Library Digital Services and Development


Abraham Lincoln's Presidency: Trials and Triumphs

Created By: Melissa Netznik, Lincoln Magnet School (Springfield, IL)
Grade Level: 8th
Content Area: American History
Database Integration: Students will access the TDC database and view the Brady photos, depicting Abraham Lincoln throughout various times in history. Students will analyze the photos and discuss the reasons for the changes in President Lincoln's appearance over time and the impact the great challenges of his presidency had on his physical appearance.


Illinois Learning Standards Achieved

Standard Achieved

Activity that Meets this Standard
Goal 16 (8th Grade U.S. History): Understand events, trends, individuals, and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States, and other nations. Students will access the TDC database and view the Brady photos, depicting Abraham Lincoln throughout various times in history. Students will analyze the photos and discuss the reasons for the changes in President Lincoln's appearance over time and the impact the great challenges of his presidency had on his physical appearance.
Goal 5 (8th Grade Language Arts): Use the language arts to acquire, assess, and communicate information. Students will respond to a journal prompt and write about the changes in President Lincoln's appearance over time and the impact the great challenges of his presidency had on his physical appearance.

Materials:


Procedures:

  1. This activity will follow a study of Abraham Lincoln and his presidency. Students will have prior knowledge of the challenges faced by Abraham Lincoln during his presidency.
  2. Students will access the TDC database and view the Brady photos. They will be asked to record their reactions to the photos and analyze the causes of such dramatic changes to his physical appearance over time.
  3. These reactions will be discussed and analyzed by the class.
  4. Students will respond to a journal prompt and write about the changes in President Lincoln's appearance over time and the impact the great challenges of his presidency had on his physical appearance.
  5. These journal prompts will be shared with the class.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed using a rubric, which will evaluate the students' ability to evaluate and synthesize the information and respond to the writing prompt. The ISAT rubric for writing will be utilized.