Shared Struggles

This worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they analyze multiple perspectives, point of view, tone, and emotional experience through two firsthand historical excerpts from the Civil War era. By comparing a soldier’s account with that of a civilian woman living in Gettysburg, learners deepen historical understanding, empathy, and critical reading skills while examining how personal narratives shape our view of the past.

Learning Goals

• Multiple Historical Perspectives (Grades 5-7)
  Compare how war is experienced and described by people in different roles.
• Point of View & Tone Analysis
  Identify differences in tone, emotion, and perspective across two primary-style texts.
• Comparing & Contrasting Texts
  Use a structured chart to analyze similarities and differences.
• Historical Interpretation
  Evaluate how personal accounts influence understanding and reliability of historical events.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with social studies and ELA standards.
• Guided Comparison Chart
  Helps students organize thinking clearly and visually.
• Empathy-Building Focus
  Encourages understanding of emotional experiences during wartime.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Suitable for independent work, partner activities, discussion, or assessment.
• Low-Prep Format
  Print-and-go worksheet for classroom or homeschool instruction.

This printable worksheet strengthens skills in comparing perspectives, analyzing tone, and interpreting firsthand accounts while deepening understanding of Civil War social history. By examining how war affects individuals differently, students develop empathy, sourcing skills, and stronger historical reasoning. It’s a meaningful, engaging resource for both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our historical text worksheets collection.