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Cultivating a Nation: George Washington, Agriculture, and the 250th

Educators will examine how George Washington applied scientific farming methods, expanded his landholdings, shifted from tobacco to wheat, and grappled with the complexities of enslaved labor at Mount Vernon.

These activities will focus on teaching STEAM concepts in history education.

Register Now

Date

Cost

Free

Included: Lunch and Classroom Swag

Located At

Oklahoma History Center
800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73105

Apply Washington’s Agricultural Experiments to Classroom Learning

Participants will explore George Washington’s use of scientific methods to improve farming and the reasons behind the shift from tobacco to wheat as the primary cash crop.

The session examines Washington’s expansion of landholdings and the complex labor system at Mount Vernon, including his evolving views on enslaved labor.

Educators will leave this professional development with multiple ready-to-implement activities in the classroom that incorporate hands-on learning.

Registration Requirements

Who can register?

  • Teachers MUST teach in a formal K-12 classroom or school setting.
  • Programming is targeted for 5th-grade teachers, although we welcome teachers of all grades.
  • The program is limited to 50 teachers.
  • A waitlist will be available if registration meets full capacity.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Meet the Educators

Virginia Conerly

Virginia Conerly is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelors of Science and Master Degree in Elementary Education. Virginia has taught elementary school for 16 years with 15 years in 5th grade. Currently, Virginia teaches math, science, and social studies, in which she gets to focus on her love for early American History in Huntsville, Alabama. Virginia currently serves as the lead 5th grade teacher, the PBIS school coach, an AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, Technology Initiative) trainer,  an intern and new teacher mentor, and a Master Teacher for the 2025 White House History Teacher Institute. She is passionate about building relationships with students and creating historically accurate lessons that engage students with primary sources. When she is not teaching, she enjoys watching her son play soccer, her daughter dance, and traveling with her husband and family. 

Carrie Fox

Carrie Fox is an educator, historian, and curriculum developer with more than 20 years of experience teaching, creating professional development, and supporting teachers across Oklahoma. She currently works at the Oklahoma History Center Museum, where she designs inquiry-based curriculum, educator PD, and classroom resources aligned to Oklahoma Social Studies standards, with a focus on primary sources, hard history, and inclusive narratives. A former middle school teacher and longtime adjunct instructor at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma City Community College, Carrie brings deep classroom experience to her work with educators. Carrie is a frequent conference presenter, AP U.S. History Reader, and advocate for practical, teacher-friendly strategies that help students think critically about history and their role in the present.

Mount Vernon Celebrates America's 250th Anniversary!

Check out all of Mount Vernon's resources as we prepare for America's 250th Anniversary

Mount Vernon 250

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