Civil War nurse Louisa May Alcott wrote letters home describing her work caring for wounded soldiers. These letters were the foundation for her later successful writing of Little Women. Sources, Maps, Bibliography

How serving as a nurse to wounded soldiers led to her distinguished career as an author. ( )

This book follows the life of Louisa May. She always wanted to help in the Civil War, but because she was a woman, she couldn't fight. Instead, she becomes a nurse, taking care of each and every solider with love and care. She becomes ill and is taken home. After she became better, she wrote the book Little Women ( )

Summary of Book
This book begins with the introduction of the Luisa May’s family. Luisa grows up in an environment where she sees her father fighting for rights of blacks through out his educational career. She becomes an educator but is motivated to become a nurse for the military. She helps and learns form the soldiers she is taking care of. When she returns she finally begins writings. She becomes a famous writer and is able to help out her family financially.

Personal Reaction
I grew up loving the book and movie Little Women. My sister and cousins will play that each owns of us were one of the March sisters. I knew little women were loosely base of her but I never knew that she was a nurse.

Extension Idea
Begin by asking each student to pick his or her favorite book. Students will complete an author study of their favorite book. Students will read aloud their author study to the class. ( )

Louisa May wanted to fight in the war but since she was a woman she decided to become a nurse and help take care of the wounded soldiers. She sailed on a ship, and rode in a train to where she arrived in Washington where she opened up her own "hospital". She wrote letters which eventually turned into a book called "hospital sketches". She also wrote Little Women.