The Lincoln Bicentennial Teacher Network

Primary Grade Levels

The focus of the primary lessons is the “why and how” we remember individuals who have impacted our history, such as Abraham Lincoln. The lessons are intended as stand-alone resources that allow for incorporation into units you may already be employing in your classroom. The lessons focus on the essential questions below. It is important for students to make connections over time. When studying history, students need to understand that history has been impacted by significant individuals, such as Abraham Lincoln. We recommend incorporation of these lessons into your larger units of study to aid students in making the connections.

  • Why do we remember individuals that have impacted history, such as Abraham Lincoln?
  • How do we remember individuals that have impacted history, such as Abraham Lincoln?

These lessons, for example, can be incorporated into a larger unit on how significant figures have impacted history. Since this lesson is focused on Lincoln as a leader, it is necessary to build student background knowledge and understanding of a leader and the qualities a leader possesses.

To build that background knowledge for students, the teacher must allow opportunities for the students to understand qualities of a leader. To create a basis for understanding, the teacher should have the students learn about leaders as they relate to them, starting with leaders in their class, their clubs, their school, and then their community. Students will then, be able to understand the relationship between community leaders and a national leader such as Abraham Lincoln.

In the lessons, students will relate Lincoln’s experiences with the development of certain leadership qualities that he possessed. Knowing that there will be different entry points of understanding in the primary levels, the teacher can use some of the following examples to ensure that students have prior understanding that all leaders have leadership qualities but may not all be the same. Some questions that should build upon each other in order for students have knowledge to begin the lessons are as follows:

Begin, this process by asking the question, “What is a leader?” Have students brainstorm different qualities a leader possesses. Transition their thinking to make the connection that not all leaders possess the same qualities. Then, you can build their knowledge of a leader through use of the following strategies:

In a beginning entry point, the teacher can use the think, pair, share strategy to have the students write leadership qualities of their peers. In a mid entry point, the teacher can have students use a graphic organizer to brainstorm a leadership quality that they think they possess, then compare their qualities to a leader within their school or club. At the highest entry point, the teacher can have students brainstorm community leaders and the qualities they possess, then compare them to school leaders.