Podcast #111 - U.S. News and World Report Special Edition on Secrets of the Civil War

Hello. Today's podcast is about a recent special edition of U.S. News and World Report magazine from July 2-9, 2007 which featured "Secrets of the Civil War" . I picked it up in the Atlanta airport on my way back from NECC. It is loaded with great features and would be an excellent classroom resource. In the podcast I discuss the variety of articles as a preview.

I would encourage American history teachers to pick up a copy or check out the online edition of the special which includes many of the same articles and illustrations.

Direct link to Podcast #111 - U.S. News and World Report Special Edition on Secrets of the Civil War - MP3 Format - 8:50 minutes

You can subscribe directly to the Speaking of History podcast on i-Tunes here

Don’t forget to sign up for the July 2007 book giveaway. I’m giving away copies of two books – Manhunt by James Swanson and Guerrilla Season by Pat Hughes. See Speaking of History Podcast #100 for more details. Just send me your name and the city in which you live before August 1, 2007. The first week of August my three year old daughter will draw two names and I will send them each the book they won.

Podcast #111 Show Notes:

- Online edition of U.S. News and World Report Special Edition - Secrets of the Civil War

Podcast #79 - Interview with Author Tom Wheeler - Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails

Hello. Today's podcast is an interview with author Tom Wheeler about his book "Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails - The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War". I read this book a couple of months ago and found it to be very fascinating. I had never viewed Lincoln as an early adopter of technology but the way he used the telegraph during the war was really bleeding edge in the 1860's.

During the interview with Tom Wheeler we discuss researching the book, his favorite Lincoln telegrams, the importance of teaching history in our nation's classrooms and which famous figures from American history he would invite to dinner. A special thanks to Mr. Wheeler for taking time from his busy schedule to visit with me about his book.

Direct link to Podcast #79 - Interview with Author Tom Wheeler - Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails - MP3 Format - 24:30 minutes

Please feel free to leave a comment to this blog post or e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com I would love to hear your thoughts and comments about the podcast.

Subscribe directly to the Speaking of History Podcast in i-Tunes here

Podcast #79 Show Notes:

- Official site for Tom Wheeler's Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails - The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War

- Purchase the book

- Tom Wheeler's Take Command! Leadership Lessons From the Civil War

- National Archives Exhibition - School House to White House : The Education of the Presidents

Podcast #77 - Civil War Bullet Reproduction Set for Classroom Use

Hello. We are currently studying the Civil War in class - one of my favorite units to teach in terms of content - and this spring I will be podcasting about some of the tools we use to teach this time period in my class. Today's podcast is short but an item I picked up recently at our local Jesse James Bank Museum Gift Store and have used in my class this past week.

The featured educational resource today is a Civil War Bullet Set with six reproductions of bullets used in the war. The bullets are made of modern day lead-free material but give the students a object they can touch and feel as we discuss the changes in weapon technology that made the Civil War such a deadly ordeal. Very economically priced (I picked mine up for $7) and a great hands on resource. Includes a great little booklet with a ton of information on how each bullet was used and some interesting stats. Did you know that approximately 569 tons of ammunition was used during the three day battle at Gettysburg?

If you have a comment about the podcast or a great Civil War resource in the classroom please leave a comment on this blog post or e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

You can subscribe to the Speaking of History podcast directly at i-Tunes here.

Direct link to Podcast #77 - Civil War Bullet Reproduction Set for Classroom Use - MP3 Format - 5:45 Minutes

Podcast #77 Show Notes:

- Link to National Park Service - Purchase the Civil War Bullet Reproduction Set

- Link to Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty, Missouri - Purchase the Civil War Bullet Reproduction Set

Podcast #76 - Civil War Bullet Poem Student Project

Hello. During our study of the Civil War I have always found it helpful to bring items into the classroom that students can touch, feel and experience from that time period. A couple of years ago I purchased an authentic Civil War era bullet from an artifact collector. I think it cost me about $5. It has not been fired and was found in Missouri. There is something almost magical when you pass it around the room and the students hold it in their hand - an actual bullet that could have been carried in the pocket of a Civil War soldier in 1863.

This year I incorporated a writing assignment with the Civil War bullet. The class watched a five minute segment on the Battle of Shiloh from the Ken Burns PBS Civil War series. As the video segment played the bullet was passed around the room and once it was over each student was asked to write a poem from the perspective of that bullet. Where was it? Was it shot? Who held it - a young scared 15 year old or a confident older soldier? How could that bullet change the course of history?

Today's podcast includes a few of those poems from my 8th period class. I have also included a text version of one below:

Out of
the darkness of a soldier's pocket and into the light,
Now seeing before me
that the battle is in sight.
In the hands of a soldier, shaking in fright,
Waiting to be shot from the gun and take flight.

From the trembling
hands to gun's dark barrel,
Now waiting to be shot and cause peril.
Though sometimes it feels painful, it is my job,
There are souls that I
steal and lives that I rob.

The gun goes pow... and I fly once again,
Feeling the soldier's pain as I tear through the skin.
My job is now
finished, the man falls to the ground,
Now I sit there, just waiting,
waiting to be found.

If you would like to comment on the poems or the Speaking of History podcast please leave a comment to this blog or e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

You can subscribe to the Speaking of History podcast directly at i-Tunes here.

Direct link to Podcast #76 - Civil War Bullet Poem Student Project - MP3 Format - 4:55 minutes

Podcast #76 Show Notes:

- Shiloh National Park