Looking to inspire your students with the wisdom of one of America’s greatest leaders? Check out these 20 valuable lessons about Abraham Lincoln’s leadership. From overcoming adversity and setting a moral example, Lincoln’s legacy offers timeless insights for cultivating effective leaders today. Read on to discover practical ways to incorporate these lessons into your classroom.
1. Bottle Biography
This bottle buddy biography project is an interactive way for students to learn about American history and the 16th president, Abe Lincoln. With this project, students research his biography, create a bottle buddy, and write a riddle.
Learn More: Web USD
2. Abraham Lincoln Bank
Make an Abraham Lincoln bank with an empty potato chip can, paper, paint, and markers. This craft is perfect for teaching kids about the 16th president and American history.
Learn More: Crafts For Kids
3. Lincoln’s Log Cabin
Introduce students to Abraham Lincoln’s entire life by making a log cabin with pretzels & chocolate icing. Each child gets a milk carton, frosting, pretzel logs, and a plastic knife to create their masterpiece.
Learn More: A to Z Teacher Stuff
4. Top Hats
Create a Presidential Top Hat with this easy art activity! All you need is black construction paper, glue, a pencil, scissors, and a stapler. Let your little learners wear their hats as study Lincoln’s legacy.
Learn More: The Mailbox
5. Timeline of Lincoln’s Life
Create a classroom timeline of Abraham Lincoln’s life for your Lincoln history lesson. Write important dates on a string and have students illustrate and write short sentences about key events like his presidential election, the Battle of Gettysburg, and his death.
Learn More: Brain Pop
6. Paper Plate Abe
Create a 3D paper toy of the 16th American President using a 7-inch paper plate, black markers, scissors, glue, construction paper, and optional paint. Add curls of brown construction paper for hair and a beard, and then assemble a hat from black and white paper. Use it as a mask by attaching a paint stir stick or tongue depressor.
Learn More: DLTK Kids
7. Walking In His Footsteps
Teach children about Abraham Lincoln’s character with this social studies activity. You can discuss idioms and read about Lincoln’s virtues. Have children write how they can follow in his steps.
Learn More: Danielle’s Place
8. Abraham Craft and Writing
This craft project uses a paper plate to create the head of Abraham Lincoln, with a stovepipe hat made from a paper lunch bag. Students can then write facts on the shirt and display their finished crafts on the classroom bulletin board!
Learn More: Danielle’s Place
9. Are You Taller Than Abraham Lincoln?
This Lincoln social studies activity involves using sticky notes to compare each student’s height to that of Abraham Lincoln. By marking their height on the wall, students can see how they measure up to the United States’ tallest president who stood at 6’4″!
Learn More: Doodle Bugs Teaching
10. Stove Pipe Hat Facts
Explore Abraham Lincoln’s life and create a timeline with this history lesson. Abe stored important papers in his stovepipe hat and was the first president with a beard. Students can print and color the hat, cut out the timeline pieces, and then glue them to the hat in order. Tell the story of Lincoln’s life using the timeline.
Learn More: Layers of Learning
11. Penny Rubbing
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President, is honored on the penny for his leadership during the Civil War and his efforts to end slavery. Rubbing a penny and seeing his image on paper helps students connect his physical representation on the coin to his significant role in American history.
Learn More: Common Core Blogger
12. Directed Drawings
Get ready to celebrate Presidents Day with your students in a fun and creative way! This resource is here to help you teach your students how to draw two of America’s most iconic presidents- George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Learn More: The Primary Parade
13. All About Abe
Learn about Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln with these fun and interactive booklets. Each booklet includes research, timelines, expository writing, and vocabulary; all of which are presented in a keepsake format.
Learn More: Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits
14. Honest Abe Sorting
Test your knowledge with a presidential fact sort by having them predict whether each fact is true or false. Get excited as you discover interesting tidbits about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Learn More: Polka Dots Please
15. Penny Portraits
Creating a silhouette of Abraham Lincoln with pennies is a fun and creative way to learn about the 16th U.S. President. The project involves arranging pennies on a piece of paper to form a representation of Lincoln.
Learn More: Craft Gawker
16. Lincoln Lap Books
This interactive lap book lesson provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn about Abraham Lincoln. Children will learn about Civil War facts, fun facts about Lincoln’s life, vocabulary words, and more relating to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
Learn More: Heart And Soul Homeschooling
17. Lincoln Activity Book
Introduce your child to the fascinating world of Abraham Lincoln with this fun and interactive activity book! Packed with puzzles, coloring pages, mazes, and more, this book will engage and entertain young learners while they discover interesting facts about one of America’s greatest presidents.
Learn More: DSCL
18. An Honest Kid
This activity emphasizes the characteristics of the quality of honesty. Use this activity to teach about Honest Abe and how he earned his nickname! Teaching children about honesty through stories like these can help them learn from positive role models like Lincoln.
Learn More: Lincoln College
19. Living Out The Gettysburg Address
Dive into history with this lesson plan on the Gettysburg Address. Students from grades 4-12 will explore the speech’s context and relevance, engage in lively discussions, and even write their own versions of the address.
Learn More: Lincoln College
20. Read Aloud
Reading books about Abraham Lincoln is a fantastic way to engage students in learning about his life and legacy. These stories bring to life important events and themes, such as his humble beginnings, leadership during the Civil War, and the role Lincoln played in ending slavery.
Learn More: Heart and Soul Homeschooling
20 Fun ‘Would You Rather’ Activities