The following lessons were developed and tested by Mount Vernon's Education Department and contributing teachers in the field, including graduates of our summer George Washington Teachers' Institutes, and have been recently revised and expanded. They are standards-aligned, incorporate research, historical thinking, and the use of primary sources, and may be adapted for use across high school grades.
Who Are Our Greatest Presidents?
Students will use a systematic analytical method to compare past presidents and current or potential future presidents and determine their own research-based ranking system.
From George to Martha: Writing a Sonnet Using Primary Sources
Only two known letters from George Washington to Martha Washington are known to exist, as Martha destroyed her personal letters from George after his death. From these two surviving documents, historians have long tried to analyze the relationship between the two. In this assignment, students will perform their own analyses by reading the letters and writing an original English sonnet – a poetic form often used to convey themes of love, romance, and relationships - from George to Martha Washington.
Using Political Cartoons to Understand Historical Events
Mount Vernon invited several well-known political cartoonists from newspapers across the country to draw cartoons focusing on major issues of George Washington’s presidency. Students will analyze uncaptioned versions of these cartoons and background information about the historical issues depicted, create their own appropriate captions and exhibit labels, then compare and contrast their writing with the originals.
Exploring George Washington's Leadership
This lesson plan uses primary documents, such as Washington's Circular to the Governors, to explore the relationship between the many roles in Washington's life and his leadership characteristics. This lesson plan can accompany the distance learning broadcast, Primarily George.
George Washington and the Classics
The intent of this lesson is to familiarize students with the similarities and differences in the views of classical philosophers and George Washington.
George Washington's Foreign Policy
This lesson will connect Washington’s Farewell Address to later presidential foreign policy messages and determine the influence Washington’s message had on the nation and its posterity.
The Man Who Made the Presidency
Students will analyze George Washington’s role in defining the role of the Presidency and how his legacy continues to impact the Presidency today.
Apotheosis of George Washington
Students will examine 19th century art and primary documents to identify the symbolism and relationships used to support Washington’s apotheosis.
Meet the Press: American Presidents
Using the weekly news show “Meet the Press” as a model, students will portray George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Barack Obama in a television interview. Students will develop answers to the host’s questions by researching primary documents and current news articles.
What Makes a General?
This lesson explores George Washington’s leadership and character as commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary War by bringing to life the relationships that formed between him and his generals as they fought for our nation’s freedom. This lesson plan can accompany the Mount Vernon exhibition, “George Washington & His Generals,” on display February 21, 2009 - January 10, 2010 in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum.
The Right Choice
Students will discuss the selection of George Washington as Commander of the Continental Army, evaluate Washington’s qualifications, and decide if he was, indeed, the right choice.
George Washington Stood Here- On the Issue of Slavery
Students will examine George Washington's dichotomous role as a man who fought for and led our country in the belief that "all men are created equal" but also a slave owner.
