Study of Lincoln

Since we took a trip to Springfield and since Ballet girl was quite impressed and walked away with a good chunk of information I decided that it is worthwhile to pursue learning about Lincoln as a next step. (I did intend to study history in chronological order, but as it turns out, history did not happen in geographical and convenient today's-travel-way order.)

So, Lincoln it is.

First round, the Magic Tree books-Abraham Lincoln at last! and Abraham Lincoln, facts tracker. The first book is easy-going fictional story which tells very little about Lincoln but sets the stage for the rest and reminds us of what Lincoln is known for historically. The second book aggregates all the information you will be exposed to if you go and visit Lincoln's home in Springfield. Between the video presentations, the ranger narrations and the various brochures sprinkled all over, this book can and has been easily composed.

One interesting fact mentioned is that Lincoln did serve in a militia in Illinois during the Black Hawk war. We have a picture with the only one statue of Lincoln in military uniform which we took last summer in Decatour, IL. I am so glad we travel!
Another interesting note is about the milk that cows in IN produced which was contaminated within toxins because of the grass which the animals ate. This will allow me to talk about how animals can spread disease among human and cause sicknesses (and in general one species can harm another) and how this was not known back then but is known and regulated today (hello, salmonella!).





For a deeper look into the persona of Lincoln, I recommend Russell Freedman's two books-Lincoln, a photobiography, for which the author, deservingly, was awarded the Newbery medal, and the second book about the Lincoln-Douglas debates.






During our visits south we acquired a lincoln-log type of playset and I intend to use it to build houses without nails to demonstrate how this was done and how clever it was. I also intend to show the kids how to make tiranti to hold pants in the absence of belts. I was also thinking of trying building a mattress from corn cobs but instead we will do an analogous build with legos to test the comfort.

I am excited!