Activity Title: What Was in Lincoln’s Pocket (A partner is required)

Grade Level: 4-8th

Activity Overview:
The items in Abraham Lincoln’s pocket the night he was assassinated provides us with clues about his life and tests our hypothesis about the political and personal life of Abraham Lincoln. Discoveries can be supported by primary sources that demonstrate multiple perspectives. In this activity we will share items from your pocket, purse, or bag that conveys something about you. The items will be described objectively to a partner. The partner will ask a few questions about the items which will be answered. The partner will make a hypothesis about what the item tells them about you. The same analysis will be done using the analysis worksheet to determine what we know about the personal and political life of Abraham Lincoln.

Artifacts:
Exhibition Artifacts of the Assassination

Goal of the Activity:
Understand how different perspectives can be determined when analyzing resources from someone’s life which can lead to different hypotheses about the life analyzed.

Learning Objectives:
• Discoveries can be supported by primary sources.
• Multiple perspectives are demonstrated by analyzing primary sources.
• Support hypothesis about Abraham Lincoln using items in his pockets.

Investigative Questions:
What do the items tell you about Lincoln that you did not know?
How could you support your hypothesis about his life?
What professionals work in this manner?
How does this activity connect with the resources at the Library of Congress?

Primary Sources Learning Practices:
Examine and analyze items in Lincoln’s pockets.

Assessment:
Develop a story about Lincoln using one of the items in his pocket incorporate prior knowledge about Lincoln in story