TIPS FOR TEACHERS
Private Cathay’s Secret is divided into three parts to give an overview of her life as it evolved from slave to soldier. The following items may be areas of study to enhance and enlarge student knowledge of Cathay’s era. Use the resources at the end of the book for references.
1. Slavery Period
· The house slave duties and station
· The field slave duties and station
· Slave quarters
· Plantation life and foods
· Incidents and practices during wartime
· Overseers
2. Civil War Period
· Soldiers on the march, Civil War
· Duties and dress of the soldiers and slaves
· Battles of the Civil War noted in the book
· Union officers noted in the book
· Geographical sites and terrains
3. Post-Civil War/Indian War/Buffalo Soldier Period
· Post-war military enlistment · Medical and examination practices
· Military maneuvers and duties
· Hospital practices
· Pioneer travel
· Buffalo Soldiers on the march, Indian Wars
· Racial practices and confrontations
· Forts along the Santa Fe Trail
· Western geography and wildlife
TIPS FOR LIBRARIANS Use the resources at the end of the book to familiarize students with various research tools they may use to collect information. Have students look up topics aforementioned in the Tips for Teachers.