Letters from the Front

This creative writing worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6 and 7 to deepen understanding of character perspective, historical context, and emotional expression through Across Five Aprils. Learners imagine themselves as one of Jethro’s brothers-Tom, John, or Bill-serving in the Civil War and write a letter home that reflects battlefield realities, personal emotions, and thoughts about family life, strengthening empathy, voice, and narrative realism.

Learning Goals

• Historical Narrative Writing (Grades 6-7)
  Students write from a specific historical viewpoint using details appropriate to the Civil War era.
• Perspective & Voice Development
  Learners practice maintaining a consistent first-person voice tied to character and situation.
• Emotional Expression & Reflection
  Activities encourage thoughtful exploration of fear, hope, sacrifice, and connection to home.
• Understanding Daily Life During War
  Writing connects historical events to personal experiences and family impact.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA and social studies standards.
• Strong Literature-History Connection
  Integrates historical context with character-based writing from the novel.
• Encourages Empathy & Engagement
  Writing letters helps students emotionally connect with historical experiences.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for literature units, writing workshops, enrichment, or assessment.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Letters from the Front worksheet helps students bring history and literature together through imaginative, text-grounded writing. By adopting the voice of Jethro’s brothers, learners strengthen narrative skills, emotional insight, and understanding of Civil War life. Whether used in a classroom or homeschool environment, this printable resource offers meaningful practice in historical perspective and expressive writing.

This worksheet is part of our Across Five Aprils collection.