TPT is having a sale tomorrow and Wednesday. I have a new unit to share: The Great Escape — a Civil War readers theater script, of CSS Planter’s last Voyage. Included are the script, pre-reading vocabulary activities, comprehension activities and answer keys.
The script is an historically accurate account of a true and undertold Civil War story. CSS Planter’s Last Voyage relates the amazing feat Robert Smalls achieved early in the war. Robert, a lifelong slave himself, led a crew of enslaved men in seizing a Confederate warship in 1862 and sailing it out of Charleston Harbor. They made it to the blockading Union ships with their families on board and achieved freedom
Harriet Tubman told her stories and sang her songs. A battlefield surgeon did the best he could and explained his craft to our students. Our kids marched to Gettysburg and listened to Lincoln. It was a great day for all.
Teachers and re-enactors created a dynamic civics classroom at San Lorenzo Park on May 12th. The students of Chalone Peaks Middle School participated with energy and intelligence. They emerged with experiences they’ll remember their entire lives, lessons about honor, sacrifice and the price of freedom for all.
I thank editor Irene Toh for including “Twilight Fox” in her Red Wolf Journal. I scratched out a rough draft of this poem forty years ago after a day of climbing at Pinnacles National Park. It didn’t come into focus until just a few days ago. Here’s a link to the journal: https://redwolfjournal.wordpress.com
Former naval officer, world traveler and accomplished author Barbara Morris recently completed a review of Dawn Drums that I’d like to share with you.
“If my high school American history class had taught me with the same verve and passion that animates Dawn Drums, life would have been enriched much earlier through a more thoughtful understanding of human strivings, values, joys, ambitions, fears and humans’ surprising moral and physical strength.
Robert Walton’s captivating novel about the last year (1864/65) of the Civil War is energized by the technique of telling this heartbreaking but inspiring story through the voices of the people who lived and died at that horrific time–President Lincoln, General Grant, Clara Barton, and fictional characters who blend into the action as smoothly as silk.
Two poignant poems, “Dawn Drums” and “Silent Drums,” which bookend the story capture the tense mood of the immediacy of battle–of “damp drums, tapping, four by four…to march through dawns’ uncertain door” –to war’s end when “the drums lie tilted, battered and still.”
I had three main take-aways from this engrossing book. First, the needless, grisly carnage of hand-to-hand combat, which in one battle killed 7,000 soldiers in just eight minutes. Walton’s descriptions of battle are so vivid that I shuddered to hear the thunder of the cannons, the insistent crack of barrages of gun shots, the blood-curdling screams of wounded men, the high whinnies of terrified, white-eyed horses and the clang and clatter of tin cups, canteens and spent rifles as dying men slumped to the blood-soaked earth.
Second, by including the voices of the people from every level of society, from President Lincoln on down the chain of command, including volunteer nurses and freed black men serving as soldiers, stretcher bearers and drivers of medical carts, we get a well-rounded sense of life on the battlefield, around the campfires and in officers’ quarters.
Third, Dawn Drums offers a unique view of President Lincoln. Walton invests Lincoln, whom he deeply admires, with fully developed humanity. We aren’t just told what a kind, gentle and thoughtful man he was; we see it in his stern, but playful upbringing of his son, his sympathy and practical assistance to a distraught mother, his compassion and solicitude for wounded soldiers from both sides. These specific details, emblematic of most of the characters, are what drew me so forcefully into the book. Almost every time that I stopped reading, it took five or six seconds to shake myself back from the tumultuous 1860’s to the present day. It’s wonderful when a book can transport a reader that intensely. Other critics online have described the book as“riveting, brilliant and superb.” I agree 100%.
I must reveal that the author, Bob Walton, is an email pen pal of mine. We were introduced, via email, by a mutual friend. We’ve never met but exchange our writings occasionally. Bob is a retired history teacher in California, a Civil War Reenactor, a poet and an award-winning author of books for young adults and up.”
Your Daily Poem Editor Jayne Jaudon sometimes organizes her poetry publications around a theme. I sent her a rewritten mountain poem a few weeks ago. She liked it, but needed one more summery poem about tomatoes. I gave it a try and, though I am daughterless, felt a daughter’s voice would add to my effort, so I drafted the daughter of an old friend. Christina is now a parent herself, though I asked her teen incarnation to speak in Father’s Day Harvest. I hope it will offer a chuckle or two! https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=4153
“Joaquin’s Gold — what a delight! I am still relishing these stories, re-reading and enjoying them again. Before I began, I especially enjoyed knowing that your students inspired both your research and writing. Once reading, I wished I could have been in a class that read, discussed, and wrote reactions to these adventures. Each chapter’s title is an inspiration to read!”
Sheelagh from Idaho
Help me out a bit by viewing the instagram link to “Joaquin’s Gold”!
Teachers and re-enactors created a dynamic civics classroom at San Lorenzo Park on May 20th. The students of Chalone Peaks Middle School participated with energy and intelligence. They emerged with experiences they’ll remember their entire lives, lessons about honor, sacrifice and the price of freedom for all.
We began our day at King City Cemetery by honoring Civil War veterans buried there. Students read “Shiloh”, a great poem by Herman Melville. President Lincoln offered remarks about the difficult, crucial service the soldiers rendered. A rifle volley, a hymn played by Chris Andrew and taps ended our ceremony. We then marched on to battles, seminars and the Gettysburg Address.
Ed Haskell took great photos of the day. Please enjoy his work and the efforts of our young people.
Confederates marchAnxious ConfederatesUnion soldiers fire.Cannons fire.Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth share stories about the lives of slaves.Lincoln gathers his thoughts before delivering the Gettysburg Address.The battle continues.Brother kills brother.Lincoln’s words uplift.
WELCOME!I've dedicated my life to literacy and literature for young people. I'm sixty-three and don't intend to change my focus now. I hope that this site will contribute to both! I hope it will be of use to kids, parents and teachers who love to read.
For Kids: I want to know what you think of my story! Writing can be pretty lonely and authors like to hear from readers. Ask me questions about Chaos Gate and I'll do my best to answer them as quickly as I can.
For Parents: I want to know what you think of my story! I'd also like to know how this website can best help you, what activities here are most effective and what you would like to see me include in the future.
For Teachers: I know how hard you folks work. I'm offering you effective, interesting activities to accompany Chaos Gate, whether you're reading it aloud to your class, using it in small groups, or simply have one or two students reading it on their own. I have (or soon will!) comprehension questions, vocabulary activities and word find puzzles in pdf format for every chapter. Check them out and take what suits you best.
Robert's story "Joaquin's Gold" just won the
2010 Art Affair Western Short Story Contest. The story brings legendary bandit Joaquin Murrieta back to Central California during the 1880's in a search for hidden treasure. Robert hopes to produce a book including all of his Joaquin Murrieta stories. Stay tuned.
Author • Educator • Mountaineer 
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