By studying biographical information about and letters written by Dr. Robert Donnell Bone, a Confederate doctor, students will learn about the political, economic and social impact of the Civil War on Texas through the impact it had on Dr. Bone’s family. Students will write a letter to Dr. Bone as if they were one of his children, using accurate historical information about the Bones and about the Civil War.
Created by Rhonda Williams, 2004
The student will apply absolute and relative chronology through the sequencing of significant individuals, events, and time periods related to the history of the Texas during the Civil War. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(1)(B)
The student will identify individuals, events, and issues during the Civil War, examining several letters of Dr. Bone. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(4)(A)
The student will analyze the political, economic, and social effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction in Texas. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(5)(B)
The student will identify civic responsibilities of Texas citizens by examining Dr. Bone's decision to serve with the Confederate army, and Minerva Bone's opinion regarding this decision. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(16)(A) & (17)(C)
The student will compare types and uses of technology, past and present, by examining the items in Dr. Bone's medical kit and comparing it with the medical tools in use today. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(20)(A)
The student will differentiate between, locate, and use primary and secondary sources, such as biographies from the Handbook of Texas, and written documents, such as contemporary letters, to acquire information about life in Texas during the Civil War. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(A)
The student will analyze information from these sources by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations, and drawing inferences and conclusions. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(B)
The student will identify points of view from the historical context surrounding an event and the frame of reference that influenced Dr. R.D. Bone and Minerva Bone using biographies, textbook information, and his own words from primary documents. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(D)
The student will search for bias in the contemporary letters and examine the validity of the source based on language, corroboration with other sources, and information about the authors and subjects. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(F,G)
The student will create a document using social studies material by writing a letter to Dr. Bone, based on research and experiences, incorporating main and supporting ideas, using social studies terminology correctly, and using standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(22)(A,D)
This lesson is to be used as an extension of the material that has already been taught about the Civil War.
Put pictures of Dr. Bone's medical kit on the screen/overhead projector. Have students take 2 minutes to view the items, and then 5-7 minutes to answer the following questions.
Lead brief brainstorming discussion regarding actual purpose of the items. When students suggest that this is some sort of medical equipment, identify the items.
Review with students the differences between primary and secondary sources.
Introduce R.D. Bone to the students by reading aloud a summary of Dr. Bone's biographical sketch. Show students facsimile of Dr. Bone's letter to his wife of November 10, 1861.
Pass out Document Analysis Sheet # 1 to students, and pull up the facsimile of Dr. Bone's letter of November 10th. Read excerpt from letter aloud, and then ask students to answer the questions on the Document Analysis Sheet.
Show students the facsimile of the March 23rd, 1862 letter from Minerva Bone to her husband, Dr. Bone.
Pass out Document Analysis Sheet # 2 to students and read excerpt from letter aloud. Then ask students to answer the questions on the Document Analysis Sheet.
After reading these two letters, ask students to describe some of the sacrifices made by Texans to support the Confederacy in the war.
Assign the following to your students:
“You are one of Dr. Bone's children. Write a letter to your father after you found out that he was going off to war as a doctor for the Texas soldiers who had joined the Confederacy.“
The letter should contain accurate historical information about the Bones and the Civil War, so use your textbook, the Handbook of Texas, the Biographical Sketch of Dr. Bone, and the Document Analysis Sheet for background.
This assignment must be in letter form. It should be approximately 1 to 1½ pages long. Remember, in addition to the subject information, you can ask questions, give advice or instruction, and provide local or family news if appropriate. You should also respond to the questions and information included in the original letters.
Your grade will be based both on accurate content and on the use of Standard English grammar. Be as neat as possible.
Extension Activity: Have students research medicine in the Civil War.
