Abraham Lincoln Statue Activity
“Create and Place Your Statue”
By: Jamie Pryor; educator from Litchfield, IL
Lincoln on the Tri-State Heritage Trail Summer Geography Institute; June, 2009
Overview:
This activity will allow students to research different statues of Abraham Lincoln. Students will particularly be focusing on the location of the statue and what part of Lincoln’s life is being depicted.
Materials Needed:
- Modeling clay for each student
- Copies of the “Looking for Lincoln” and “Lincoln In My Eyes” worksheets for each
- student
- Teacher and student access to the following website:
Pre-Teaching Activities:
Preview the website. The interactive map allows the user to click on a statue of Abraham Lincoln in a particular location. Information about the artist is also given. Choose statues for students to research. There are over forty mentioned on this map.
Instruction:
Have students access the website. Students should research the statue location they have been assigned. While researching, they should complete the “Looking for Lincoln” worksheet. This worksheet will focus student attention on the location of the particular sculpture and what is represented by the art. Have them share their findings with the class, displaying the particular statue the student researched so that the rest of the class can see which location was researched.
Continuing the instruction, provide each student with a modest amount of modeling clay. Students should construct a sculpture depicting an event or symbol pertaining to Abraham Lincoln. For example, a student might make a book from their clay. Following the modeling students should complete the worksheet “Lincoln in My Eyes.” The worksheet asks students to name their piece of art, explain how their event or symbol is related to Lincoln, and then place their statue at an appropriate location. Using the example of the book, a student might choose to place it at New Salem, Illinois, since Lincoln was known to be found reading while even riding his horse.
Post-Teaching Activities:
Set up a table with a map of the United States as a table covering. Have students place their completed sculptures on the location where they would be displayed. Invite students from other classes to view the visual representations that have been created!
Looking for Lincoln
Name:______
Please complete the following information as you research your assigned statue.
Name of Statue:______
Location of Statue:______
When was this statue dedicated?______
Who was the artist?______
How is Abraham Lincoln shown?______
______
What part of Abraham Lincoln’s life is being depicted?______
______
Type your artist’s name into a search engine. Using an appropriate website, list five facts about this artist.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Again, use a search engine to answer this question. Type “Lincoln Statue in ____”. In the blank you will put the name of your statue’s location. List five pieces of information you find.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Using complete sentences, give your opinion on the following thoughts.
Do you think this is a good representation of Abraham Lincoln? Why or why
not?
Why is this statue located here?
What purpose does this statue have?
Lincoln In My Eyes
Name:______
After you have finished your sculpture, please complete this worksheet.
Name of Your Sculpture:______
Where will your statue be located?______
______
Why did you choose this location for your statue?______
______
What part of Abraham Lincoln’s life does your statue depict?______
______
Would you have a special ceremony to dedicate your statue? Why or why not? What would your dedication ceremony be like?______
______
What purpose will this statue serve at this location?______
______
What does your statue mean?______
______