Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero

Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero

By: Marissa Moss & John Hendrix

Published by: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Teachers' Choice List 2012

Biography

In this historical biography we learn about Sarah Edmonds who changes her identity to a man named Frank Thompson to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Sarah Edmonds had already been dressing as a man for three years to escape an arranged marriage, so this would be easy. She signed up and was assigned to Company F, Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry of the Army of the Potomac. First, Sarah was a private in the army, fighting alongside the other men in the ar. Then, Sarah became a nurse in the field, pulling injured men out of the war zone and healing their wounds. However, the most important job Sarah had was a spy for the Union. She dressed as a slave and went into a Confederate camp to learn their tactics. After working with the slaves for a few days, she went back to her camp and reported what she had found. She, a woman, had just done one of the hardest jobs in the war, and still everyone thought she was a man!

 Reading Level:

     Grade Level: 2-6

Suggested Delivery:

     Read Aloud

Electronic Resources:

http://www.californiayoungreadermedal.org/ResourceGuide2012-2013/6PBOR.pdf
This link brings you to a PDF full of ideas and activities for this story. The info in this PDF would be helpful to teachers teaching this book. There is info about the author and the illustrator, along with a plot summary, hooks for the class, connections to be made and a script for a readers' theater. There is also a list of writing prompts to go along with the story.
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/civilwar/a/sarah_edmonds.htm
This site gives a little more background information about Sarah Edmonds. The biography gives her birth and death dates, along with a brief summary of her life.
http://womenshistory.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=womenshistory&cdn=education&tm=22&gps=82_4_1280_651&f=10&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&st=24&zu=http%3A//userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvets2.html
Obviously, Sarah Edmonds' involvement in the war was unconventional for a woman, but women were still involved in other ways. This site gives many famous examples of women who were involved in the Civil War.
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/civilwar/cwar.htm
This site is all about the Civil War. The site was made by a class in New York who was learning about the Civil War as well. Before reading this story, it is important for students to understand at least the basic facts about the war. This site has a timeline, the north and south informations, the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclomation and more!

Key Vocabulary:
Minie ball, anesthetic, Confederate, The Union, dolt, picket, forifications, sentries


Comprehension Strategies:

 

Before Reading:

Going over some of the harder vocabulary from the story will ensue a quick history lesson about the Civil War. Having some background knowledge about the Civil War is important for students to understand what is going on in the story. Post all of the Civil War related words on the board to begin a discussion about the words. Have students share their knowledge of each word to try to 'decode' the meanings. Introducing the story will be easier now by explaining to the students that the story is of an unconventional soldier in the war.

 

During Reading:

While reading the story aloud to students, have students try to put themselves in Sarah's shoes. What do they think it was like to be a girl in an all male army? What pride do they think she must have felt when she succeeded on her spy mission?

After Reading:
After reading students can discuss how difficult it must have been for her and how they felt, imagining themselves in her position. After getting to hear one experience of a soldier in the Civil War, the class can read a play together in reader's theatre to emphasize the importance and different view points of the war. The following link includes a play with a basic plot about the Civil War. http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/lesson-plans/civil-war-play/civil-war-play-lesson-plan.html

Writing Activity:
Have students think about the emotions Sarah Edmonds must have felt in her experiences during the Civil War. Have students write a journal entry as if they were Sarah, with details from the story.

 

Moss, Marissa, and John Hendrix. Nurse, soldier, spy: the story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War hero. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2011. Print.