Abraham Lincoln Lesson Plan: Individuals’ Contributions and Identities

Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Abraham Lincoln Lesson Plan.

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Abraham Lincoln, and supports the standard of understanding how individuals have contributed to social change in the United States. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Ask students:

  • What do you already know about Abraham Lincoln?
  • Why do you think we celebrate him as one of the greatest presidents in American history?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Abraham Lincoln topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the following articles: “Myths” or “Quirky Stuff”. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign the Abraham Lincoln Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about Abraham Lincoln while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Produce a mini-documentary describing Lincoln’s career as a congressman and president. Include details about how he impacted American society.
  • Make-a-Map: Make a concept map identifying Lincoln’s important speeches and policies, and explain their impact on the U.S. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a digital museum exhibit featuring symbols and events that represent Lincoln’s presidential legacy. 
  • Primary Source Activity: Examine and analyze Lincoln’s inaugural address.

More to Explore

Time Zone X: Abraham Lincoln: This interactive timeline game challenges players to put historical events in chronological order.

Black History Unit: Continue to build understanding around important figures and events with more BrainPOP topics.  

Teacher Support Resources:

 

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  6-8, 9-12, Abraham Lincoln, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.7