Guide Entry to 25.05.02
The curriculum unit explores how smallpox impacted freedom throughout Virginia history. For hundreds of years, smallpox played a significant role in Virginia history and impacted the freedom of Virginia citizens. Colonists had to work together not only to gain their freedom from Great Britain, but also from a deadly disease. The curriculum unit titled Smallpox and Freedom examines the North American epidemic in the 13 colonies prior to and during the Revolutionary War and includes a history of smallpox during the Civil War/Reconstruction all through the lens of freedom. The unit is designed to help students develop critical thinking skills, analyze graphs, consider different perspectives, become familiar with primary resources, and engage in kinesthetic simulations. The students will think reflectively in a freedom journal. The culminating activity will be to create a Freedom Banner and describe the meaning behind their banner. The unit is designed for fourth and fifth grade students, but it also could be adapted for middle school social studies or history classes.
Key words: smallpox, freedom, Virginia, disease, Revolutionary War, Civil War, Reconstruction
(Developed for Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics, grade 4; recommended for Social Studies, grades 5-9, and Science, grades 5-6)
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