Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday

February 12, 2009

Celebrate the 200th birthday of our 16th president by learning more about his life and completing these classroom activities.

General Information Lesson Plans Speeches Images of Lincoln

Student Activities TV / Videos Lincoln Reading List

General Information		Lesson Plans
16th President of the United States Born: February 12, 1809 in Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky Died: April 15, 1865 in Washington, District of Columbia President: March 4th, 1861 to April 15, 1865		2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Program (K-1) (pdf) Students will learn more about Abraham Lincoln as they explore the new one cent coin.
Feb 4-5 - Free Lincoln Conference Online Join Smithsonian curators and your colleagues across the country for nine presentations on Abraham Lincoln's life and death. More information...		Imagining Abraham Lincoln (K-4) After reading the book Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers students will create a new scene that is not in the book, based on the character of Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln Bicentennial - 1809-2009 Explore Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy.		Abraham Lincoln Activity Book for You! (K-2) (pdf) Printable coloring pages and Abraham Lincoln activities for young children.
Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life An online Smithsonian exhibition celebrating Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.		Letters from Lincoln (4-6) This lesson is designed to help students become familiar with Abraham Lincoln's childhood as a pioneer in Indiana between 1816.
PBS American Experience: The Time of the Lincolns Companion to the film Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided.		We Must Not Be Enemies: Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address (4-6) This lesson will help students understand the historical context and significance of Lincoln's inaugural address through archival documents.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum This official Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is devoted to telling the life story of the nation's beloved 16th President.		The Poetry of Lincoln (4-6) Poems of early Indiana in Abraham Lincoln's own words.
Lincoln Timeline Born on February 12, in log cabin in Kentucky and assassinated on April 14, 1865 in Washington D.C.		Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (4-8) Lincoln honored the sacrifice of the soldiers and reminded citizens of the necessity of continuing to fight the Civil War. This activity has students perform a close reading of the Gettysburg Address.
Abraham Lincoln In referring to Lincoln's thirst for knowledge in spite of humble beginnings, this page quotes Lincoln's former law partner as saying about Lincoln, "His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest."		Lincoln and Log Cabins (4-8) Explore the pioneer life of Abraham Lincoln by learning how to construct a pioneer log cabin via a student centered internet site.
Abraham Lincoln Online A comprehensive site with biographical information, text of speeches, and information about some of the historical places associated with Lincoln such as Ford's Theatre.		Using Art to Study the Past (pdf) The engraving used in this lesson, "First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation before Lincoln’s Cabinet," is derived from one of the best-known historical paintings in American history.
The History Place: Lincoln A timeline of President Lincoln's presidency, many great photos, and Civil War information.		The Lincolns Move to Indiana (7-12) Lesson on Thomas Lincoln’s decision to move from Kentucky to Indiana.
Abraham Lincoln Papers From the American Memory, Library of Congress, the online presentation of the Abraham Lincoln Papers comprises approximately 61,000 images and 10,000 transcriptions.		Commemoration of the Gettysburg Battlefield (7-12) Students will access multiple primary sources that provide a historical context for the Gettysburg Address and then classify the information to form generalizations about the Civil War and democracy.
Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library From the Library of Congress--documents and resources about President Lincoln.		Lincoln Goes to War (9-12) Explore the decision-making process that precipitated the Civil War, focusing on deliberations within the Lincoln administration that led to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861.
Did you Know? Interesting Facts on Abraham Lincoln		Families in Bondage (9-12) This lesson draws on letters written by slaves and free blacks to loved ones still in bondage, to offer students a glimpse into slavery and its effects on African American family life.
Whitman's "Death of Lincoln" Library of Congress Webcast, dramatic reading of Walt Whitman's historic lecture, "Death of Lincoln," by Daniel Epstein.		Lincoln on the American Union: “A Word Fitly Spoken” (9-12) This unit explores the political thought of Abraham Lincoln on the subject of American union.
Lincoln Memorial The monument in Washington, D.C. is "a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War (1861-1865)."		A House Dividing: The Growing Crisis of Sectionalism in Antebellum America (9-12) In this unit, students will trace the development of sectionalism in the United States as it was driven by the growing dependence upon, and defense of, black slavery in the southern states.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial U.S. National Park Service		Guide for the film Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided The classroom activities are grouped into 3 parts, corresponding with sections of the film, and within each part into 4 categories: history, economics, geography, and civics.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Photos and information about his birthplace in Kentucky.		Abraham Lincoln on Slavery and Race (9-12) Slavery played a prominent role in America's history in the antebellum era. Politicians were increasingly pressured to make their opinions known, and Abraham Lincoln was no exception.


Speeches		Images of Lincoln
Lincoln's Speeches Considered plain among his peers, Abraham Lincoln surprised citizens and intellectuals with his proficiency with a pen. The president used his words to hold our divided country together.		Images of Lincoln Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address Read Lincoln's First inaugural address.		Portraits of President Abraham Lincoln American Memory, Library of Congress
Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address was delivered on March 4, 1865, during the final days of the Civil War and only a month before he was assassinated.		Lincoln without a beard 1860 American Memory resource
The Emancipation Proclamation The proclamation is included here in full text.		Lincoln with a beard 1860 American Memory resource
Library of Congress: Gettysburg Address View drafts of the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln's invitation to Gettysburg and the only known photo of Lincoln at Gettysburg.		President Lincoln the last week of his life 1865 American Memory resource
A Reading of the Gettysburg Address Listen to a reading of the Gettysburg Address, the speech, which was written to commemorate the Union soldiers killed in the Civil War.		Mr. Lincoln This web site provides a large variety of Lincoln images.


Student Activities		TV / Videos
Abraham Lincoln's Crossroads Game Learn about Lincoln’s leadership by exploring the political choices he made.		Abraham Lincoln on UEN-TV Watch programs about Abraham Lincoln. Broadcasted on UEN-TV.
Lincoln's Log Cabin Guide young Abraham Lincoln through each step of the cabin building process and answer his questions along the way.		Young Lincoln This program examines how the joys and trials of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood years formed his personality, shaped his early political notions and molded his character.
Letters from Lincoln Explore what Lincoln's life was like in the early 1800s in Indiana.		A. Lincoln, Attorney at Law Abraham Lincoln's legal style provides insight into his personality and his presidential decisions.
Honest Abe Quiz How well do you know Lincoln?		Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency To commemorate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, this new documentary immerses viewers in a critical, but often overlooked, time in the president’s life (1837-1860).
Lincoln's Secret Discover a secret about Abraham Lincoln and other U.S. presidents.		Lincoln videos in eMedia The videos contained in eMedia are available to Utah's K-12 teachers and students through the K12 Pioneer Library. American Experience. Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided Freedom: A History of US Our Presidents in America's History: Abraham Lincoln. Slavery and the Making of America The Civil War U.S. History Collection. Causes of the Civil War 19th Century Turning Points in U.S. History History Happened Here. The Battle of Gettysburg.
Virtual Tour: Slave Cabin Visit a slave cabin and examine the conditions of slavery.
Hands On Craft: Abe Lincoln Bank Gather your craft supplies and create this Abe Lincoln bank.




Lincoln Reading List
Printable Reading List (pdf) Reading List collected by the Indiana Department of Education.		A Lincoln Reading List & Primary Sources (pdf) This Lincoln book list from the Indiana Department of Education provides something for everyone.
K-6 Book list Provided by the Association for Library Service to Children		Young Adult's Book list Prepared by YALSA’s 2006 Booklist Taskforce
Pre-School to Grade 3 Historical Fiction and Fiction A. Lincoln and Me - Louise W. Bordon, Ted Lewin (illus.) Abe Lincoln and the Muddy Pig - Stephen Krensky, Cresham Griffith Abe Lincoln’s Hat - Martha Brenner, Donald Cook (illus.) Grace’s Letter to Lincoln - Connie Roop Honest Abe - Edith Kunhardt Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers - Karen B. Winnick (illus.) Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt - Deborah Hopkinson, James Ransome (illus.) Nonfiction and Biography Abraham Lincoln - Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books - Kay Winters, Nancy Carpenter (illus.) Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington, 1837-1863 - Cheryl Harness Abe Lincoln Remembers - Ann Turner, Wendell Minor (illus.) Lincoln’s Legacy: Blast to the Past - Stacia Deutsch, Rhody Cohon, David Wenzel (illus.) Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving - Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Faulkner Young Abe Lincoln - Cheryl Harness Grades 4 - 8 Historical Fiction and Fiction Across Five Aprils - Irene Hunt After the Rain: Virginia’s Diary, Book Two, Washington D.C., 1864 - Mary Pope Osborne Amos Fortune, Free Man - Elizabeth Yates Bull Run - Paul Fleischman Letters from Vinnie - Maureen Stack Sappey Mr. Lincoln’s Drummer - G. Clifton Wisler Nonfiction and Biography Abraham Lincoln the Writer: A Treasury of His Greatest Speeches and Letters - Harold Holzer Don’t Know Much About Abraham Lincoln - Kenneth C. Davis, Rob Shepperson Don’t Know Much About the Civil War - Kenneth C. Davis Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth & John Wilkes Booth - James Cross Giblin Lincoln: A Photobiography - Russell Freeman The Lincoln Memorial - Hal Marcovitz No Better Hope: What the Lincoln Memorial Means to America - Brent K. Ashabranner Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails: The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War - Tom Wheeler		Grades 9 - 12 and Adult Historical Fiction and Fiction Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier The Emancipator’s Wife - Barbara Hambly Fire by Night - Lynn Austin The Friendly Persuasion - Jessamyn West The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane Rifles for Watie - Harold Keith Shiloh: A Novel - Shelby Foote Nonfiction and Biography 100 Essential Lincoln Books - Michael Burkhimer Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years - Carl Sandburg The Assassination of Lincoln: History and Myth - Lloyd Lewis, Mark Neely The Civil War: An Illustrated History - Geoffrey C. Ward, Ric Burns, Ken Burns Civil War Railroads: A Pictorial Story of the War Between the States, 1861-1865 - George B. Abdill Conversations With Lincoln - Charles M. Segel, David Donald The Day Lincoln Was Shot - Jim Bishop Fleeing for Freedom: Stories of the Underground Railroad as Told by Levi Coffin and William Still - George Hendrick John Wilkes Booth: A Sister's Memoir - Asia Booth Clarke Hope and Glory: Essays on the Legacy of the 4th Massachusetts Regiment - Martin Henry Blatt, Thomas J. Brown, Donald Yacovone (Eds.) Lincoln - David Herbert Donald Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power - Richard Carwardine Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America - Garry Wills Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words - Douglas L. Wilson Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln - Doris Kearns Goodwin The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln: As Reflected in His Letters and Speeches - H. Jack Lang, Abraham Lincoln