Lesson Plan

Time to Move: The Lincolns are Leaving Kentucky

map showing Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP

Both his home in Kentucky and Indiana are now National Parks!

National Park Service

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
90 Minutes
State Standards:
Kentucky
Social Studies

3.E.MA.1, 3.G.MM.1, 3.I.CC.1, 3.I.CC.2, 3.I.CC.3

4.E.IC.1, 4.G.GR.1, 4.I.CC.1, 4.I.CC.3

5.E.KE.1, 5.G.GR.1, 5.G.KGE.1, 5.I.UE.1
Thinking Skills:
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. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

What landforms or natural resources contributed to the location of the Lincoln’s areas of settlement?
What factors contributed to the relocation of the Lincoln family over different time periods?

Objective

Discover factors of why the Lincoln family moved and the landforms or natural resources that contributed to the location of the Lincoln’s areas of settlements.

Background

Background of Sinking Spring Farm - https://home.nps.gov/places/sinking-spring.htm 

Background of the park - https://home.nps.gov/places/park-brochure-abraham-lincoln-birthplace-nhp.htm - “Simple Beginning” section has great information about their early life 

Background of life at Knob Creek - 

 https://home.nps.gov/places/site-bulletin-knob-creek.htm 

 https://home.nps.gov/places/30-acres.htm 

https://home.nps.gov/places/cabin-at-the-knob-creek-farm.htm 

Look up important events occurring in 1816 in the Kentucky and Indiana areas to see what other factors could have contributed to families relocating 

Preparation

Preview video on website about Lincoln’s family relocating in early childhood-  

Shaping Lincoln Episode 4  

https://home.nps.gov/abli/learn/education/shaping-lincoln.htm 

 

Find physical maps of Kentucky and Indiana so students can look at the landforms for both areas to decide what landforms and natural resources may have impacted the decisions for settlement locations. 

Lesson Hook/Preview

Class discussion - Why do people have to move to new places? Students can share times when their family has had to move and why they had to relocate. How did your family prepare for relocating to a new place? 

Procedure

  • Use the information from the park websites to teach the students about Lincoln’s life in Kentucky at both farm locations. Record important facts and details onto chart paper 

  • Look at the physical maps of Kentucky and Indiana where the Lincoln’s established homesteads. Use chart paper to make notes of observations of landforms and possible natural resources in those areas. 

  • Watch the Shaping Lincoln Episode 4 video to provide students with information about a possible reason the Lincoln’s relocated 

  • Use chart paper to create a list of possible factors contributing to the family leaving Kentucky 

Vocabulary

Land Deed – legal document showing ownership of a piece of property 

Landform – natural features and formations of land that are not manmade 

Natural resources – naturally occurring materials that can be used for other goods 

Assessment Materials

Written Responce

Students will construct a written response to the compelling question “Why did the Lincoln family leave Kentucky?” Students will develop a claim and supporting evidence using information on the chart paper used in the class discussion. Depending on the grade level and expectation, students could write a paragraph or could write an opinion essay.

Written Response Criteria:
 

Goal Criteria – Student states a relevant claim to the compelling question and evidence and reasons accurately support claim.  

Teachers may choose to add criteria for written composition and grammar.  

Supports for Struggling Learners

Picture supports could be used on chart paper if needed as well as providing writing stems and word banks for the assessment. 

Enrichment Activities

As an extension, students could develop possible solutions to the factors and settlement issues that could have contributed to the family leaving the area.  

Additional Resources

Meets Kentucky 3rd-5th grade social studies 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