Lincoln talkers

As part of our study of Lincoln, the students create these Lincoln talkers.  They actually make them and fill them with words or quotes for their Lincoln recital text.

Students are shown a model, receive an explanation of what to do, and are given a circle to use for the talker, but that is it.  I like that they all look so different.  The kids do a nice job making the head outline, and then they add details to that.

 

The mouth opens to reveal words or phrases from a speech that President Lincoln gave or part from a poem about President Lincoln.

This activity forces children to choose what they think is most important in their piece of writing, because they typically can't fit the whole text into his mouth.  Also, it puts them into the practice of reviewing the text again so that they are prepared to recite it to the class.

I have used these talkers for different things over the years.   I have had students make themselves and fill the mouth with adjectives about themselves, had them be other famous people we are studying and put ideas that they think they would say, make leprechauns and fill the mouth with a limerick....the possibilities are endless!

I hope you can find a use for them with your kids.  Let me know if you have other ideas for uses!  ( I love comments!)