Resource Unit
Pioneer Life
&
President Abraham Lincoln
By: Chad Arnett & Eleise Buxton
ED417-Dr. Helms
5/28/02
Table of Contents









Introduction……………………………………3
Content………………………………………….4-11
Objectives………………………………………12-13
Activities…………………………………………14-22
Evaluation……………………………………….23-31
Instructional Resources…………………….32-49
Teacher Resources…………………………..32-35
Student References………………………….36-39
Media References…………………………….40-49
Introduction…
The reasoning behind this lesson is to educate the
students about President Lincoln. It is important for the
students to also gain an understanding of the United
States democratic processes. After this unit is over, the
students will understand that they have a voice in who
represents our country. Throughout this unit, we will also
be focusing on the important achievements of Abraham
Lincoln while he was in office. This unit will last
approximately one week.
Content…

Presidential Backgroud:
On the first day we will introduce
Abraham Lincoln. We will do this by
creating a word web of the students’
prior knowledge of President Abraham
Lincoln.
Content…

Early Life of Abraham Lincoln
The students will be exposed to
information about Abraham Lincoln’s early
life. The students will then take a quiz
over the information.
Content…

Pioneer Life
The students will be introduced to the life
of American pioneers. They will do this by
viewing a picture gallery of pioneer life on
the Internet.
Content…

Pioneer Artifacts
The students will be introduced to the
different types of tools that the pioneers
used in order to build log cabins. This will
be accomplished by having a local
resource person visit the classroom.
Content…

Pioneer Lifestyle
The students will be introduced to the
different types of activities and games that
pioneer children, such as Abraham
Lincoln, played.
Content…

Later Life of Abraham Lincoln
The students will be going on a “virtual
treasure hunt” based on information about
Abraham Lincoln.
Content…

Presidential Life of Lincoln
The students will be able to see how the
United States grew while Abraham Lincoln
was president. They will do this by
viewing a presentation online.
Content…

Pioneer Standard of Living
In this activity the students will be able to
experience first-hand the value of money
during pioneer days. They will also
compare today’s standard of living with
that of the pioneers.
Objectives…
The students will be able to:
-Read the book Just Like Abraham Lincoln, the
compare and contrast a modern day version of
Lincoln with the actual person.
-Test their knowledge about our sixteenth
president by taking a quiz on the early life of
Lincoln.
-View a picture gallery of pioneer life, the compare
and contrast modern day living with the pioneer
lifestyle.

Objectives…
The students will be able to…
-Join in a treasure hunt of facts about Lincoln to
hone their research skills.
-View the growth of the United States with an
animation, then compare and contrast the
appearance of the United States during Lincoln’s
presidency to the appearance of the United
States now.
-Search for their own sites about Lincoln and
evaluate those sites.

Activities…
Day One



Introduce the lesson by creating a word web of
the students’ prior knowledge of President
Abraham Lincoln.
Then, read the book Just Like Abraham Lincoln
as a class.
After reading the book, add on to the word web
all of the new facts the students learned from
the book. Use a different colored magic marker
so the children can see their knowledge
growing.
Activities…
Day Two


Give students quiz on President Lincoln’s
early life.
After the quiz, add more information to
the word web using yet another colored
marker.
Activities…
Day Three



Have the children view a picture gallery of
pioneer life on the internet.
After viewing the pictures, add on to the
Lincoln word web.
Discuss how pioneer life and present day
life are alike and different. Have the
children create a Venn diagram with these
facts.
Activities…
Day Four



Have a local resource person visit the class
to discuss the types of tools that the
pioneers used to make their log cabin
homes.
Split the class into groups of three to four
students per group.
Inform the students that they are to build
their own log cabins using “Lincoln Logs”.
Activities…
Day Five




Ask the students what kind of activities and
games Abe Lincoln played when he was a 1st
grader. Write their suggestions down on chart
paper in the form of a word web.
Read the book If You Grew Up With Abraham
Lincoln.
Now, discuss what games the boy played in the
book and add to the word web.
Now, go outside and play the pioneer games
with the students.
Activities…
Day Six




Discuss various aspects of everyday life
including games, books, houses, chores,
clothes, roads, transportation,
communication, hobbies, and school.
Pair the students up and assign a different
topic to each team.
One member of the team will draw/write the
modern day version of these topics and the
other team member will draw/write the
pioneer version.
Create a modern day book and a pioneer day
Activities…
Day Seven




Inform the students that they will be going on a
virtual treasure hunt based on information about
Abraham Lincoln.
Give the students the web address
http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/lincoln/tre
asure.htm
Have the students print out the page and then
go to the targeted web pages to find the
answers.
Make sure to explain to the children that they
will have a chance to enter the Abraham Lincoln
Treasure Hunt Hall of Fame.
Activities
Day Eight














Ask the children if they have ever seen what is on a $5 bill. Discuss
their ideas. Then discuss how the U.S. Mint honors American
leaders by placing their pictures on U.S. currency. Then send a real
$5 bill around the class and ask if the person looks familiar. If
the children have difficulty figuring out who the figure is let them
know that it is President Abraham Lincoln.
Discuss how the cost of living has increased dramatically since
pioneer times. For example, a bag of candy cost $0.01 in pioneer
days. Now, a bag of candy would cost approximately $3.00.
Split the class into two groups. Hand out fake money. Let one group
make a trip to the “modern store” and let the other make a
trip to the “pioneer store.”
When the students are done “shopping” make a chart showing what each
group could buy and discuss the differences.
Activities…
Day Nine



Watch the USA grow! This is an animation that
will show the children how the U.S. developed.
Beginning at 1650, children can watch how our
nation added states. Remind children that
Lincoln was the president from 1861-1865.
Compare and contrast how the U.S. looked
when Lincoln was president and how different
our country looks now.
Evaluation…

Multiple Choice Questions (2 pts. Each)
Multiple Choice Question #1
Which of the following states were not part of the
New England Colonies?
A. New Hampshire
B. New York
C. Connecticut
D. Rhode Island
Evaluation…

Multiple Choice Question #2
Which of the following countries were not
involved in what is known as triangular trade?
A. Asia
B. Africa
C. England
D. British Colonies
Evaluation…

Multiple Choice Question #3
Which of the following states were not part of
the Southern Colonies?
A. Virginia
B. Delaware
C. Georgia
D. North Carolina
Evaluation…
Multiple Choice Question #4
The two major political parties in the U.S.
are the _______
and __________.
a). Socialists, Democrats
b). Libertarian, Socialist
c). Democrats, Republicans
d). Reform, Libertarian
Evaluation…


Multiple Choice Question #5
On January 23, 1863, this president
issued the Emancipation
Proclamation.
a). Bill Clinton
b.) Abraham Lincoln
c.) Ronald Reagan
d.) George Washington
Evaluation…


T/F Question #1 (5 Pts.)
T or F…Abraham Lincoln was the
seventeenth president of the United
States?

(If it is not correct, make it correct)
Evaluation…


T or F Question #2
Abraham Lincoln appears on the Five (5)
dollar bill

(If it is not correct, make it correct)
Evaluation…
Short answer section (10 pts.)
Read each question carefully, then
answer the questions on a
separate sheet of paper.
1). If I were president I would…
Evaluation…

Short answer section
You are a plantation owner and need
workers to work your fields. Would you
choose indentured servants or slaves?
Why?
Content…
Concepts…









Democracy
Republican
Independent
Election
Campaign
Emancipation Proclamation
Civil War
Slavery
Pioneers
Teacher References…


One Nation, Many Peoples
Eight geographically based units present
historical summaries, primary source
documents, reproducible activities,
creative projects, and ideas for research to
help students understand the who, why,
and where of immigration.
More Teacher References…





. Colonial America
Teaching Press
5 Posters
Useful for display or direct teaching, these large, full color posters
feature captioned drawings, maps and easy to read text. Includes
the Thirteen colonies, Colonial Craftsmen, Names in Colonial History,
Road to Independence, and Daily Life in Colonial America.
Liberty! The American Revolution
PBS
Videos
Focusing on the theme of power, this lavish documentary surveys
the period 1763-1791. Detail and period flavor are provided
through political cartoons and other archival illustrations, historical
commentary, and engaging reenactments with actors speaking
words taken from letters, diaries and other primary sources.
Teacher References…



The U.S History Super bowl Game: 1066
Questions in U.S. History
RIM
1995
Game kit, guide
A Super bowl game on reproducible pages in
which teams test their understanding and
knowledge of U.S. history and score points with
correct answers. Many of the questions go
beyond factual knowledge and provide students
with opportunities to use both cognitive and
affective skills such as analyzing and valuing.
Student Resources…











Beyond the Cherry Tree: Stories of the Presidents. Activity book. J. Weston
Walch.
1996.
Designed to help students identify with”the person behind the
presidency.”each of
the 41 biographies in this activity book begins with colorful anecdotes
from the president’s youth, then discusses the major events of his adult
life and term of office. Contains discussion questions, and group activities.
Our Federal Government. 3 VHS videos, 3 guides. Rainbow, 1993.
This video series provides a straightforward introduction to the
three branches of government, emphasizing their cooperative
roles in governing the nation. Contains review questions, activities, a
reproducible quiz, and script.
The American Presidents. Activity book. Monday Morning. 2000.
This learn-by-doing book ties 130 simple craft projects to intriguing facts
about our chief executives. Contains president and first-lady cards, the
White House, flags and symbols, and a 50-state map.
Student Resources…



Electing a President: The Process. VHS
videocassette. Rainbow, 1993.
This traces the evolution of presidential
elections from Washington to Clinton.
Topics include president eligibility
requirements, the electoral college,
primaries, conventions, and debates.
Contains a teacher guide.
Student Resources…








You are the President. Hardback book. Nathan Aaseng. The Oliver Press. 1994
This book contains a series of challenging questions designed to make students
weight options, plot strategies, and make risky decisions about all aspects of a
president’s life. The students’ decisions are them compared to the decisions by the
great presidents.
Hail to the Candidate. Paperback book. Keith Melder. Smithsonian Press, 1992
A 212-page reference book celebrating 200 years of presidential campaigns. Fully
illustrated volume shows the devices used to capture voter attention from
Washington to Bush. Captures the essence of the election and campaigning.
Electing a President. 30 poster worksheets. Teaching & Learning Company. 1996
Hands-on projects that teach how elections work. Students apply research, thinking,
and artistic skills to illustrate the election process.
Presidents of the United States. 82 cards, guide. Media Materials. 1996
Provides a wealth of activities and games for learning centers, individual or
cooperative play, or class openers. 41 presidential biography cards and 41 picture
cards to play games.
Student Resources…

Emma’s Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl.
Paperback. Marissa Moss. Harcourt, 2001.


The journal of the life and times of Emma. The stories
include her family life and how she lived, the clothes she
wore, the food she ate, her stories as a child.
The Landing of the Pilgrims. Paperback. James
Daugherty. Random House, 1981.

One of the series of books which sets the standards for
profiling American history. The author draws on Pilgrim’s own
journals of the events and hardships of their first hard years
in the New World.
Media References…

United States History Charts. 8 charts.
Creative Teaching Press, 2000.

These charts address major topics in U.S. history
through colorful graphics, timelines, and
explanatory text. The backs include teaching aids
as literature lists, activity ideas, background info
and critical thinking questions
Media References…

Kids Discover Magazine Sets: American History.
Magazines. 1998-2000.


This series covers the beginnings of America reveals the
traits of pre-Columbian Northern America, the what, where,
when, and who of Colonial America.
Life and Times Series. CD-ROM and guide.. Visions
Technology in Education, 2001.

Students can use this series for research and make oral and
written presentations, analyze primary sources, and organize
information. Guide covers teaching strategies and
assessments.
Media References…

Multimedia Collections. 5 CD-ROMs. Zenger Media,
Teacher Created Materials, 2001.


This collection will help create slide shows, worksheets,
bulletin board displays, use for student reports, art projects,
creative writing and content reviews.
Webjourney. Activity book. Forest Technologies,
2000.

94 page that contains over 100 content rich websites on
Colonial America that includes activity ideas and worksheets.
Media References…

Music of the American Colonies. Audiocassette and
booklet. Anne and Ridley Enslow. Enslow, 2000.


20 Songs from the colonial time period performed on period
instruments capture the spirit of colonial America. Also
includes a 64 page booklet of illustrated articles on songs,
lyrics and instrument photos.
Colonial & Revolution Songs. 2 Compact discs and
Songbook. Keith & Rusty McNeil.

Music which captures people’s feelings about the history they
lived through with brief narrative. Accompanied by
instruments appropriate to the times.
Media References…

Historic Flags of Our Country. 10 flags, guide. Interact, 1994.


Profiles of America at War. 3 photo packs. Edupress, 1996.


Ten flags with a brief guide describes the historic role of each.
Eight captioned photographs show people and events from three
wars. Flip sides feature short articles about the illustrations, plus
questions, project ideas, vocabulary notes.
The Territorial Growth of the United States. Map. National
Geographic Society, 1994.

Map of the U.S. growth, extends the borders of Virginia and other
states to the Mississippi, border of smaller maps of how the U.S.
looked at different time periods.
Media References…

Colonial Days: American Kids in History. Paperback.
David C. King. Wiley, 1998.


Students can follow a fictional family living in the
Massachusetts colony in 1732, through each of the four
seasons to discover how work and recreation changed
throughout the year. More than 40 activities included.
Kids Explore the Birth of America. VHS videocassette,
guide. Learning Matters, 1997.

Elementary students research and perform a play about
America’s past. Segments cover early peoples, U.S. regions,
explorers, colonial life.
Media Resources…

Kids Learn America: Bringing Geography to Life With
People, Places and History. Paperback. Williamson,
1999.


Students discover a wealth of geographical and historical
information about the U.S. and specific facts about each
state in this activity-packed book organized into seven
regions.
The Quilt-block History of Pioneer Days: With
Projects Kids Can Make. Hardback. Millbrook, 1995.

A simple history of American pioneers told through traditional
quilt patterns. This book shows how the settlers’ daily lives,
the special events they celebrated.
Media References…


The American Presidency: CD-ROM
Software. Grolier. 1999
Biographies of the presidents drawn from
three different encyclopedias make this
CD-ROM a perfect starting place for
research and report writing. Students can
also use hot links to jump directly from the
CD to the World Wide Web and access the
home pages of presidential libraries and
birthplaces
Media Resources…




The American President: VHS Videocassette. Boxed set.
WNET/Kunhardt. 2000
These videos are compelling 12-20-minute profiles of
America’s first 41 presidents and they are organized
thematically.
Our Nation’s Capital: Activities and Projects for Learning
About Washington, D.C. Activity book. Scholastic. 1996
Readings, activities, and a game introduce the landmarks
and history of America’s capital. Presents each landmarkthe White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, Smithsonian, and
the Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, and Vietnam Memorials.
Media Resources…




American Government. Laserdisc. CEL. 1994
This covers two main areas. Parties and Campaigns and The
Presidency. The disc is organized into 40 segments of
interactive full-motion video. Content includes clips from a
televised election night and in-depth analysis of this
election. Contents include a 35-page guide containing
thought questions, classroom exercises, reading lists, and
biographical data
Executive Branch Posters: Posters. Waterwheel. 2001
This is a black-and-white poster of portraits of each of the
presidents in chronological order against a colorful
background.