Middle School

Food Supply Ledger, May 19-25, 1794

Ledger detailing the food ordered and the associated costs for one week in the Presidential household in Philadelphia.

George Washington's List of Enslaved People, 1799

List of the enslaved individuals living and working at Mount Vernon made by George Washington in June 1799.

The Rules of Civility

Rules of behavior copied by George Washington when he was 16 years old.

Washington's Farewell Address

A transcription of Washington's Presidential Farewell Address.

Harpsichord

Object page for the Washingtons' harpsichord.

Key to the Bastille

Object page for the key to the Bastille.

Pair of Shoes

Object page for the shoes that Martha wore at her wedding to George Washington in 1759.

Punch Bowl

Object page for the punch bowl that Martha Washington brought to Mount Vernon to use for social events.

George Washington Crossing the Delaware

An interactive painting depicting George Washington crossing the Delaware River.

Map: The Siege of Yorktown

Modern Map of the Siege of Yorktown in October 1781.

Map: The Yorktown Campaign of 1781

Modern map of the 1781 Yorktown campaign.

The Vaughan Plan Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Map showing how the Mansion and outbuildings looked in 1787.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Print of a less famous image of the event at the Delaware River.

20 Questions for Reading and Evaluating Historic Recipes

20 Questions for Reading and Evaluating Objects

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Character Chronicles

Ten newspaper-style explorations into the character traits of George Washington.

Creating 18th Century Clothing for the Classroom

Guide to re-creating 18th century style clothing in the classroom.

Establishing the Presidency

A lesson plan facilitating discussion with students about the challenges that George Washington faced as the first president of the United States.

George Washington and the Founding of the U.S. Government

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching the Founding of the U.S. Government.

George Washington at War

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching the American Revolution.

George Washington the Farmer

Student worksheet on a painting depicting George Washington as a farmer at Mount Vernon.

George Washington's List of Enslaved People, 1799 Lesson

Lesson plan using George Washington's list of enslaved people from 1799 to examine his role as a businessman and slave owner and to provide information about the institution of slavery in the 18th century.

George Washington, Entrepreneur

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching about the business of Mount Vernon.

Leadership and Legacy

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching George Washington's Leadership and Legacy.

Manners & Mores of Washington's America

Lesson plan examining the manners and mores of 18th century America and the personal rules of decorum George Washington lived by and how they connect to today.

Martha Washington and the Women of the 18th Century

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching about women in the 18th century.

Slavery in George Washington's World

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching slavery.

The Constitution as a Job Description

A lesson plan asking students to use Article 1 and Article 2 of the Constitution and George Washington's notes on his personal copy of the document to create a job description for the President of the United States in 1787.

The Constitutional Convention Through Biography

A lesson plan outlining a role-playing activity intended to help students better understand the perspectives of individual delegates at the critical point when they were debating representation at the Constitutional Convention.

The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

Student worksheet on the "Rules of Civility."

Vocabulary of the Constitution

A lesson supporting the video A More Perfect Union: George Washington and the Making of the Constitution. After viewing the video, students use flashcards, quizzes, interactives, and worksheets to study and demonstrate their understanding of advanced vocabulary.

Washington's 1799 Last Will and Testament and William Lee

Student worksheet on Washington's 1799 will.

Yorktown: Now or Never (Middle School)

Secondary source analysis worksheet for the film "Now or Never: The Yorktown Campaign."

"Fancy Minuet"

Video (0:53 seconds) playing harpsichord tunes.

"He Comes the Hero Comes"

Video (1:09 minutes) playing 18th-century harpsichord tunes.

"No Scornful Beauty"

Video (1:04 minutes) playing 18th-century harpsichord tune.

"Over the Hill and Far Away"

Video (1:09 minutes) playing 18-century harpsichord tune.

A More Perfect Union: George Washington and the Making of the Constitution

Film on the Constitutional Convention and Ratification of the Constitution.

Brandywine Quickstep, Fife and Drum Tune

Video (1:58 minutes) showing 18th-century military music.

Central Passage: The Bastille Key

Explore the Central Passage of the Mansion House, in which the Key to the Bastille is displayed.

Chintz Room Crib

Video (2:22 minutes) discussing the crib with a family history of belonging to Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.

Compilation of Enslaved Worker Songs

Video (5:33 minutes) comilation of songs sung by enslaved people songs. The video includes Sit Down Servant, Sit Down; Hoe Emma Hoe; and Fungalafia.

Constitution State Quiz

Online interactive asking students to identify which states wanted which form of representation during the Constitutional Convention.

Constitution Timeline Quiz

Online interactive asking students to identify the order of events before, during, and after the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Construction of a Harpsichord

Video clips discussing how a harpsichord is constructed and how it works.

Explore Washington Crossing the Delaware

Interactive tool to explore Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.

George Washington and Agriculture

Illustrated article on agriculture at Mount Vernon.

George Washington and Slavery Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article discussing slavery and George Washington.

History Notes: The Music of Washington's World

Video (45:04 minutes) exploring the music of Washington's world.

Introduction to the Chintz Room

Video (3:59 minutes) discussing a stylish bedroom at Mount Vernon where Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis may have occupied in 1799.

Kitchen Excavation

Short video (2:37 minutes), photographs, and a brief description of Team Archaeology of Mount Vernon's Historic Preservation and Collections Department excavating in front of the kitchen in the spring of 2013.

Legacy

Five video clips of George Washington and those close to him reflecting on his legacy

Little Parlor: Harpsichord

Explore the Little Parlor in the Mount Vernon mansion where Nelly Custis played the harpsichord.

Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon

Video (7:18 minutes) exploring the personal stories, experiences and struggles of people enslaved at Mount Vernon, as well as insight into George Washington's evolving opposition to slavery.

Meet People from the Past: William Lee

A series of short videos by a character interpreter covering topics about Washington's enslaved valet William Lee.

Milling Process

Video (3:01 minutes) of Mount Vernon's master miller, Steve Bashore, describing the 18th-century milling process used by Washington in the gristmill on his plantation.

Minstrel Boy and Soldier's Joy Medley, Fife and Drum Tunes

Video (2:57 minute) showing 18-century century military music.

Mount Vernon Mansion Expansion

An animation (1:02 minutes) of the changes to Mount Vernon's structure during the 18th century.

Mount Vernon Virtual Tour

Tour the Mansion House, support buildings, gristmill and distillery online.

Music in the Revolutionary War

Mount Vernon web page exploring the role of music in the Continental Army, featuring video and audio.

Music of Washington's World

Forty five minute program exploring the soundtrack of George Washington’s 18th century world.

Nelly Custis and Her Mount Vernon Bedchamber

Video (2:56 minutes) discussing Nelly Custis' bedchamber.

Slammin' Joe on Slavery

Slammin' Joe, one of Washington's slaves, describes the slave experience at Mount Vernon.

Slavery at Mount Vernon

Video (3:01 minutes) discussing slavery at Mount Vernon.

The Milling Process Step-by-Step

Mount Vernon's master miller, Steve Bashore, describes the 18th-century milling process used by Washington in the gristmill on his plantation in this video (3:01 minutes).

Virtual Tour of the Gristmill and Distillery

Tour George Washington's Gristmill and Distillery online.

Washington's Kitchen, Mount Vernon 1864 by Eastman Johnson Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Image of a slave woman in the Mount Vernon kitchen at time of John Augustine Washington's ownership.

Wheat Treading at the 16 Sided Barn

Video (2:51 minutes) discussing the wheat crop, threshing, and treading.

Winter Patriots

Film about the Winter Patriots during the Revolutionary War.

Yorktown: Now or Never

Film on the Yorktown campaign of the Revolutionary War.

10 Facts about Martha Washington

Illustrated article with facts about Martha Washington's life.

10 Facts about the Gristmill

Illustrated list of facts about George Washington's gristmill.

10 Facts about the Mansion

Illustrated list of facts about the home of George Washington.

10 Facts about Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River

Illustrated article with facts about Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River.

16-Sided Barn Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article about the 16-sided barn with photographs and a short film illustrating how the wheat was threshed by horses.

Bastille Key Digital Encyclopedia Entry

An article discussing the Bastille key gifted to Washington by Marquis de Lafayette.

Continental Army Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article describing Washington's challenge creating an army from a diverse group of citizens with little military experience.

Crossing of the Delaware Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article and interactive map discussing the significance of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River.

Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article discussing the life of Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis, the Washingtons' granddaughter.

Enslaved People at Mount Vernon

Profiles of 18 individuals enslaved at Mount Vernon based on research from George Washington's records.

George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette Digital Encyclopedia Entry

An article discussing the relationship between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette.

Great Cake Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article about Martha Washington's great cake recipe.

Great Cake Recipe

Recipe for making Martha Washington's favorite cake.

Gristmill Glossary of Terms

Glossary of 29 terms associated with the Gristmill along with a video (3:19 minutes) of the gristmill at work.

Kitchen Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article describing the construction of Mount Vernon's kitchen and how it was used.

Levees (Receptions) Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article describing the presidential receptions of Washington's administration and their detractors.

Martha at the Front

Article describing Martha Washington's role and experiences accompanying George Washington to the front during the Revolutionary War.

Martha Washington and Slavery

Article discussing Martha Washington and slavery at Mount Vernon.

Mourning George Washington Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article exploring Washington's death and how he was mourned at Mount Vernon and by the country.

Music Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article about music in the 18th century.

Nelly Custis Artifacts in the Mount Vernon Collection

Article highlighting objects in the Mount Vernon collection relating to Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.

Oney Judge Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article discussing Oney Judge, an enslaved woman at Mount Vernon.

Overview of the Gristmill Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article that provides an overview of Washington's gristmill and an explanation and diagram of the Evans system.

Rules of Civility

Article about the "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company."

Slave Resistance Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article discussing slave resistance at Mount Vernon.

Status of Slaves in Washington's Will Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article discussing the status of enslaved people in George Washingon's will.

The Chintz Room

Mount Vernon web page exploring the Chintz Room, possibly used as Nelly Custis' bedchamber.

The First First Lady

Article about how Martha Washington set the tone for future first ladies.

The Private Lives of Slaves

Article discussing some of the ways slaves spent their free time.

The Style of Martha Washington Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article discussing Martha Washington's style.

Tracing the History of the Slave Cemetery

Article discussing the cemetery where many enslaved people at Mount Vernon were buried, possibly including Billy Lee.

Yorktown Campaign Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article describing the importance of the Yorktown campaign in the Revolutionary War.