Mini-Lesson

Objective: Students will create a brochure on President Lincoln's Cottage.

1. Tell students that the cottage where President Lincoln and his family spent their summers during the Civil War is now open to the public for the first time. Ask: Where can people get information about a museum or historic site before visiting? (Answers include: from a website or from a brochure). Pass out copies of the timeforkids.com news story, Abraham Lincoln's Summer Retreat. Tell students that they will use the information in the article to create a brochure on President Lincoln's Cottage.

2. As students read the article, have them underline and categorize information to include in the brochure. Categories may include: Facts about President Lincoln, History of the Cottage and Things to Do When You Visit. Have students sort and label the information. For example, next to underlined sentences, students might write L for Lincoln, C for Cottage and V for visit.

3. Provide each student with a thick sheet of paper. Demonstrate holding it horizontally, then folding it in half, to create four sections. Have students fill the inside and back panels with information for visitors. Then, challenge them to turn the first panel into an appealing cover, with a title, a picture of the cottage and a sentence encouraging people to visit (For example: Take a walk through history.). For more photographs and information, visit the official site of President Lincoln's Cottage.

4. As an extension, have students create a brochure for the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois.