This semester, a multidimensional project for Middle Schoolers blended lessons in reading, research, history, and writing. 

Late last year, students did a “book tasting” in the Middle/Upper School library in which they quickly paged through historical fiction and non-fiction books related to the Civil War and chose one to read. Middle/Upper School Librarian Crystal Hamlin encouraged students to find a “right fit” book that they could read during the winter break as they contemplated the lessons they were learning about the Civil War in Wallace Inge’s history class. 

Following the winter break, students returned to the library to research so that they could compose handwritten letters inspired by the books they’d read and written in the style of the time. They could choose to write a letter about (or to) a character from their book. Middle School English Teacher Mary Hopkins guided students on their grammar and composition, and Mr. Inge met with them to discuss the historical accuracy of the letters.  

This is the fourth year that Ms. Hamlin has overseen the Civil War project. 

“This year, we invited a speaker to campus from Richmond’s American Civil War Museum who spoke about what life was like for Civil War soldiers. For example, she talked about the types of medicines that were available at the time – this was well before antiseptics were available – and how wounds were treated.” Students were captivated by a glimpse into life as a soldier, learning that many survived on hardtack (a cracker made with flour, water, and salt) and beans. 

Betsy Morris  ’31 said, “The speaker was really amazing. She talked about the nursing stations near the battlefields. What surprised me was that if your belly was cut open and bleeding, they would send you away and say they could not help you. The only people they could help were those with severe arm wounds. They would saw the person’s arm off and bandage it.”

The letter that Betsy wrote was about a child named Homer. 

“He is from the book ‘Freewater’ [a fictional account of a secret community founded by runaway slaves in the Great Dismal Swamp, written by Amina Luqman-Dawson, sister of Steward’s Associate Director of College Counseling, Khadijah Luqman]. In his voice, I had him write a letter to his mother to see how she was doing. Homer and his sister had escaped and become free, but their mom got caught.”

To cap off their Civil War studies, students crumpled their letters, stepped on them, and flattened them before painting them with watered-down coffee to distress them. Mr. Inge then used a heat gun to give the letters an aged quality.

Lessons such as this one, which combined research, reading, history, and writing, are an example of Steward’s commitment to its core values of academic achievement, individuality, and inspiration. 

“The letters will be added to students’ spring conference portfolios,” noted Ms. Hamlin. “These student-led conferences will give Spartans the opportunity to share the entire project with their parents or guardians.”