Residential Programs
Learn more about the George Washington Teacher Institute Residential Programs
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Women in the Eighteenth Century explores the roles and experiences of women, both enslaved and free in the 1700s.
Video (0:53 seconds) playing harpsichord tunes.
Video (1:09 minutes) playing 18th-century harpsichord tunes.
Video (1:04 minutes) playing 18th-century harpsichord tune.
Research article by archaeologist Dr. Eleanor Breen describing the importance of the punch bowl in 18th-century life.
Video (1:09 minutes) playing 18-century harpsichord tune.
Illustrated article with facts about Martha Washington's life.
Illustrated list of facts about the home of George Washington.
Article about the 16-sided barn with photographs and a short film illustrating how the wheat was threshed by horses.
Video (2:22 minutes) discussing the crib with a family history of belonging to Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.
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.
Video clips discussing how a harpsichord is constructed and how it works.
Guide to re-creating 18th century style clothing in the classroom.
Article discussing the life of Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis, the Washingtons' granddaughter.
Profiles of 18 individuals enslaved at Mount Vernon based on research from George Washington's records.
Ledger detailing the food ordered and the associated costs for one week in the Presidential household in Philadelphia.
Illustrated article on agriculture at Mount Vernon.
Student worksheet on a painting depicting George Washington as a farmer at Mount Vernon.
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.
Article about Martha Washington's great cake recipe.
Recipe for making Martha Washington's favorite cake.
Object page for the Washingtons' harpsichord.
Video (45:04 minutes) exploring the music of Washington's world.
Video (1:21 minutes) of the song Hoe Emma Hoe.
Readers' Theater and Read Aloud Story exploring the daily lives of the people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon.
An inquiry based module that asks students to answer a why ice cream was an exclusive treat at Mount Vernon by exploring three Supporting Questions and analyzing primary and secondary sources.
A series of lesson plans that uses Martha Washington as a case study to integrate women's history into the events of the American Revolution and the New Nation historical eras.
Video (3:59 minutes) discussing a stylish bedroom at Mount Vernon where Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis may have occupied in 1799.
Article describing the construction of Mount Vernon's kitchen and how it was used.
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.
Explore the Little Parlor in the Mount Vernon mansion where Nelly Custis played the harpsichord.
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.
Article describing Martha Washington's role and experiences accompanying George Washington to the front during the Revolutionary War.
Article discussing Martha Washington and slavery at Mount Vernon.
Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching about women in the 18th century.
An animation (1:02 minutes) of the changes to Mount Vernon's structure during the 18th century.
Tour the Mansion House, support buildings, gristmill and distillery online.
Article about music in the 18th century.
Video (2:56 minutes) discussing Nelly Custis' bedchamber.
Article highlighting objects in the Mount Vernon collection relating to Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.
Article discussing Oney Judge, an enslaved woman at Mount Vernon.
Object page for the shoes that Martha wore at her wedding to George Washington in 1759.
Object page for the punch bowl that Martha Washington brought to Mount Vernon to use for social events.
Article discussing shoe styles of the 18th century, shoemaking, and Martha Washington's shoes. Several short videos are also included in this resource.
Article discussing slave resistance at Mount Vernon.
Article on the ways that slave women could resist within the confines of their enslaved status.
Video (3:01 minutes) discussing slavery at Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon web page exploring the Chintz Room, possibly used as Nelly Custis' bedchamber.
Article about how Martha Washington set the tone for future first ladies.
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).
Article discussing Martha Washington's style.
Video (2:51 minutes) discussing the wheat crop, threshing, and treading.