CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS

Students become historians with the ALPLM Classroom Connections Program, which offers structured research opportunities using primary documents from the Library collections. The program includes a self-guided tour of the Presidential Museum.

Program I

ALPLM Education Division staff will lead these hands-on sessions in the Library classroom using reproduction documents and artifacts from the ALPLM collection.

Teachers may choose one of the following sessions:

19th Century Kids
What was it like to grow up in the 19th century? Find out in this exploration of school, work and play. Daily chores, blab schools, games and entertainment will be just some of the topics covered through primary documents from the ALPLM collections. Time: One hour, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours) Grade Level: 3-8

Civil War Artifacts
Learn about the life of a Civil War Soldier while getting up close and personal with reproduction artifacts. Explore the past in hands-on activities and utilize critical thinking skills to discover: “What is it?” “Who made it?” and “What was it used for?” Time: One hour, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours) Grade Level: 4-12

Political Cartoons
Examine political cartoons from the collections of the ALPLM to identify common elements and characteristics still found in today's illustrated editorials. Time: One hour, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours) Grade Level: 6-12

Viewpoints: Lincoln, Slavery and Race
Through small-group research and discussion, students explore primary documents to understand the issue of slavery and race in antebellum America. Time: 1 ½ hours, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours) Grade Level: 11-12

Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Students will study primary source documents and discuss the background of the debates, the issues covered, how each candidate planned for the debates, who won, how they did it and why. Time: One hour, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours) Grade Level: 6-12

Exploring History through Newspapers on Microfilm
In this hands-on experience, students will research events that shaped Illinois history (such as the Cherry Mine Disaster of 1908, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858, race riots in 1908 and 1917) or pick an historic event or person and compare coverage in small, middle-sized or large cities in Illinois or even in their home town paper. Time: One hour, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours) Grade Level: 6-12

Program II—Historical Research at the ALPLM
Lead your students in a guided research opportunity at the ALPLM. This program offers students the chance to research pre-selected topics using select primary source materials found in the ALPLM collections. Materials will include three subject-related, thought-provoking, questions that teachers can use as guidelines to direct class research and discussion and a CD of documents used at the ALPLM to be taken back to the classroom. Please note: This is a teacher-led program. ALPLM staff will be on hand to assist but will not actually lead this program.

Time: 1-3 hours, plus museum tour (recommended time for tour: 2 hours)
Grade Level: 9-12

Current topics available are:

Lincoln-Douglas Debates	Emancipation Proclamation
Election of 1860	Lincoln's America
Slavery	Commemorating Lincoln
Lincoln and Leadership	Mary Todd Lincoln

Other information for a successful visit:
Please see the Plan Your School Visit section of our website to make the most of your visit to the ALPLM. School groups visiting the Museum as part of the Classroom Connection Program will be held to the same rules and regulations as regular school tours, including our chaperon policy of 1 chaperone per 10 students. Additional chaperones will be required to purchase a ticket on the day or the tour.

It is strongly suggested that teachers make a pre-visit to the Library/Museum prior to bringing students for a Classroom Connections session and Museum tour. A free Educator Pass is available at http://www.alplm.org/education/Online_Educator_Pass.pdf.

Lunch is not provided as part of the Classroom Connection Program. Classes may bring a sack lunch or box lunches may be ordered directly from the Museum Café by calling 217/523-2247. The cost of box lunches is $7.50 each. There are also numerous restaurants in the downtown area and picnic facilities available at Union Square Park directly across from the Museum.

Available Session Dates:
(Any of the programs above may be conducted on the dates given below.)

Fall 2009
September 23
October 7 and October 21
November 4 and November 18

Spring 2010
January 13 and January 27
February 10 and February 24
March 10 and March 24
April 14 and April 21
May 5 and May 12


Advanced Registration Required:
Registration for each date will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited to one class or a combined class of no more than 35 students.

Contact Randy Wiseman at randy.wiseman@illinois.gov or 217/558-9016 to register. There is no charge for the Classroom Connection Program or accompanying Museum tour. However, a refundable deposit of $50.00 is required to hold a program date. This deposit will be returned on the day of program. Please make checks payable to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and send to Randy Wiseman at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 North Sixth Street, Springfield, IL 62701. Do not send cash.

For more information contact Randy Wiseman at randy.wiseman@illinois.gov or 217/558-9016.