The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum dedicates itself to providing educational opportunities to adults, children, and seniors of all backgrounds on the life of Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War, life in 19th century Appalachia, and American citizenship.
Groups who desire either tours or self-guided tours are welcome. Please call in advance to schedule. Allow approximately one hour for self-guided visit of the galleries. Guided tours can last between one to three hours depending on selected educational activities. Guided tours are available for public school, private school, and homeschool groups.
To schedule a tour by phone, call 423.869.6235. Please have available the name, address and telephone number of the school, the number in the group, grade or age of the group and the preferred day and time. If you wish to add on additional educational activities, please alert the scheduler that you wish to speak with Program Coordinator Susan Parker to include an educational experience at no additional cost to the price of the tour.
All tours include a guided walk-through of the first and second galleries of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum. This typically takes one hour. The following additional elements can be included:
Buses may park in the bus parking lot adjacent to museum unless directed to another location. Bus drivers, along with chaperones, receive free admission with paid student tickets.
Studying the past can dramatically improve students' analytical thinking and writing skills. Below, you will find worksheets that can aid students beyond the history classroom. Please note that these worksheets are also used if you choose to include a primary source, artifact, or historical context activity as a part of your scheduled tour. These worksheets are not limited to studying the life of Lincoln and the American Civil War - feel free to use these worksheets to explore other historical subjects within the classroom, too.
Museums are locations for both traditional and nontraditional learning. At the ALLM, we invite adult students, doctors, social workers, and other professionals to consider how they can use the museum to think "outside of the exhibit" with these special lesson approaches.
Using Artifacts to Drive Analysis
Objective: Participants will learn how historians examine artifacts, analyze and describe artifacts, and identify ways to use historical thinking skills in everyday life and occupations.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Objective: Participants will learn how to use the museum setting for a happier and healthier life.
Time: 15 minutes to one hour
Museums as a Space for Empathetic Conversations
Objective: Through guided group conversations, participants will learn how artifacts can be used to discuss human tragedy, build empathy, and share experiences with peers.
Time: 15-30 minutes
In these lesson plans for students in Grades K-4 and Grades 5-12, students will be introduced to both the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum and the work of museums with age-appropriate vocabulary, discussions, and activities. This is a particularly great activity to complete prior to visiting the Museum. Meets NCHS Historical Thinking Standards.
Lessons and activities on Abraham Lincoln for grades 1 - 12 based on 2019-2020 Tennessee State Standards.
What Makes a Good Citizen Lesson Plan
What Makes a Good Citizen Worksheet
Objective: Students will be introduced to good citizenship through the story I Am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer.
Time: 1 hour
Keywords: Lincoln, Civil War, slavery, citizenship, community, equality
Tennessee Social Studies Standards 2019-2020: 1st grade: Government and Civics, 1.15, 1.17, 1.18; History, 1.26;
2nd grade: Government and Civics, 2.28; History, 2.29
Mapping Tennessee and the Civil War
Objective: Students will be introduced to Tennessee locations and divisions in the context of the years leading to the American Civil War.
Time: 1 hour
Keywords: Tennnessee, sectional divides, geography, transportation, slavery
Tennessee Social Studies Standards 2019-2020: 3rd grade: United States and Tennessee Geography, 3.12; Social Studies Practices, SSP.06
Of the People, By the People, For the People Conversation Series
Objective: Introduce students to good citizenship and explore the evolving idea of what defines the American citizen through the lens of Abraham Lincoln's life.
Time: At least 8 hours, total, for the entire series, though separate sessions may be broken down into individual, 1.5 - 2 hour sessions.
Keywords: Lincoln, citizenship, community, voting rights, local, state, national
Tennessee Social Studies Standards 2019-2020: SSP.01, SSP.02, SSP.04, SSP.05, CI.08; CI.11, CI.12, CI.14, GC.31, GC. 33, GC.34