Sleeping Heroes

I am excited about this research program the state of Kansas has planned for school children in 3rd through 8th grade over the next few years.

I am developing a program to assist teachers in my county.

GAR section at Eastside Cemetery

Kansas State Historical Society Press Release - January 25, 2012

Students Research Local Civil War Veterans 

Through Sleeping Heroes Project

TOPEKA, KS— Attorney General Derek Schmidt will launch “Sleeping Heroes,” a Civil War veteran documentation project for students grade three through eight at 3 p.m. Friday, January 27, at Memorial Hall, 120 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka. The public is invited to attend. The Sleeping Heroes website can be found at kshs.org/17356.

Sleeping Heroes is a collaboration between the Kansas Historical Society, Kansas State Department of Education, Freedom’s Frontier, and researchers John Jackson and Don Lambert to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, 2011 – 2015. This project encourages students to research Civil War veterans in their community’s cemeteries through the use of primary sources. Students share what they learn through an online database. The project was conceived in 2006 by students at Glasco Grade School.

Kansas’ connection to the Civil War is unique. Kansas Territory witnessed bloodshed over the expansion of slavery—some claim the Civil War actually started in Kansas.  After the war, Kansas earned the nickname, “the soldier state” because so many Civil War veterans settled here.

From the Kansas State Historical Society web site:

http://www.kshs.org/p/sleeping-heroes-the-impact-of-civil-war-veterans-on-kansas-communities/17356

In recognition of the 150 anniversary of the Civil War, 2011 – 2015, the Kansas Historical Society, along with its partners, is encouraging Kansas teachers to have their students research Civil War veterans in their community. Kansas’ connection to the Civil War is unique. Kansas Territory witnessed bloodshed over the expansion of slavery—some claim the Civil War actually started in Kansas. After the war, Kansas earned the nickname, “the soldier state,” because so many Civil War veterans settled here.

With this project, students will help document information about the contributions made by Civil War veterans in Kansas through the online database. The project also provides students an opportunity to see the practical applications of conducting historical research using primary sources.

Benefit to Students and Community

The Sleeping Heroes project is a great way to engage your students in doing history—not just reading about it.  The Kansas State Department of Education supports this project. The project meets many state history standards in grades three, four, seven, and eight. The project also provides students an opportunity to see the practical applications of conducting historical research using primary sources.

We are encouraging all Kansas schools to get involved, to research Civil War veterans in their communities, and submit their findings to the Historical Society’s Sleeping Heroes database. Researcher John Jackson of Chanute created the original database and made thousands of entries, most from southeast Kansas cemeteries. The database contains entries for Union and Confederate soldiers. Our goal is to add to this database through work done by Kansas students.

Another important aspect of the project is for students to use their research to answer the question “What impact did Civil War veterans have on my community?” This project is an exceptional opportunity to create a special writing project since student’s work is not just for a class grade but has real-world application.  See suggested performance assessments and projects undertaken by Glasco students for more ideas.