Goals and objectives
Students will understand the importance of Abraham Lincoln.
Students will be able to discuss the many issues the Abraham Lincoln faced during his presidency by completing on online interactive where they will face the same decisions that he made.
California state content standards
8.10.4 Discuss Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and his significant writings and speeches and their relationship to the Declaration of Independence, such as his “House Divided” speech (1858), Gettysburg Address (1863), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and inaugural addresses (1861 and 1865).
8.11.5 Understand the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution and analyze their connection to Reconstruction.
8.11.5 Understand the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution and analyze their connection to Reconstruction.
common core standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.8
Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
driving historical question
Why was Abraham Lincoln such an important president?
Lesson Introduction
Students will watch a short “mini biography” on Abraham Lincoln
Students will share their thoughts on the video.
Vocabulary
These words will be integrated during the lesson:
- Abraham Lincoln
- Kansas-Nebraska Act
- Stephan Douglas
- Secede
- Union
- Fort Sumter
- Confederacy
- Emancipation Proclamation
- Republican
- Democrat
- 13th Amendment
Content delivery
Students will use computed to complete on online interactive where they will face the same decisions that Abraham Lincoln faced. Students will be instructed to go to the website to start the interactive.
The interactive will introduce students to Abraham Lincoln and some of his toughest decisions. Students will learn about Lincoln’s own ideology and discover their own. They will view several different decisions. Students will be given two options to choose from and after deliberating between the two, they will choose one. After they made their choice, “Lincoln” will tell them if he made the same decisions as them and why. Students will be able see how difficult the decisions were to make, understand what was happening at the time the decisions needed to be made, the consequences of each decision, and finally they will start to figure out their own political ideology.
student engagement
Students will go to this website to being the interactive: Abraham Lincoln Interactive
They do not need to register or login to use the interactive. They will each need a pair of headphones (so they are not distracted by the computers around them), a piece of paper, and a pen/pencil.
Students will fill out a piece of paper as they go through the interactive. They will answer the following questions for EACH decision they have to make:
- Title (what needs to be decided)
- Decision
- Summary of the decision
- Why they made this decision
- Did Lincoln make the same decision?
Lesson Closure
Students will complete an “exit slip.”
At the bottom of the piece of paper students will write down which of the decisions was the hardest for them to make and why.
The teacher will ask for volunteers to share their answers and will ask other students if they agree with what their classmates found to be the most difficult. At the end of the period, students will hand in the paper as they walk out of class.
At the bottom of the piece of paper students will write down which of the decisions was the hardest for them to make and why.
The teacher will ask for volunteers to share their answers and will ask other students if they agree with what their classmates found to be the most difficult. At the end of the period, students will hand in the paper as they walk out of class.
Assessments
Students will be observed while they are doing the interactive. The teacher will monitor the students to make sure they are on task, thinking thoroughly (not just clicking through to the end), and answering any questions the students have.
The students will be assessed on the paper they hand in for thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and their explanations.
Accommodations
EL students and striving readers will be given a list of the vocabulary words with the definitions, so they understand the context of the assignment. Other accommodations will be given as necessary.
Resources
Computers
Youtube Video
Interactive Website
Paper and Pens