Last updated: July 23, 2024
Lesson Plan
Lincoln’s Legacy
Lincoln is memorialized at the Birthplace Unit with a memorial building.
National Park Service
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- State Standards:
- Kentucky
Social Studies
5.I.UE.1 Use evidence to develop claims in response to compelling and supporting questions. - 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. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts.
Essential Question
What factors have led to Abraham Lincoln being a memorialized president?
What important events happened during Lincoln’s early life, political career, and what was significant about Lincoln’s death?
Objective
Students will understand the events that happened during Lincoln's life, and why they were significant.
Background
Background information on Lincoln’s early life in Kentucky https://www.nps.gov/places/site-bulletin-knob-creek.htm
https://www.nps.gov/places/cabin-at-the-knob-creek-farm.htm
Background of Lincoln in politics https://www.nps.gov/people/abraham-lincoln.htm
Timeline of Lincoln’s Life
https://www.nps.gov/abli/learn/education/resource-material-guide.htm
Background information on the National Park Service website to learn about Ford’s Theatre and Lincoln’s assassination. https://www.nps.gov/foth/index.htm
Watch the Shaping Lincoln Episode 3 to familiarize yourself with Lincoln’s assassination. https://home.nps.gov/abli/learn/education/shaping-lincoln.htm
Memorial Building with Presidential Symbolic Representations - https://home.nps.gov/places/abraham-lincoln-birthplace-memorial-building.htm?utm_source=place&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=small
https://www.nps.gov/places/site-bulletin-first-lincoln-memorial.htm
Lincoln Memorial in DC-
https://www.nps.gov/linc/learn/historyculture/memorial-features.htm
Preparation
Explore the various websites in the background information to determine which key areas you wish to narrow your focus points and topics of discussion.
Materials
Photos of May 31, 1909, unveiling of Abraham Lincoln statue. https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?pg=960293&id=F2DD9976-1DD8-B71C-0761027928DFBD1E
Download Abraham Lincoln Statue Photos
Lesson Hook/Preview
Class discussion – Who are people you consider to be important? What makes them important compared to other people?
Procedure
Pose the question to students – What factors have led to Abraham Lincoln being a memorialized president? What factors have led to him having memorials and parks created to honor him and his legacy?
Using the national park websites, videos, and photos provided, guide students to discuss some of the important aspects of Lincoln’s life from early life to presidency to death.
Show Shaping Lincoln Episode 3 video to students and provide information to students about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
After analyzing the various key points in Lincoln’s life, political career, and death, facilitate a discussion of possible reasons Abraham Lincoln has become such a memorialized president. Then, allow students to write an opinion piece to answer the compelling question.
Vocabulary
Memorialized – honor, keep the memory
Legacy – to have a lasting effect on others
Assessment Materials
Written EssayStudents will create a written essay to develop a claim to the following compelling question: What factors have led to Abraham Lincoln being a memorialized president? Students must support their claim with reasons and evidence from information provided through the websites and videos.
Goal criteria – Student's essay is well organized with a claim and supporting reasons to answer the compelling question. Student provides supporting evidence and reasons to further establish the claim. Teacher may choose to score for written composition and grammar skills if desired.
Related Lessons or Education Materials
Meets Kentucky 5th grade social studies standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.