Abe Lincoln's Birthday ... February 12th

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February 12th is Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

It is the perfect time to encourage reading informational text, pulling key facts from the text and then writing about them.  I also like to use this event to develop vocabulary and do some comparing and contrasting the time period to what happens today.

One of my favorite books to read is Just Like Abraham Lincoln by Bernard Weber.

It is ideal to use a fiction story to gather informational facts.

The ending is perfect for making predictions.  Who will move in next?  Who will he resemble?

The craft for Lincoln is perfect to use as a page topper.

The resource contains three forms of informational text depending on the reading level of the student.

I like to use the mini book.

Students can highlight key facts and then read and reread with partners.

They can also use the text to complete the graphic organizers which will support writing.

There is also a time line you might use as assessment on what students comprehended.

The resource also has a poem for students to read and then gather key details from.

I love the "tall black hat" and what might Lincoln have carried under it.

Another favorite is the penny flip.

A perfect opportunity to observe the penny and then gather some data.

Ideal for math.

Making words from the letters in Abraham Lincoln is so much fun especially if you pair or create small teams and have students work together to see who can come up with the most words.

There also is a compare and contrast facts about Abe and facts about George Washington.

Altogether a perfect day!!

Find it here.

I love using these Google Slides.

We have a SMART board so I use the first three to introduce Abraham Lincoln.

You can  have students complete the Let's Chat independently or complete it as a group.

The remainder slides are interactive and ideal for a computer center or on student independent computers.

Notice that each slide corresponds with an activity in the paper pencil resource so if you are distance learning it is idea.

 

You can bundle these up and actually get the slides for FREE!

Find it here.

 

Abraham Lincoln Lesson, Craft and Activities!

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809.  

I love taking time to introduce him to the class during this time.

And YES I do believe you can take time away from your "language program" to introduce special events and characters.

This packet makes it easy because it includes reading, writing, word work, informational text and vocabulary...all key parts to the language standards.

I like to begin the day by gathering the students together to read this very special story.

If it is a little lengthy for your class ad lib a little.

Following the reading we do a class discussion and write key facts that we learned on a chart.

We will refer back to this at the end of the day.

During reading groups I use one of the three forms of informational text.

As we read we use our highlighters to highlight key facts.

In group or back at their seats they use this text to write key facts on the idea gathering page.

I post the vocabulary in a visual place for students.

You can also laminate them and use them for syllables or ABC sorting.

I put the Parts of Speech word work page in our word work center along with the vocabulary cards for sorting parts of speech.

As a whole group we go over the Word of the Day...Abraham Lincoln.

It encourages students to use facts they know to create a definition.

They look closely at the word HONEST.

You will also see a time line of Abe Lincoln which is ideal for formative assessment.

I have also included a poem in the packet.

Following the poem is a reading for detail page and a cute "what might Abe carry under is tall black hat".

During writing there are two options.  Students can write about if they had lived during the time with Abe or informative about Abe.

There are three leveled writing pages not show here for showcasing student writing.

My favorite for during math is the is the "flip a penny" activity.

Students get a partner and have fun flipping a penny and making tallies.

Have them predict before if they will flip more heads or tails.

This can also be in one of your math centers.

Also during math figure how old Abe Lincoln would be!

I use the Let's Make Words as a class game.

I divide students into groups and then have them make words with the letters Abe Lincoln.  Encourage them to keep there creative efforts quiet so other groups do not hear their ideas.

Groups then share how many words they made.

You can have a group secretary.

I put the word search on the desks as the students enter.

A wonderful video on Abe.

Great site with a video.

Abe Lincoln here.

George Washington here.

Presidents' Day here.

The Bundle

Presidents' Day

February is always perfect for bringing in some history and take a look at today and our presidents.

This packet has two cute page toppers to add to student writing for display.

Here are some samples of vocabulary although there are more that accompany the section on George Washington and the section on presidents.

Here are samples on Abe but again there are two other sections with similar activities.

Informational text includes:  single page, mini book, poem, close read.

Pages are included for recording information and taking a closer look.

Two of my favorites are the word study and the penny flip. (there is a quarter flip for Washington)

Activities include compare and contrast for the two presidents Washington and Lincoln. 

There is a background page on Donald Trump and I plan to make some comparisons using him also.

As an extra there is a "literature" story included where students will look at a teacher/president.

So much fun!!

Finally pages are available to guide students through research on a specific president.

Final reporting pages are included as well!

Find it here.