April 16, 2015
Dear Parents,
Starting April 23rd, 8th grade Social Studies classes will be watching the 2012 movie Lincoln. This film is produced and
directed by Steven Spielberg and is based on historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography Team of Rivals: The Political
Genius of Abraham Lincoln.
Due to language and violence, this film received a PG-13 rating.
This film supports several of our 8th grade social studies standards. The main standards supported are:
identify the major eras and events in U.S. history through 1877, including the Age of Jackson,
westward expansion, reform movements, sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction, and
describe their causes and effects.[8.1A]
explain the roles played by significant individuals during the Civil War, including Jefferson Davis,
Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and Abraham Lincoln, and heroes such as congressional Medal
of Honor recipients William Carney and Philip Bazaar. [8.8A]
analyze Abraham Lincoln's ideas about liberty, equality, union, and government as contained in
his first and second inaugural addresses and the Gettysburg Address and contrast them with the
ideas contained in Jefferson Davis's inaugural address.[8.8C]
evaluate legislative reform programs of the Radical Reconstruction Congress and reconstructed
state governments.[8.9A]
identify different points of view of political parties and interest groups on important historical and
contemporary issues.[8.21A]
analyze the leadership qualities of elected and appointed leaders of the United States such as
Abraham Lincoln.[8.22A]
Students will be completing daily assignments based on information presented in this film.
Thank you for your interest and participation in our attempt to make your student's class work relevant and interesting.
Please have your student return this slip with your signature. If you have further questions, please contact your child’s
Social Studies teacher. Their nformation is:
Chelsea Conkle: [email protected] or 817-547-4798
Traci Ratliff: [email protected] or 817-547-4799
----------------Please sign and return the below portion by April 22, 2015 to your child’s Social Studies teacher---------------
Student’s Name _________________________________________________
____ Yes, I give my son/daughter permission to view the 2012 movie Lincoln.
____ No, I do not give my son/daughter permission to view the 2012 movie Lincoln. I understand that my
son/daughter will go to another classroom and complete an alternate assignment in lieu of the assignments
tied to viewing of the film.
Parent’s Signature ___________________________________Date________________________