American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > George Washington’s Birthday

George Washington’s Birthday

Details

Author
Steven Kaczmarczyk
Topic/Subject Area
Customs, Holidays, Rituals
Historical Era
Revolutionary America, 1763–1783
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
2009
Last Revision Date
2024

Related items

About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that George Washington was a hero to his fellow Americans from the Revolution onward, and he is remembered by them in a variety of ways.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items
Books (optional)

Teaching Plan

  1. Pre-activity: Students will think at home and list items they know about the first president of the United States, George Washington, using a generated list of questions brainstormed at school. Students will select one or two items at school to share with the class. We will chart answers.
  2. Students will work cooperatively in small groups planned by the teacher to read a selected book about George Washington. Book titles may include those listed in the Materials & Resources section or others chosen by the teacher.
  3. Students will write 3-5 things they learned about George Washington from their individual stories. They will share this information with the other groups to get a variety of perspectives. We will chart these ideas to use later in the activity.
  4.  In small groups, look at the items from the American Centuries website and discuss the involvement with George Washington. Students will read the articles (be sure to click Show Text) and think how the article may affect the readers of today. We will have a discussion on how these items are similar to items they see in today’s political arena. We will establish a link between the past and present by charting the information students discuss. This will be a whole class discussion.
  5. Students write a friendly letter addressed to George Washington stating why they would or would not vote for him as president of the United States. They should use information from the cooperative books they read in groups and the items from the American Centuries website.