5th Grade
The fifth grade social studies curriculum covers the broad scope of United States history. The lessons designed by the Network focus on significant events, both of the time period and from Lincoln’s personal experiences, that served to shape his beliefs, values, and actions as a leader of the United States of America. Building upon these ideas, the second lesson takes a look at why he has remained an American and World legacy. Students will understand how his idea of preservation of the Union was his main goal and his actions and words supported his ultimate achievement.
The lessons focus on the essential questions below. The lessons are to be integrated into your existing curricula. The lessons may extend over duration of days based upon a traditional 60 minute block. Even though the lessons build upon each other, the intention is for the lessons to be integrated and adapted into units you may already be doing in your classroom to meet individual classroom needs.
- How did significant events in Lincoln’s life shape his beliefs, values, and actions as a leader in the United States of America?
- Why has Lincoln remained a significant historical figure?
The lessons were designed with the assumption that certain background
knowledge would be needed in order to start each lesson. However,
students will engage in activities that will build on the events of the
time such as growth of slavery after the cotton gin, the Underground
Railroad- Harriet Tubman, and the Missouri Compromise. All of the
content addressed in the activities reflects back to the essential
questions and standards for fifth grade.
The lessons integrate Economics, Culture, History, Geography and Civics
standards into the activities. The students will be required to use
higher level thinking skills as they interpret quotes, pictures and
primary source documents such as the Emancipation Proclamation. The
students will compile all these resources into a “Life of Lincoln” book
as they read, write and respond to the events/actions of Lincoln’s Life.
The student’s books will be illustrated with various resources that are
easily accessible to the teacher within the lessons.
The lessons can be taught in its entirety or in sections as the
teacher deems necessary for her students. The links to videos such as
the opening of the “I Have a Dream Speech” where Martin Luther King
addresses Abraham Lincoln at his monument is linked under resources at
the end of the lesson. This activity leads students to analyze why
Lincoln has remained a significant historical figure and can be easily
viewed via the internet by students.
The reading passages, maps, speeches, and other resources students will
need are also provided so that the teacher will have everything easily
accessible. The goal for this standards based unit of study is to
provide a depth of quality, relevant lessons about Abraham Lincoln for
students to assimilate with easy implementation by the teacher.