Postcards from the Battlefield

First person perspective using primary sources to create postcards from American Revolution Battles.I like to have the kids write historically from the perspective of someone who was at that event.  Meaning, when I want them to write about, say a battle of the American Revolution, I don't just have them list off facts, I like them to take on the persona of a person who witnessed the battle and is telling the story.
Such was the case when I had my students learn about the battles this year.  I had them research the battle using this form here.  It was basic, just asking them to fill in the blanks on basic information about the battle itself.

First person perspective using primary sources to create postcards from American Revolution Battles.Then I had them create a postcard (I used this template in google slides...though if you have no access to tech you can print it off and have them handwrite it.)  They wrote a first person narrative in letter form to a relative explaining the details of the battle they researched.  

I asked them to make up an address and create a stamp. This could be any sort of picture they thought would make a good stamp during that time period.  Some kids drew one and took a pic to insert.  Others found pictures online that fit with what they were going for.

First person perspective using primary sources to create postcards from American Revolution Battles.Next came the fun part.  The students created the picture portion of the postcard.  Some of them created a picture using clipart and the shapes tool on Google Slides. 
Others found several pictures online that would match what they described in the battle and used that.  
Then we cut the pieces out, glued them together, laminated them, and viola....a postcard was made!
First person perspective using primary sources to create postcards from American Revolution Battles.

And that is it.  It was a quick and easy way to have the kids research and write about the battles.  This could work for any historical event really, though since we were researching the battles, we went with that in my room :)  

6 comments

  1. I just finished an online PDU course for writing standards for grades K-8 and another previous to that about technology with digital tools for assessment, so when your blog post snapshot was featured on Bloglovin' I had to read the full post. I'm glad I did. Wonderful multiple-integrated activity that can easily be tweaked for younger or older students or transcend to art, science, or my area of FACS (I'm thinking maybe students selecting a child development theorist or fashion design students selecting a particular First Lady's inauguration outfit or ball gown with the Presidential Inauguration as the event...hmm...) Thanks for sharing your soldier's perspective from battle lesson!

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    1. Thank you for reading it! I love all the connections you made and ways to tweak the lesson. They are great...thank you for sharing those!

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  2. I love this lesson! I am currently creating a unit for my 3rd grade class. The link with the questionnaire for the students level is not linked. I would love to see what questions you used to help your students.!

    Thanks!

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  3. Hey Stephanie! I love this idea! I want to do this lesson in a few weeks. The link for the form that you used for the kids to research the battles isn't working. Can you post that somewhere again? Thank you! You have so many great ideas!

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  4. Hi Stepahnie,

    I was wondering if the template can be adjusted? If so how can I modify it. Having some trouble in Google Slides- Sorry

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    1. Unfortunately, the slide can not be modified. Sorry about that.

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