{"id":2286,"date":"2010-01-29T22:09:09","date_gmt":"2010-01-30T03:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/2286"},"modified":"2010-01-29T22:09:09","modified_gmt":"2010-01-30T03:09:09","slug":"teaching-civics-with-childrens-literature-abe-lincoln-crosses-a-creek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2010\/01\/29\/teaching-civics-with-childrens-literature-abe-lincoln-crosses-a-creek\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction and Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek<\/a> is a great children’s\u00a0 historical fiction written by Deborah Hopkinson <\/a>and illustrated by John Hendrix<\/a>.\u00a0 Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek is, “an old tale of two boys who got themselves into more trouble than bear cubs in a candy store” as the author puts it.\u00a0\u00a0 Austin Gollaher, is Abraham Lincoln’s childhood friend who saved young Lincoln’s life a long time ago “on the other side of yesterday” and who the history books forgot.\u00a0 It is a story about childhood adventure, friendship, helping others and the important lesson of how our actions effect others.\u00a0 This book is amazingly creative both in it’s story and it’s illustrations.\u00a0 Through the book’s creativity the reader can really start to hear, see and feel the story.\u00a0 Near the end, the pages tell us how the Lincoln’s move from Kentucky, (where the boys had their adventures), to Indiana and how Abe Lincoln goes on to the White House. \u00a0 Here the moral of the story really comes to life when the author asks us to,”Remember Austin Gollaher, because what we do matters, even if we don’t end up in history books.\u00a0 Yes, let’s remember Austin Gollaher, who, one day long ago, when no one else was there to see, saved Abe Lincoln’s life.\u00a0 And without Abraham Lincoln, where would we be?”<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek<\/a> could be used creatively during 1st grade civics instruction when discussing helping others, taking responsibility, valuing honesty and truthfulness, recognizing the purpose of rules and practicing self control.\u00a0 The book demonstrates these values in a way that kids can really connect with even though the events took place so long ago. (Va. SOL 1.10)<\/p>\n

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek could also be used as a companion source when teaching 2nd graders about the importance of Americans who improved the lives of others and learning to identify such Americans as Abraham Lincoln. (Va. SOL 2.11)\u00a0 The author really provides a good talking point at the end when she asks, “Without Abraham Lincoln, where would we be?”<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n