2.+Planning+&+Preparation

**Planning**

 * a. Knowledge gaining:** The students will be split into five groups, and each group will be assigned a topic that pertains to the Civil War. (Topics: Americans fighting Americans, high casualties caused by disease and the type of warfare, widespread destruction of American property, change in status of freed slaves and value of railroads and industry) Students will gain knowledge by first watching a video in class about the Civil War. Students will then gain knowledge about their specific topic by doing research based on the group that they have been placed in, using http://www.civilwar.com/
 * b. Knowledge organizing:** The students will work with their groups to create a blog that addresses their topic.
 * c. Knowledge sharing:** In class, each student will read the blogs of each other group. Students will ask questions about the topics by leaving comments on the blogs. After seeing what questions they have received, groups will put together a presentation, in which they will present information on their topic while being sure to address the questions asked.

**Preparation**
// Explain what preparation is required before the project begins (e.g. arrange for field trip). //

1. Teacher will find a video about the civil war that provides an overview of the war while also addressing the topics that will be assigned to groups. 2. Teacher will create a blog for each of the five groups on http://www.blogger.com/. The teacher will also create a sample blog.