Chic, Virginia
and Mr. Lincoln:
Understanding
Historical Perspective
by Christine Adrian
June 2006
To download this lesson in PDF format, click here.
Title: Examining
ChildrenŐs Books
Abstract: In
this lesson, students will examine the two childrenŐs books, He Knew Lincoln
and The Perfect Tribute about Abraham Lincoln and connected to Chic and
Virginia Sale. Students will
compare and contrast these books, their historical perspective and discuss the
historical accurateness of both of these books.
Essential
questions/enduring understandings:
- Does historical fiction change
the way we see history?
- Is history static, or does or
views and beliefs about events and people change?
- Who decides what is history and
how to tell it?
Assessment: Students
will be assessed by examining both the compare and contrast sheet used in this
assignment as well as through classroom discussion.
Setting
the Purpose: Students will examine historical
perspective through two childrenŐs books of the early 1900Ős. Both of these childrenŐs books were
used as the base for sketches and films that Chic Sale and Virginia Sale
performed. Students will discuss
how childrenŐs historical fiction affects the historical perspective of a
nation.
Duration:
One to two class periods
Procedure:
- Write on overhead or on the
board, ŇDo you think childrenŐs books can affect the way we see
history? Why or why
not?Ó Give them a few minutes
to write down an opinion, and then discuss their answers.
- Review yesterdayŐs primary source
review with students, focusing on Chic Sale and Virginia SaleŐs skits and
acting parts involving Lincoln.
Tell students that today the class will be reading those two
childrenŐs books that influenced the performances.
- Distribute Listening to
Historical Fiction Worksheet
- You may want to discuss both
authors briefly, Ida Tarbell and Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews, a
suffragette who has little to no biographical information on the web, but
surely information in books, most likely those concentrated on women
authors of the early 19th century.
- Depending on how many copies of
both of the books you can get a hold of, you may choose to read each book
to students, have the students read parts of the book, or if you have
access, have a local actor or local figure come in or tape a reading of
each book. The Perfect
Tribute is currently available for free download on the web; however,
reasonably priced copies of both books can be obtained new or used on the
web. With a little searching,
it is also possible to obtain original copies of both books for students
to look through as a historic document itself.
- As both stories are read,
students should think about whether they feel the stories are historically
accurate. (In fact, AndrewŐs
book is somewhat accurate, based on a real event, while TarbellŐs is not). Students will fill in the first
two rows during the reading.
The third column is filled in directly after the reading, and the
last during research completion in the next phase of the unit.
- After both stories are read,
students will discuss whether they think this represents the real
Lincoln. Also, students will
discuss whether childrenŐs books can shape, either accurately or
inaccurately, how people feel about people and moments in history. If information in these books is
inaccurate, why do the students feel authors do this? Is it intentional? If so, why? Should historical fiction be
written? Why or why not?
- Tell students that tomorrow the
class will examine quotes from people who actually knew Lincoln and from
Lincoln himself.
Analysis
of local primary sources: No local sources are used in this
lesson; however, these books will be tied to the local primary sources analyzed
in the previous lesson.
Ties to
National primary source or sources:
The Perfect
Tribute and He Knew
Lincoln will be examined. While
copies of the books are both downloadable and available for purchase on the
web, teachers can also find original copies on the web for students to examine.
list of
Materials and resources:
- The Perfect Tribute by Mary
Raymond Shipman Andrews.
Charles Scribner & Sons, 1907.
- He Knew Lincoln by Ida M.
Tarbell. Phillips Publishing
Co., 1907.
- Internet Archive: http://www.archive.org/index.php This non-for profit site has
digitized countless books for viewing, many available as pdf downloads as
well. Both books are available by using above link and doing a search
through the siteŐs search engine, or clicking the links below.
The
Perfect Tribute
He
Knew Lincoln
Attachments: