Lesson Plan

Abe’s Childhood Adventures

First Lincoln Memorial

First Lincoln Memorial, the first national memorial built to honor Lincoln.

National Park Service

Grade Level:
Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
State Standards:
Kentucky
Reading
RI.K.1 
RI.K.3 
RI.1.1
RI.1.3 
RI.2.1 
RI.2.3
Thinking Skills:
Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

How did Lincoln's actions influence American history?

Objective

Students will listen to a read-aloud about Abraham Lincoln and demonstrate understanding by identifying key details from the story, such as Lincoln's early life, important events, and contributions. They will engage in discussions about Lincoln's character traits and how his actions influenced American history.

Background

To successfully implement a reading lesson about Abraham Lincoln through a read-aloud for kindergarten through second grade students, the teacher needs comprehensive content knowledge about Lincoln's life, focusing on key biographical details such as his early years in Kentucky and Indiana, his career as a lawyer, and his presidency during the Civil War. Understanding Lincoln's character traits, such as honesty, perseverance, and compassion, and how these traits influenced his actions is crucial.  

Preparation

  • Read aloud that discusses Abe Lincoln's childhood (Suggested: Abe Lincoln: The Boy who Loved Books by Kay Winters and Nancy Carpenter, Young Abraham Lincoln, The Story of Abraham Lincoln) 

  • Large picture of Abraham Lincoln 

  • Whiteboard or chart paper 

  • Markers or chalk 

  • Drawing materials (paper, crayons/markers) 

  • Discussion questions about the book 

  • Graphic Organizer

Materials

Graphic Organizer, Story Map

Download Graphic Organizer

Lesson Hook/Preview

Begin by displaying a large picture of Abraham Lincoln and asking students what they know about him. Engage their curiosity by posing questions like, "Why do you think Lincoln is famous?" or "What do you think Lincoln was like when he was a little boy?"  

Procedure

Step One:  

Introduction (5 minutes): 

  1. Introduce the read aloud and show them the cover and ask what they think the book might be about based on the title and illustrations. 

  1. Explain that they will be learning about Abraham Lincoln's childhood and his love for books and learning. 

Step Two: 

Reading Aloud (15-20 minutes): 

  1. Begin reading the book aloud to the students. Encourage them to listen carefully to the story and pay attention to details about Lincoln's life as a young boy. 

  1. Pause occasionally to discuss the illustrations, ask questions about the story, and ensure students are following along and understanding. 

Step Three:  

Discussion and Activities (10-15 Minutes) 

After reading, lead a discussion with the students about what they learned about Lincoln's childhood from the book. Use open-ended questions such as: 

  • "What did Abraham Lincoln like to do when he was a boy?" 

  • "Why do you think Lincoln loved books so much?" 

  • "How did Lincoln's love for books help him when he grew up?" 

Step Four: 

On the whiteboard or chart paper, create a simple timeline of Lincoln's childhood. Include key events mentioned in the book, such as where he lived and what he enjoyed doing. 

Step Five: 

  1. Have students draw a picture of their favorite part of the story or something they learned about Lincoln's childhood. They can share their drawings with the class if time allows. 

Or  

2. Complete the story elements graphic organizer about characters, key details, and events in a story. 

Step Six 

Conclusion (5 minutes): 

  1. Review what students have learned about Abraham Lincoln's childhood and his love for books. Emphasize why learning about Lincoln's early life is important. 

  1. Encourage students to think about what they can learn from Lincoln's love of reading and how they can apply it to their own lives. 

Vocabulary

Log Cabin: A small house made from logs of wood. Abraham Lincoln was born and grew up in a log cabin in Kentucky. 

Frontier: A wild and undeveloped area where few people live. Lincoln's childhood was spent on the frontier, where life was tough and people had to work hard to survive. 

Pioneer: A person who travels to and settles in a new place, especially when it is not yet developed. Lincoln's family were pioneers who moved to new places in search of better opportunities. 

Homestead: A piece of land where a family builds their home and grows crops. Lincoln's family had a homestead where they lived and worked together. 

Assessment Materials

Drawing

Students' participation in discussions, graphic organizer, and their drawing will be used to determine their understanding of the objective and determine if it is met. 

Supports for Struggling Learners

- Utilize visual aids such as pictures, diagrams, or illustrations from the book to reinforce key concepts 

- Repeat key information and concepts throughout the lesson. Offer one on one to students if necessary.  

Enrichment Activities

- Encourage the student to delve deeper into the life of Abraham Lincoln by researching additional aspects of his childhood or his impact on American history. Provide access to age-appropriate books, articles, or online resources for independent study. 

- Allow the student to create a product that demonstrates their understanding in a creative way. This could include writing a short story about a fictional adventure Lincoln might have had as a child, creating a poster depicting key events in his early life, or even performing a short skit about an important moment in Lincoln's childhood. 

Related Lessons or Education Materials

Meets Kentucky K-2nd grade reading standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.

Contact Information

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Last updated: July 22, 2024