American Heroes and Holidays
Session 3: Honest Abe

Materials

• A teacher-selected book about Abraham Lincoln
• A small, black stovepipe hat for each student (easily made out of construction paper)
• One large, black stovepipe hat (bulletin board paper works well for this)
• Chalk
• White crayons or white pencils

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web resources may be helpful for information on Abraham Lincoln:
“Abraham Lincoln.” <http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/famamer/Lincoln.html>
“Abraham Lincoln.” <http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/history/us/pres/lincoln/index.shtml> 
“President’s Day.” <http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/presidentsday/>

1. Begin by reading a teacher-selected book about Abraham Lincoln. Remind the students that Abraham Lincoln is called “Honest Abe” and lived a long time after George Washington.
   
   
2. Share the following information:
   
   Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky in 1809. As a young man       Abraham Lincoln held many jobs. He earned the nickname “Honest Abe” because,       according to legend, he walked six miles to return a few cents to a customer he had       overcharged.
   
   
3. Have the students illustrate a time they were honest, and share the responses with the class.
   
   
4. Read a teacher-selected book about the tall hat Abraham Lincoln wore.
   
   
5. Display a penny and a five-dollar bill so that students can see the likenesses of Abraham Lincoln.
   
   
6. Tell students that Abraham Lincoln put important papers in his hat. Show students the large black hat constructed out of bulletin board paper. Ask students what types of things they would put in a tall black hat. Write responses on the hat with the chalk. Display your hat proudly in the hallway!
   
   
7. Give each student a small black hat. Ask students to draw or write on the hats with white crayons objects they would put in their hats.
   
   
8. Explain to the students that we remember George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and all other American presidents on the holiday called Presidents Day. Presidents Day is observed in February.
   
   
9. Assist the students to locate Presidents Day on a February calendar.
   
   
10. Have the students make two bookmarks remembering George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Give the students two strips of white drawing paper about 2 inches by 6 inches and let them glue on small pictures of Washington and Lincoln. Let them color the bookmarks red, white, and blue.