Homeschool Day Activities
Activity Stations on the North Lane in the Historic Area (9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.):
- Visit with our education staff to learn about preserving food in the 18th-century, like smoking, pickling, and salting.
- Pick up materials for projects you can do at home (while supplies last.)
On the Farm (9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.):
- Explore archaeology at Mount Vernon and what discoveries tell us about 18th-century foodways.
- Learn about George Washington's innovative farming practices.
- Visit a reconstructed cabin, like those that housed enslaved families.
- Discover the different foods eaten by the Washingtons, the enslaved population at Mount Vernon, and hired workers.
In the Historic Area (9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.):
- Watch 18th-century spinning and weaving in the Spinning House, where enslaved and hired weavers made utilitarian wool and linen cloth.
On the Bowling Green:
- Hear our resident fifer and learn about the military music used during the American Revolution at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- Read Farmer George Plants a Nation with Mount Vernon staff at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then pick up a scavenger hunt you can do around the estate.
Learning Materials
Prepare for your visit by reviewing a printable version of the Homeschool Day. These tools will be available prior to the program.
Learn more about themes relating to George Washington as a farmer, landscape designer, and the enslaved people who labored on his farms and gardens:
- George Washington the Farmer
- Lives Bound Together
- 18th Century Farming
- Teaching with Place Lesson Plan
Extend the learning at home by visiting the Online Activities for Kids webpage.