Careers of Abraham Lincoln Activity
. . . Abraham Lincoln, 16th President
His Careers before President

A Learning On-Line Learning Activity Page by Howard Taylor
TEACHER PAGE




The History Place
Timeline of Abraham Lincoln
Click Here



The first known photo of
Abraham Lincoln, about 1846

Lloyd Ostendorf
Collection of Lincoln Prints
 As used in this learning activity, as credited.  Available for purchase from Abraham Lincoln Collectibles

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READ THE ONLINE CHAPTER BOOK BY DR. JAMES BALDWIN
ABOUT THE EARLY YEARS OF ABRAHAM FROM HIS BIRTH THROUGH THE SPRINGFIELD LAW CAREER

CLICK HERE  to read the Story
CLICK HERE
for Teacher Ideas for Use of this Lincoln Resource
LINCOLN "NEW SALEM" YEARS AND HIS CAREERS
ONLINE INDEX

 		HOTLIST OF LINCOLN AT   "NEW SALEM AND SPRINGFIELD" RESOURCES
CLICK HERE AND FOLLOW
THE ONLINE LINCOLN HERITAGE TRAIL
 		CLICK HERE FOR
THE "LINCOLN AT NEW SALEM"
ONLINE PUZZLE
 		CLICK HERE FOR
Illinois Periodicals Online Story of
Abraham Lincoln at New Salem
CLICK HERE
 WORLD-WIDE SCHOOL
 Lincoln: The Boys' Life of
Abraham Lincoln
Online Chapter Book
 		CLICK HERE FOR
THE "APPLES FOR THE TEACHER"
Chapter Story of Abraham Lincoln
(This is the story referenced in the career links below
CLICK HERE to go to
Abraham Lincoln Online Index
( full of information)
CLICK HERE
TO GO TO THE ALINCOLN
 BIOGRAPHY SITE
 		CLICK HERE
THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE PRESENTS:
 LINCOLN'S FRIENDS:  NEW SALEM YEARS
PRIMARY GRADES:
1.  Depending upon the reading level of your students, you can choose a good Lincoln biographical book for the children to read.  The birth and boyhood story of Lincoln could be covered by reading the book to the children, or having them read the Chapter Book available from World Wide School website.

2.  Have the children answer these questions:
  • Why do you think the grown up Abe left his family and went to New Salem?
  • Do you think Abe should have quit reading books, and just split rails and stayed a farmer with his father?
  • How did Abe learn to be a lawyer?
  • Why did Abe do all those different jobs while living at New Salem?
3.  Have the children illustrate a job that Lincoln did.  They could choose any of the careers covered in the book or online Lincoln biographies.  Make a special display of the pictures on a large bulletin board or in the hallway.

4.  Using a regular compass, teach the children how to determine true north and then step off an area of ground such as a surveyor would do.  A small pioneer log cabin farm could then be planned for the area of ground.  Measurement, layout and





FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS:
VISIT THE LINKS FOR SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR EACH CAREER BY CLICKING THESE: 
INTERMEDIATE GRADES:
1.  Using any of the three online Lincoln biographies referenced in this activity, or get copies of  Abraham Lincoln: the Boy and the Man by Lloyd Ostendorf, and have the students read the chapters in the book that covers Lincoln's New Salem years.  

2.   Have the students work on these questions in an appropriate means (essay, chart, illustration,  poster, or other):
  • Describe the diference between life on a substinance farm (such as where Abe's father, Thomas, lived) and life in a village like New Salem.
  • Abe learned to read pretty much on his own "by the light of the fire" as a boy.  When he moved to New Salem, what new learning advantages did he gain.  Who was his tutor at New Salem?
  • What is surveying?  Why do people hire surveyors?  What kind of tools did Abe use when he was a surveyor?  What did he have to Learn to be able to survey?
  • Abe was not just an "educated" person. He was good at a sport.   What was the sport, and who did he compete against at New Salem?
  • Abe would learn to be a politician at New Salem.  What did he do at his stores and in the tavern to develop his political (speaking and personal relationships) skills?
3.  Using a regular compass, teach the children how to determine true north and then step off an area of ground such as a surveyor would do.  A small pioneer log cabin farm could then be planned for the area of ground.  Measurement, layout and planning on the farm would require research in how such a farm is laid out.  Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Site published a brochure with a farm layout of the Thomas Lincoln Homesite.  Scale as well as all the components (structures) of a pioneer farm is included in the brochure layout.

4. 


MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL:
1.  Using any of the three online Lincoln biographies referenced in this activity, or get a copy of Carl Sandburg's Lincoln Biography:  the Prairie Years (Vol. 1) and have the students read the chapters in the book that covers Lincoln's New Salem years.

2.  Have the students work on these questions in an appropriate means (essay, chart, illustration,  poster, or other):
  • Abe moved away from his father at age 21.  Describe the "law of the land in the 1830's, that related to a child and his/her father as far as whether money can be earned, adulthood can be declared, and "freedom" to do what you want applies.
  • Abe found a box of books at New Salem, when clearing out his store.  These would prove  influential in his becoming a lawyer.  What was the title of this book series?
  • What U.S. document was most influential in forming the young adult Abe's basis on law and American rights? 
  • Find out the requirements and method for becoming an official lawyer in the State of Illinois in the 1840's.  Describe how Abe Lincoln became a lawyer (the procedures)
  • Abe moved from a pioneer farmer's life in the woods, to life in a village (group of people and structures all working together). Describe some things that Abe did at New Salem that developed his "people" skills and speaking/political ability.
  • Abe ran for office more than once.  He had successes and failures in these efforts.  Make a timeline of his political efforts, and then describe how you think he had the motivation to continue with all the bumps.
  • Abe had to learn to survey, run a post office, and manage a general store, among other careers at New Salem.  With only one year of formal education, how did he manage to learn the math, reading and other skills?  Did he succeed at all these careers?

CLICK for PART TWO

 ABE MOVES TO SPRINGFIELD AND MARRIES
MARY TODD
Click Here to Visit the Springfield Links

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