ClassX Video Lessons Lincoln Memorial for Kids | Learn about the history and legacy of this monument
Hello friends! Today, we’re going to explore the Lincoln Memorial. It’s a special place that helps us remember a great leader. Let’s dive in and learn more!
In towns all over the United States, you can find parks with monuments, statues, and memorials. A memorial is a special structure or piece of art that helps us remember a person or an important event. They are often built many years after the event or person’s life. These memorials are designed to remind us of the amazing people, places, or events from the past.
Monuments are not just art; they hold special meanings for everyone who visits them. Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, has over 200 historical monuments. These monuments honor famous Americans like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as other important figures like José Artigas from Uruguay. There’s even a monument for the victims of the Titanic. Monuments help us remember important people and events in history.
One of the most famous monuments in the U.S. is the Lincoln Memorial. Abraham Lincoln was an incredible American leader. He grew up as the son of a poor farmer and loved reading books by candlelight after working hard on the farm. As he grew up, he worked in different jobs like a store clerk and river trader. People knew him as a hard worker with a great sense of humor. In 1837, he became a lawyer, and in 1846, he was elected to the House of Representatives.
Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States in 1860. He is best known for the Emancipation Proclamation, which helped free enslaved people. He led the country through the Civil War and worked to reunite the North and South. Sadly, Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 during his second term as president.
After Lincoln’s death, Congress wanted to create a memorial to honor him. It took many years to plan and build the Lincoln Memorial. Finally, in 1922, the memorial was completed and officially accepted by President Harding and Chief Justice Robert Taft. Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham’s only surviving son, attended the ceremony.
Even though many African Americans attended the event, they were placed in a separate area. This showed that racial discrimination was still a problem, even after Lincoln’s efforts to end enslavement.
Today, the Lincoln Memorial is more than just a tribute to President Lincoln. It stands for civil rights, racial equality, and justice for all Americans. Millions of people visit the memorial every year, and it continues to be a symbol of democracy, freedom, and social justice.
We learned a lot about the Lincoln Memorial. Let’s see what you remember:
Thanks for learning with us! Remember, you can visit learn.org for more fun and educational resources.
Create Your Own Mini Memorial: Gather some art supplies like clay, paper, and markers. Think of someone or something important in your life that you would like to remember. It could be a family member, a pet, or a special event. Use the materials to create a small memorial. Once you’re done, share your creation with your family and explain why you chose to remember this person or event.
Memorial Scavenger Hunt: With a parent or guardian, visit a local park or town center to find different types of memorials or monuments. Take a notebook and write down what each memorial is for and what it looks like. Discuss with your family why these memorials might be important to your community.
Imagine a Day in Lincoln’s Shoes: Pretend you are Abraham Lincoln for a day. Write a short diary entry about what it might have been like to be president during the Civil War. Think about the challenges he faced and how he might have felt. Share your diary entry with your class or family and discuss how Lincoln’s leadership is remembered today.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
[Music]
Hello friends! Today we’re going to talk about the Lincoln Memorial. You can read along with us by downloading this lesson plan from our website, learn.org. Ready to get started? Let’s go!
Every town in the United States has parks and recreation areas containing monuments, statues, and memorials. A memorial is usually a unique structure or artwork that reminds people of a person or event. Most are built many years after the person or event occurred. Memorials are designed so that people will remember the talented individuals, places, or events that happened.
Monuments, like statues, are not only pieces of artwork but also represent something unique to everyone who sees them. They hold meaning and significance for the visitors. Although there are thousands of monuments across the United States, many of the most famous ones are in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. There are more than 200 historical monuments in Washington, representing everyone from famous Americans like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. to figures like José Artigas, the father of Uruguayan independence. There is even a monument dedicated to the victims of the Titanic. As you can see, monuments are essential ways we remember people, places, and historical events.
One of the most famous monuments in the U.S. is the Lincoln Memorial. Abraham Lincoln is a true American success story. He was the son of a poor farmer living on the frontier. When young Abraham finished his long days of work on the farm, he read books borrowed from neighbors and friends by candlelight late into the night. As he grew older, he worked as a store clerk, river trader, and rail splitter. Lincoln earned a reputation for being a hard worker, honest, and having a great sense of humor. In 1837, he worked hard enough to earn a law degree. In 1842, he married Mary Todd, and together they had four sons. In 1846, he was elected to the House of Representatives.
An interesting historical fact is that while in Washington, Lincoln attended the opening ceremonies to lay the cornerstone of what would later become the Washington Monument. The Lincoln Memorial sits across from the Washington Monument. By now, you know the rest of the story: Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States in 1860. He is best known for the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people. Under his leadership, Lincoln steered the country during the Civil War, leading the Union to victory over the Confederacy and ending enslavement in the United States forever. His calm demeanor and willingness to compromise helped to heal the war-torn nation and reunite the North and South into one country.
Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865 during his second presidential term. Congress began work to create a memorial to remember his patriotism. Two years after Lincoln’s death, in March of 1867, Congress created a commission to design and build a memorial. It would be another 43 years, until 1910, before a bill passed Congress to begin work on the Lincoln Memorial. It took another 12 years to complete the project. On the day of the design and construction, in 1922, President Harding and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Robert Taft officially accepted the memorial on behalf of the American people. Robert Todd Lincoln, the only surviving son of Abraham and Mary, attended the ceremony at the age of 78.
Ironically, though many African Americans were invited and attended the event, they were moved to a segregated area near the monument. The people Lincoln had dedicated his life’s work to end enslavement still faced racial discrimination nearly 60 years after the Civil War ended in 1865.
Today, the Lincoln Memorial stands for more than just a tribute to President Lincoln; it has become a monument to civil rights, racial equality, and justice for all Americans. Millions of people visit this famous memorial in Washington every year. The monument commemorates one of the most outstanding leaders in American history and is now an enduring symbol of the American ideals of democracy, freedom, and social justice for future generations.
Wow! We just learned a lot of interesting information about the Lincoln Memorial. Let’s review to see what you remember.
True or False: The Lincoln Memorial took a long time to build.
True! It took 43 years before Congress passed a bill to begin work and another 12 years to design and build the monument.
According to the author, what is the purpose of memorials?
Memorials are designed so that people will remember talented individuals, places, or events that occurred.
Choose the word the author would say best describes the Lincoln Memorial: A) boring B) insignificant C) symbolic D) enormous E) freedom.
If you said C) symbolic, you’re correct! Excellent job!
Memorial Masters hope you had fun learning with us. Visit us at learn.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
[Music]
—
This version removes any sensitive or potentially inappropriate content while maintaining the educational essence of the transcript.
