Civil War and 1800s

The girls and I have been studying about the 1800s and the Civil War for quite a while. This week ends that. We have really enjoyed it. I am fascinated (and sometimes saddened) by so much that happened then.

We've gone on several field trips since February. We started the unit at the Early American Museum in Mahomet. The girls learned about songs the Civil War soldiers sang and instruments that were used during that time. We learned about how the soldiers marched and the chants or songs they used.

We learned about Abraham Lincoln. We learned quite a bit about what he did locally and nationally. Since he lived in Illinois (and even our town!) for a lot of his life, we were able to see places he actually was and things that actually belonged to him. We learned a lot about the different jobs he held before his presidency.

This summer, the kids and I went to Washington DC, which I've already blogged a bit about. We saw and talked about quite a few things from there. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Lincoln's memorial while there. Long story but we didn't make it. However, we saw quite a few artifacts from both the president and the first lady while at the American History Museum.

We're in the process of a 5 part series of a settler study (also 1800s) at the Early American Museum. We're learning about the grasses and plants of the original Illinois prairies and we're learning about the way people lived while here and shopped and bought and traded. We're learning about businesses that were started and why. It's been so interesting.

Last Tuesday, Paul's sister Emily and her husband Gene came to talk to our homeschool group about the Civil War. They've been re-enactors for over 30 years. They are licensed with the state to be a Historical Society so they're able to carry things that you or I wouldn't be able to because it's illegal. (Like laudnum)


(Emily and Gene in their Civil War clothing)


(Gene playing a Civil War tune for us)



Gene's telling us about the rifle and how they had to load it.

Emily is showing us how the girls used to wear their bonnets. If you tie it on the side, it means you're single. In the middle, you're married. Lauren was her model.

Some of our group.