Instructional Video

On This Day: Gettysburg Address

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

The Gettysburg Address was a short speech—only about two minutes in length—but its reach has been long. Video segments from a panel of scholars, an historian talking about the printing of the speech, a re-enactment of the speech, and a pupil's view of the days after the address help individuals consider its legacy. Afterward, pupils consider why the speech has gripped the historical imagination of America.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Offer video segments before an analysis of the speech
  • Create a jigsaw activity to analyze other famous presidential speeches
Classroom Considerations
  • Expects teachers to create a free account or access with the username: students and the password: C-SPANCLASSROOM
Pros
  • Videos allow for a deep dive into an important document in American history
  • Re-enactment is engaging 
Cons
  • None