Fifth Graders Takes Virtual Field Trip to Ford's Theatre.

Fifth graders recently concluded their Civil War unit with an in-depth virtual field trip to Ford’s Theatre. The experience allowed students to engage with primary sources and historical perspectives surrounding the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

The exploration began with independent research on primary source artifacts available on the Ford’s Theatre website. Students then participated in a classroom gallery walk, analyzing eyewitness testimonies from the night of the assassination. By comparing accounts, they identified similarities and discrepancies and discussed possible reasons for differing perspectives.

To deepen their understanding, students worked in breakout groups to examine primary source reactions from across the nation. Their investigation will culminate in a synthesis of their findings as they answer the essential question: How does analyzing historical images, physical artifacts, and primary source accounts help us understand the past and connect it to the present?