Clara Barton
T
Using the Mini-Book
After introducing children
to Clara Barton, have them
make the mini-book (pages
40–41). Then read the
story together as a class,
encouraging children to
track the text with their
finger. (You might introduce
any new vocabulary before
reading.) Later, invite
children to reread their
books in small groups, with
partners, or individually.
Related Reading
Clara Barton: Angel of the
Battlefield by Rae Bains (Troll
Communications, 1997)
Clara Barton: Spirit of the
American Red Cross by Patricia
Lakin (Aladdin, 2004)
Time For Kids: Clara Barton:
Angel of the Battlefield by
the editors of Time For Kids
(Collins, 2008)
(1821–1912)
houghts of Clara Barton, born on December 25, bring images of
battlefield nursing to mind. Before going to the battlefields, however,
Barton taught and started the first free school in New Jersey. When the
school grew from six students to 600, a new school was built and a male
principal hired. Barton then moved to Washington, D.C. to become the
first female copyist at the U.S. Patent Office. When the Civil War began,
and wounded soldiers poured into Washington, she lobbied for and got
permission to take medical supplies directly to the battlefields. The sight of a
woman on the battlefield moving from one wounded man to another was so
unusual that Barton became referred to as the “Angel of the Battlefield.” After
the war ended in 1865, she worked tirelessly to determine what happened to
thousands of missing soldiers.
Later, during a trip to Europe, Barton worked with a relief organization
called the International Red Cross. When she returned home, she founded
the American Red Cross Society and served as its first president in 1881.
The new organization assisted victims of floods, fires, and earthquakes. After
Barton resigned from the Red Cross in 1904, she became a public speaker
and wrote books—including one titled The Story of My Childhood (1907),
which can be located on the Internet.
More Interesting Facts
✮✮ In 1997, the remnants of Barton’s “Missing Soldiers Office” were
discovered in a building tagged for demolition. Among the finds were
lists of missing soldiers and the sign that had hung outside the building.
✮✮ Once, a bullet had passed through Barton’s sleeve hit and killed the man
she was helping. A carefully folded blouse with a torn sleeve—found in
the remnants of her old office—was thought to be the legendary garment
worn by Barton on that day.
✮✮ Barton never drew a salary from the American Red Cross.
Preparing for the Read-Aloud Play
Explain that this play (pages 42–45) is about Barton’s efforts to get food and
medical supplies to men on the battlefield. The trip was a long one for both
humans and animals—more than 60 miles—but she insisted on continuing
without rest. When reading the play, invite the children that comprise
Choruses 1 and 2 to create the clip-clop sound of mules’ hooves. They might
continue the rhythm softly in the background throughout the choral chant.
Using the Activity Page
Barton was a faithful humanitarian. Ask children to think of a person they
know who gives faithfully to others. After they complete the three sections
at the top of page 46, have children write a thank-you note at the bottom to
their chosen person.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
39
by
She remembered her father’s war stories.
When Clara was older, the Civil War began.
Angel of the
Battlefield
Clara
Barton
2
3
1
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
She took them to the battlefield.
Clara got medicine and food.
He told of our fight to be free from England.
Clara’s father told her tales of war.
earthquakes, floods, and fires.
6
7
others just as Clara did.
Cross. Today, the American Red Cross helps
Everyone said she was an angel.
She helped people who had been in
5
At age 59, Clara started the American Red
4
Clara also helped take care of the hurt men.
After the war, Clara still helped others.
They thought she was brave.
They were glad she came to help.
The doctors there needed supplies.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources • (page 41)
Clara Barton
An Angel Named Clara
Read-Aloud Play
Characters
Narrators 1–4
Clara
Choruses 1 & 2
Doctors 1 & 2
Driver
Narrator 1:
Men were fighting a battle in Maryland.
Narrator 2:
Clara knew it was time to get busy.
Narrator 3:
People helped her load a wagon.
They filled it with food and medicine.
Narrator 4:
They hitched up a mule team.
Then Miss Barton set out on the wagon.
Chorus 1:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Chorus 2:
As wagon wheels creak and grind,
mules pull up a hill toward the top.
A battlefield waits—no changing her mind.
Miss Barton makes sure they do not stop.
Chorus 1:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Driver:
Miss Barton, should we stop here for the night?
42
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Clara:
No. We must keep going.
Driver:
The mules are tired.
We have gone more than 20 miles already.
Clara:
Then we have more miles to go.
We must reach the battlefield.
Chorus 2:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Chorus 1:
As wagon wheels creak and grind,
mules pull up a hill toward the top.
A battlefield waits—no changing her mind.
Miss Barton makes sure they do not stop.
Chorus 2:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Driver:
Miss Barton, we can’t get past the army’s
wagons. They are in our way.
Clara:
We must find a way to get through.
Soldiers need the supplies we carry.
Hurry!
Chorus 1:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Chorus 2:
As wagon wheels grind and creak,
she arrives where the fight has begun.
Some are dead. Many are hurt and weak.
Miss Barton sees work to be done.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
An Angel Named Clara
43
Chorus 1:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Whoa!
Narrator 2:
A quiet farm once stood here.
But that morning, shots were fired
across its cornfield.
Narrator 3:
Clara’s wagon reached the farm at noon.
Narrator 4:
By then, the cornfield was a battlefield.
Narrator 1:
Many men were hurt.
Others were dead.
Clara:
Doctor, I’ve come with food and medicine!
Doctor 1:
I can’t believe it.
You must be an angel!
Doctor 2:
Our supplies are all gone.
We’ve been using cornhusks for bandages.
Clara:
I’ve brought a wagon full of supplies.
Now tell me what I can do to help.
Narrator 3:
Bullets were flying all around.
But that didn’t stop Clara.
Narrator 4:
She went from one man to the next.
She gave water to some.
She put bandages on others.
44
An Angel Named Clara
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Narrator 2:
While giving one man a drink,
Clara felt her sleeve move.
She looked down.
Narrator 1:
A bullet had gone through her sleeve!
It killed the man she was helping.
Narrator 4:
Clara just kept on working.
Others needed her help.
Narrator 2:
People saw her helping all day and all night.
They thought she was an angel.
Narrator 1:
But this angel did not sleep for days.
She was getting sick, too.
Narrator 3:
At last, Clara laid down in her wagon.
She was too sick to sit up.
Slowly, the wagon carried her back home.
Chorus 2:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Chorus 1:
As wagon wheels creak and turn,
she doesn’t want wealth or fame.
She just wants to help, to show concern.
Clara Barton is this angel’s name.
Chorus 2:
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
The End
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
An Angel Named Clara
45
Clara Barton
Name:
Date:
Activity Page
Always a Helper
Clara Barton helped people all her life.
Write the
name of a helper
you know.
Who does
this person help?
What does
this person do
to help?
Write a note to thank this person.
For All You Do . . .
46
Thanks!
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
How to Make the
Mini-Books
Materials
The mini-books require very few materials, and children can
complete them at their desk or at a learning center. To get
started, provide pre-trimmed copies of the mini-book pages—
you can use a paper cutter to cut along the dashed line on each
copy. Then demonstrate the steps below. (Or assemble the
books in advance.)
1. Cut each reproducible
page in half along the
solid line. Then fold the
front cover/page 1 along
the dotted center line.
Keep the fold to the
right side.
2. Repeat the folding
process for each of the
remaining page pairs:
pages 2/3, 4/5, and 6/7.
Stack the pages in order
with the cover on top
and all of the folds on
the right side.
@@ scissors
@@ crayons or markers
@@ stapler
3. Staple the pages
together along the
left edge.
Teaching Tips and Extensions
Creative Timing
With many of the Americans in this resource having ties to several seasonal observances, be
creative with the timing you choose for using these activities. For example, the unit on Susan B.
Anthony is suggested for use during Women’s History Month (March), but the activities are also
a perfect fit for pre-election days in October and November. The unit on Alexander Graham Bell
(July) might instead be used during National Inventors’ Month in August.
Multi-Use Mini-Books
Mix things up a bit with these suggestions for using the mini-books:
✮✮ Mask the text of a mini-book and make a copy of the pages. Then cut out the text from
another copy. Laminate all the pieces, place them in a center, and encourage children to
match the corresponding text to each page.
6
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
✮✮ Have children glue the mini-book pages, in sequence, to a strip of accordion-folded bulletin
board paper. Children can then unfold the strip, one section at a time, to read the story.
✮✮ Highlight selected words in a mini-book and place it in a literacy center. Invite children to
search other books, materials, and displays in the center to find words that match those
highlighted in the mini-book.
Play Props and Productions
After reading through a play a few times, invite children to suggest embellishments they might
add to make the production more interesting, such as an interesting prop, a musical link, or even
an announcer to provide oral credits at the conclusion of the play. By encouraging children to
contribute to the plans and preparations for the play, they will become more fully engaged.
All-in-One Activity Pages
A class set of completed activity pages makes an interesting read. For a quick way to compile
them, hole-punch the left side of the pages and put them in a slim binder. Place the book on your
classroom bookshelves for children to enjoy.
Flexible-Use
Graphic Organizers
The graphic organizers (pages
Nam
e:
9–11) can be used individually
One Special American
American Pride
Mystery
American
or with any unit in this book
to help children respond to
what they learn. After children
complete the activities on pages
USA
9 and 10, you might compile
them into a notebook, then
I wonder . . .
invite children to read and enjoy
the pages on their own. To use
the organizer on page 11, have
children fill out the page, glue
it to a 9- by 12-inch envelope, and place objects and pictures related to that famous person inside the
envelope. If desired, punch holes along the left side of the envelopes, taking care not to puncture any items
inside, and bind them in a notebook. Place the notebook in your class library to introduce a unique and
Birth Date:
interesting book format for children to enjoy.
To extend the use of any of these graphic organizers, invite children to select, research, and
complete the activity for another American with traits similar to a person featured in this book. For Home Place:
example, after filling in a graphic organizer for Abraham Lincoln, ask children to complete the same
activity for another president. Similarly, you might have them use the graphic organizers to show what they
have learned about famous Americans that can be connected to a particular national observance (such as
Women’s History Month), topic (such as explorers or inventors), or month of the year.
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
Born:
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
(date)
Name:
Lived:
Ways to
describe this
American:
(where)
Birth
Born:
Best
known for:
Date:
Hom
e Pla
ce:
(city,
state)
Occupation:
(date)
Draw the person.
Draw the person.
One thing this person did:
One special thing this person
did for our country:
Another thing this person did:
Things that
made this
person special:
How this person
inspires me:
1. Choose a famous person
to learn about.
2. Read and talk about
this person.
3. Complete this page.
4. Glue this page to an
envelope.
5. Put pictures and things
inside that give clues
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
9
10
about who the person is.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
11
7
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
American Pride
Name:
Ways to
describe this
American:
Born:
(date)
Draw the person.
One thing this person did:
Another thing this person did:
I wonder . . .
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
9
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
One Special American
Born:
(date)
Lived:
(where)
Occupation:
Draw the person.
USA
One special thing this person
did for our country:
10
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
How this person
inspires me:
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
Mystery
American
D
Birth
Best
known fo
r:
ate:
Hom
ce:
e Pla
stat
(city,
e)
Things that
made this
person special:
1. Choose a famous person
to learn about.
2. Read and talk about
this person.
3. Complete this page.
4. Glue this page to an
envelope.
5. Put pictures and things
inside that give clues
about who the person is.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
11