Gettysburg, PA
Discuss what Lincoln must have learned from all this traveling (i.e., how people lived, how areas were different, slavery). Focus on his trip to New Orleans where he saw a slave market and on when he became president. Fearing that President Lincoln would end slavery, eleven Southern states voted to leave the Union and form their own government, the Confederate States of America. What did Lincoln do? What did he say? How did he feel about slavery?
2. Referring back to Adler's book, have the children outline the different parts of Lincoln's life using just one or two words such as: child, son, student, clerk, lawyer, husband, father, or president. Have the children use five of these words to make a picture book of five important stages in Lincoln's life. Have them write a sentence or two to go with each picture. Have them share the book with each other.
3. Have the children make a mural of Lincoln's life.
4. Have the class make a chart comparing Washington and Lincoln. Include ideas of where they lived, education, jobs, family, problems our country faced at the time, and how we honor these two men.
5. Have the children listen to the song "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It was written by Julia Ward Howe in 1861.
6. Show pictures of the Lincoln Memorial with its 36 columns, one for every state in the Union when Lincoln died. Have the children list other ways we honor Lincoln; money, cities, schools, Presidents' Day, etc.
7. Read
Abraham Lincoln, A Man for All the People
, a ballad by Myra Coln Livingston illustrated by Samuel Byrd. Have the class make a time line of Lincoln's life. Have them decide what events they feel are important to put on this time line.
8. Lincoln walked miles to borrow a book. Have the class brainstorm a list of where they can get a book to read.
9. Tell the children that Lincoln's birthday, February 12, is now celebrated with Washington's birthday on the third Monday in February. This holiday is now called Presidents' Day. Have them talk about how Presidents' Day is celebrated in their area.
10. Have the children make a collage of things found in newspapers and magazines that mention Lincoln and Washington.