War Time Letter:Pre Reading Activity for

Shades of Gray

by Carolyn ReederSuzanne Herder

Alexandria, Virginia

You are going to read a real letter written during the Civil War. As you read the letter, think about this…

How do primary sources shape our view of history?

As you read the first page of a letter, think about what it is saying…

What was the purpose of this letter?

Read the second page of this letter.

What else are we learning in this letter?

Why did the writer include his own address?

Why did the writer decide to include an envelope? What does this make you think about the tone of the letter?

Reading Between the Lines…

As you read the next page, think about these things…

What questions do you still have after reading this letter?

What do you think happened to Erastus Haskell?

Read the opening lines of another letter to find out what happened:

Letters can tell us about history. They can show us what life was like for everyday people.

During the Civil War, many lost their lives on the battlefields. These letters show us that many people also died of diseases like typhoid.

Suggestions for follow up activities…

1. These letters were written by Walt Whitman. Do some research about Walt Whitman, and find out about some of his notable achievements. Share this information in a slideshow or in an oral report.

2. Visit to read the letters we have been discussing. Pretend you are Mr. or Mrs. Haskell. Write a letter back to Walt Whitman. What would be your purpose for writing? What would you (they) want to say?

3. Research the disease typhoid. What did people need to do to protect themselves against this disease during the Civil War? How about now? Share your findings with classmates.