Lesson 1
Understanding Lincoln's Conflict
Essential Question: How do the lyrics and video of the song "Lincoln -The Civil Wars" express the internal conflict of Abraham Lincoln as a man divided?
Note to Instructor:
- This lesson should be adapted to a manner of your choosing depending on your class level and student composition. You know your class best. Teachers may choose to do independent reading and analysis, peer to peer, teacher led, or utilize more whole group instruction. The model should be what is most conducive to the benefit of your students and your classroom.
Directions:
- Have students close read and analyze the lyrics of the song "Lincoln - The Civil Wars." Have students use the close read form, found in the resources section to complete the analysis.
- An alternative to the close read form is to provide the lyrics to the students, but remove the title and terms from the lyrics that indicate that it is a song for this first close read. Doing this allows the students to generate thoughts, questions, make inferences, and predictions focused on the content of the words.
- Discuss the students' analysis of the lyrics.
- Have students view the song "Lincoln - The Civil Wars." As they watch the video, students should use a different colored pen or colored pencil to add new thoughts, questions, inferences, and predictions to the lyrics. The viewing of the video should be utilized as a second close read.
- Discuss the students' analysis of the video. Facilitate and direct discussion toward the concepts of Lincoln's personal struggle with the Civil War. Conclude by leading the students in a discussion about the content. Take the opportunity to answer any questions and front load for the next lesson.
- Have students use a T-Chart, located in the resources tab, to compare what they discovered from performing a close read of the lyrics and from viewing the video. This can be used as an exit slip.
Lyrics for Lincoln - The Civil Wars - Written by Todd D. Reynolds ft. Alex Boye:
Video - Lincoln - The Civil Wars - Written by Todd D. Reynolds ft. Alex Boye: