Pictures in Local History

The Manassas Museum
9101 Prince William Street
Manassas, Virginia 22110
(703) 368-1873

Instructional Unit:
This project is designed to help students learn about the Civil War by visiting a local history resource that provides them pictures and artifacts arranged to tell the story of the Civil War and Manassas. It will also help students to become more aware of how they can serve as historians of their family and community.

Curriculum Unit:
Grades 8, 9
Social Studies

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to describe how the Civil War, especially the First and Second Battles of Manassas, affected the citizens economically, socially and politically.

Pre-Visit Activities:

1. Using special level materials, discuss the causes of the Civil War as well as discuss the military highlights in the Manassas area.
2. List, locate on a local map, and discuss the places that serve as resources for local history (e.g. the Manassas City Museum, the Manassas National Battlefield Park, the Confederate Cemetery, the County Clerk's Office).
3. Discuss other sources of getting information on local history (e.g. local newspapers, public school records, written accounts through diaries, journals, letters, older people in the community).
4. Enlarge the brochure entitled A Walking Tour of Manassas or use an opaque projector to show the route and discuss the points of interest, especially those dealing with the Civil War.
5. Use pictures to provide background information on the Civil War.
6. Using pictures from textbooks or on bulletin board, do an exercise similar to the one that the students will do while they are visiting the museum.

On-Site Activities:

1. The students will go on a guided tour of the Manassas Museum's exhibition of the Civil War in Manassas.
2. Students will be given a copy of the handout entitled "Pictures Tell About History." Each student is to select a picture within the exhibit on the Civil War in Manassas and answer the questions on the handout.

Follow-Up Activities:

1. Students will be given the opportunity to discuss picture selected at the museum.
2. Class discussion about new information learned as a result of the museum visit.
3. Local history resources will be incorporated into student's Civil War projects.

Appendices:
Pictures in Local History Worksheet

Bibliography:
Books:
Metcalf, Fay D. and Downey, Matthew T. Using Local History in the Classroom. Nashville, Tennessee, The American Association for State and Local History, 1982.

Brochures:
Old Town Manassas , The Old Town Business and Professional Association.
The Manassas City Museum , The Manassas Museum.
Walking Tour of Old Town Manassas , Manassas Historical Committee.
Walking and Driving Tours of Old Town Manassas , Manassas Historical Committee.

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