Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union (2 Parts)

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. They explore the trials and tribulations of the Civil War, and the problem of slavery that destroyed the Union. They also explore the man behind the image of the 16th president.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

With malice toward none, with charity for all: The life of Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research Abraham Lincoln in a variety of ways. In this Abraham Lincoln lesson plan, students use primary sources, vocabulary activities, books, and more to research and learn about Abraham Lincoln.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment

For Teachers 8th Standards
How did the Emancipation Proclamation lead to the Thirteenth Amendment? Middle schoolers analyze primary source documents including the text of the Emancipation Proclamation, political cartoons, photographs, and prints to understand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Slave No More

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students discover what it was like to cross into freedom. In this slavery lesson, students read the "Emancipation Proclamation," and letters written by Abraham Lincoln and John Washington (a former slave). Students identify the key ideas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emancipation Proclamation Through Different Eyes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how various segments of the American population viewed the Emancipation Proclamation. They read the Emancipation Proclamation, analyze key terms and statements in the document, and participate in a debate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854: Popular Sovereignty and the Political Polarization over Slavery

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read selections from the Declaration of Independence, Northwest Ordinance of 1787, and the Wilmot Proviso of 1846. They contrast the maps of 1820 and 1854 to analyze developments in the national debate over slavery. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate President Abraham Lincoln's use of the U.S. Constitution and its importance to the Civil War. For this US history lesson, students read text about President Lincoln and the US Constitution. Students examine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Union is Perpetual: Lincoln is Elected

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars view primary documents about the race for President in the time of Abraham Lincoln.  In this election lesson, students prepare arguments for and against Lincoln using an analysis sheet.  Young scholars create a...
Lesson Plan
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University of California

The Civil War: Emancipation

For Students 7th Standards
Investigate and analyze Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation using primary and secondary sources. The sixth installment of an eight-part series analyzes the meaning of Lincoln's document in relation to its impact on the Civil...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War: A Nation Divided

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Discuss the differences between the North and the South and how those differences led to the Civil War. Middle schoolers examine and analyze a famous speech or writing by President Lincoln in order to better understand the speaker's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln 2.0

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students investigate the Presidential history of Abraham Lincoln by completing a multimedia project.  In this U.S. politics lesson plan, students examine the image of Lincoln on a penny and work in groups to research Lincoln's life...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Union is Perpetual: Lincoln is Elected

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students take a closer look at the election of Abraham Lincoln. In this historical analysis lesson, students analyze letters, political cartoons, and campaign materials from Lincoln's campaign. Analysis worksheets are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln: The Constitution & the Civil War

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In this Abraham Lincoln instructional activity, students analyze the political and constitutional issues that Lincoln dealt with during his time in the White House as they play an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War and Reconstruction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the Civil War by researching the state of Virginia.  In this US History lesson, 4th graders identify Abraham Lincoln, James Chestnut and Fort Sumter, and discuss their roles in the start of the Civil...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete a short unit on slavery and the U.S. Civil War. They read and analyze the book, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," compose their own secret song, complete an Abraham Lincoln crossword puzzle, and dramatize a historical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discuss key events of Abraham Lincoln's life. In this Civil War lesson, students discuss the major events of Abraham Lincoln's life and role during this time through a song.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency Not to Be Excused"

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High schoolers examine slavery in the revolutionary and colonial eras of the United States. In this slavery lesson, students investigate the presence of slavery in early America, the language of the Constitution, and the intent of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gettysburg Address

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine Lincoln's life. For this U.S. history lesson, students examine facts about Abraham Lincoln and then complete 6 extension activities that require them to complete research regarding the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
NET Foundation for Television

1850-1874 The Kansas-Nebraska Act

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How the Kansas-Nebraska Act created Bleeding Kansas is complicated—until scholars research and examine documents from the time. After completing activities that include mapping, photo, document analysis, and discussion, learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learn about the events that helped shape the United States of America. Elementary schoolers explore the Civil War with six different activities. Each activity has a different focus: literature connections, primary sources, vocabulary,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery's Opponents and Defenders

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the wide-ranging debate over American slavery and the lives of its leading opponents and defenders and the views they held about America's "peculiar institution."
Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

The Emancipation Proclamation: Expanding The Goals Of The Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Should Juneteenth be recognized as a national holiday? To prepare to take a stance on this question, young historians first analyze the Emancipation Proclamation and compare it to Lincoln's first Inaugural Address. Scholars then read an...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Did Southern Free Men of Color Fight for the Ideals of the South?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Much of history is distasteful. Primary sources often reveal attitudes acceptable at the time that no longer are. But to understand controversial historical events, historians must examine primary sources that represent a wide variety of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emancipation Proclamation

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the historical importance of the Emancipation Proclamation. In this United States History activity, students use the internet to research the specific events that were centered around the Emancipation Proclamation, then...