Abraham Lincoln U.S. President | Historical Figure Readers Theater Script

This Abraham Lincoln Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin travel back in time to explore the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Though he is assassinated before fully guiding Reconstruction, Lincoln’s leadership preserves the Union, frees millions from bondage, and inspires future generations to strive for equality and democracy.

Script Summary:

Beginning as a boy on the Kentucky frontier, Lincoln’s humble roots and love of learning shape his character. Abigail and Benjamin see him become a lawyer and leader in Illinois, then witness his election in 1860 as the nation stands on the brink of Civil War. Faced with Southern secession, Lincoln fights to preserve the Union. As the war deepens, he evolves from seeking only to save the Union to also ending slavery, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. Despite the war’s grief and hardship, his empathy shines through personal letters, like the one to Fanny McCullough, offering comfort amid loss. In his letter to James C. Conkling, Lincoln defends emancipation as essential to victory and lasting peace. After major Union victories, he envisions a just and lasting reunion “with malice toward none, with charity for all.”

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~14 Characters, 1700 words, PDF & Editable DOCX Formats (8 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Answer Key, Google Slides & PDF Formats (4 Pages | 17 Slides)
• 10 Vocabulary Words: Definitions based on the context of the script to build historical literacy
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script, ensuring students can analyze the content without requiring additional research.
• Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, including one primary source exploration question.

3) Two Primary Source Letters

• Letter From Abraham Lincoln to Fanny McCullough
• Letter From Abraham Lincoln to James C. Conkling
• Full Primary Source Text, PDF & DOCX Formats (4 pages)

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For digital classrooms, upload the DOCX Script and convert to Google docs
• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about ~25 minutes and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.

This resource is part of a bundle dedicated to the most notable 12 U.S. Presidents:

SAVE 50% and get the bundle here: U.S. Presidents Reader's Theater Scripts Bundle (12)