannica.com and other trustworthy sources.

CREATE A MOVIE TRAILER
Divide students into groups. Ask each group to imagine that their play is going to be produced as a movie. Have them write, produce, and record a trailer to promote the feature film. They may write a script, design a set, and prepare costumes for the production of their trailer.

CONNECTING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT: SUMMARIZING
The play has a sidebar connecting its historical events to modern times. Ask students to write a paragraph summarizing its main ideas and supporting details.

PERFORM THE PLAY
Have students work in groups to rehearse and perform the play. Encourage them to design a set, scenery, props, and costumes to enhance their performance.