LINCOLN 200 YEARS
cspan.org/lincoln200years                                                                            
This C-SPAN.org site aggregates Lincoln’s speeches and debates. Students can read up on what he had to say in each of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, his inaugural and farewell addresses, the Gettysburg Address, his War with Mexico speech, the “A House Divided” speech, and the Cooper Union speech. Also, they can watch video archives of experts discussing the African-American population’s reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln’s battles with depression, and more.
 

HISTORY.COM CLASSROOM: LEARNING WITH LINCOLN
 www.history.com/classroom/classroom.htm                                     
The History Classroom website links to a collaboration between the cable network and Lincoln Financial Group called Learning with Lincoln,which provides curriculum guides that introducestudents to the core life values Abraham Lincolnrepresents. Lessons plans for fifth and eighth grade are available.
 

LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL 1809-2009
www.lincolnbicentennial.gov
A biography, speech transcripts, and lesson plans fromthe National Archives, the Organization for American Historians, the Abraham Lincoln Association, Indiana Humanities Council, andthe White House Historical Association are housedon this website. It also features podcasts on how Lincoln has inspired others, reading lists, an Honest Abe Quiz, ideas for community projects, and a Lincoln Bicentennial calendar.

 

AMERICAN PRESIDENTS: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
www.history.com/presidents/lincoln
At this History.com website, students can access a biography of Lincoln’s early life and political career, his leadership during the Civil War, and information on his assassination. Other features include a timeline, image gallery, and transcripts of Lincoln’s famous speeches, including his two inaugural addresses and the Gettysburg Address.
 

LINCOLN VIDEOS
www.history.com/media.do?searchTerm=abraham+lincoln&action=search
Also on History.com, students can select from a showcase of Lincoln-themed video clips. Explore clips on such subjects as John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassination, and the proposed conspiracy involving his death; the life of Mary Todd Lincoln after leaving the White House; and Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge discussing Lincoln’s lasting appeal and importance.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN:THE PRESIDENT AND THE MAN
C-SPAN, February 7, 8 pm ET
Lincoln scholars who are members of the advisory committee for the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission discuss Lincoln’s political skills and the aftermath of his assassination.  The experts compare Lincoln with other presidents, talk about his character and the effects of his depression on his term, and discuss the myths that surround his assassination.

Videos

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
A video on the library's homepage showcases archival images of the public and private man, and ponders what his legacy means to today's Americans.

Henry Louis Gates
An interview with Henry Louis Gates about his PBS special Looking for Lincoln which will be aired on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009.

 

 

James Swanson
In this You Tube interview, James Swanson describes how an incomplete primary source inspired the research that led to his book Chasing Lincoln's Killer (Scholastic, 2009).

Articles

Publisher's Weekly 
The magazine describes how all around the country there's "A Whole Lotta Lincoln Going On" and rounds up many "Books for Lincoln's 200th Birthday." 

The New York Times 
The newspaper's "Abraham Lincoln Navigator" provides links to Web sites, the paper's book reviews, and relevant pages from its archives, such as a copy of the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Events

Four Score and Seven—A Simultaneous Reading of the Gettysburg Address
On February 12, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. Central Standard Time, a chorus of devoted Lincoln fans and schoolchildren from across the nation will read the Gettysburg Address simultaneously to honor America's 16th president, attempting to set a world record in the process. 

National Teach-In 
On Feb 12, 2009, the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission will host a live webcast in which Lincoln scholars will answer children's questions.

Lincoln Bicentennial 1809-2009: Live the Legacy. http://lincoln200.gov. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC). Washington, DC. (Accessed 1/29/09)
Focused on promoting and inspiring modern efforts to uphold Lincoln’s ideals, this site commemorates the 200th anniversary of his birth. Links include lesson plans, facts about Lincoln’s life, and bicentennial programs countrywide.

Lincoln/Net. http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/aboutinfo.html. Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project. Northern Illinois University. DeKalb, IL (Accessed 1/29/09)
A collaboration among significant Illinois institutions, including The Newberry Library in Chicago and the Chicago Historical Society, this site provides online access to selected primary-source materials including books, manuscripts, images, and maps. Lesson plans offer links to audio and video files for classroom use.

 

 

Resources for Students

Lincoln Home National Historic Site. www.nps.gov/liho/index.htm. National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. (Accessed 1/29/09)
Gr 4 Up– Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois is the subject of this site that presents biographical information about Lincoln and his family along with access to texts of speeches, photographic tours of Lincoln’s neighborhood, and lesson ideas.

Meet Amazing Americans: U.S. Presidents: Abraham Lincoln. www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/presidents/lincoln. America’s Story from America’s Library. Library of Congress. Washington, DC. (Accessed 1/29/09)

Gr 2-6 –This kid-friendly site offers biographical information, quick facts, suggested books, stories about Lincoln, and some primary documents.

MEDIA PICKS

A. Lincoln and Me. video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr’s. guide. Nutmeg Media (nutmegmedia.net). 2005. video, ISBN 0-9761981-1-8: $49.95; DVD: ISBN 0-9771515-3-4: $49.95.
K-Gr 3–Louise Borden’s simple tale (Scholastic, 1999) about a boy who shares his February 12th birthday with Abe Lincoln, as well as some the man’s physical traits (big clumsy hands and feet, skinny as a beanpole). Children will appreciate the story of someone who didn’t let teasing keep him from greatness while at the same time learning something about our 16th president.

Abraham Lincoln (Great Americans for Children Series). video or DVD. 23 min. with tchr’s. guide. Prod. by Schlessinger Media. Dist. by Library Video Co. (libraryvideo.com). 2003. $29.95.
K-Gr 4–Excellent reenactments and historical photos chronicle Lincoln’s accomplishments and show how he helped to shape our nation. The “news from the field” segment, in which a reporter presents information in a contemporary TV news style, is particularly engaging.

Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America. CD. approx. 70 min. Greathall Prods. (greathall.com). 2004. ISBN 2-882513-84-3. $13.45.
Gr 3-6–This biography of our 16th president comes to life with master storyteller Jim Weiss’s narration. Weiss introduces the individuals who played important roles in Lincoln’s life, such as Mary Todd and and Stephen Douglas, and does a good job of uncovering lesser-known facts and anecdotes about Lincoln. The Gettysburg Address is read in its entirety.

Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln: The Story of the Gettysburg Address. video or DVD. 18 min. with tchr’s. guide. Weston Woods (scholastic.com/westonwoods). 1999. video, ISBN 978-0-7882-0323-7: $39.95; DVD, ISBN 978-0-439-90433-9: $59.95.
Gr 2-6–Based on the book (Grossett, 1993) by Jean Fritz, this film presents the story behind one of the most famous speeches in American history. At the end of the film, the Gettysburg Address is read in its entirety. Charles Robinson’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations, as well as historical photos and paintings, are scanned iconographically. Period music and sound effects enhance the production.

Lincoln and Lee at Antietam: The Cost of Freedom. DVD. 90 min. Inecom Entertainment (inecom.com). 2005. ISBN 1-59218-031-0. $24.95.
Gr 9 Up–This presentation utilizes vintage still photos, live-action reenactments of combat, and interviews with historians and scholars to underscore the importance of the battle fought in Sharpsburg, Maryland, in 1862 to the course of the Civil War. Antietam gave President Lincoln the opportunity to present the Emancipation Proclamation in the context of a huge military victory.

If Lincoln had PowerPoint (and GarageBand)

A lesson on PowerPoint using The Gettysburg address

 

---