Last updated: June 10, 2022
Lesson Plan
Becoming George Washington: Unit 2: Young George Washington - Grade 7-12
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- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.4, 6-8.RH.7, 6-8.RH.9, 6-8.RH.10, 9-10.RH.1, 9-10.RH.2, 9-10.RH.4, 9-10.RH.7, 9-10.RH.9, 9-10.RH.10
- Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts.
Essential Question
What can you learn about young George Washington's personality and ambitions from reading his journals?
Objective
Students will…
•List what they know about Washington, correcting items on their list as they research the man
•Analyze his 1748 writing as a surveyor
•List three ways he has changed by reading his 1753 writing on a military mission
•List one character trait revealed by this 1754 promotion letter
Background
By studying young George Washington’s writings as a 16-year-old surveyor and writings from his first military trip five years later students will learn about his character and ambitions. The lesson will also help dispel some of the myths and misconceptions about Washington. Students will be introduced to a young man who is strong, brave and ready to make a name for himself.
Young George Washington Grades 7-12, has a 4 page lesson plan for the teachers and the following additional material: Additional Sources, Resource Pages 1-8 and 10, Images 1-6 and an answer key. The lesson uses Washington's own words, images and maps to show his character and ambitions and how he matures over time. The lesson highlights two of young Washington's adventures, his 1748 trip as a surveyor and his 1753 military trip to ask the French to leave the area.
Check out the other units for Grades 7-12
Unit 4: Becoming a Leader Grades 7-12
Unit 5: Analyzing documents
Preparation
Download the lesson plan, the images and the student resources.
Make copies for the students.
Teach and discus with the students.
Materials
Download the Lesson Plan Young George Washington - Grades 7 - 12
Download The Images Young George Washington Grade 7 - 12
Download the Student Resources young George Washington Grade 7 - 12
Lesson Hook/Preview
It is common knowledge that George Washington was the first president of the United States and we see his image, from that period of his life, each day on our money and coins. But what was he like as a young man? By reading his writings from his early life was will see what they reveal about his character.
Guiding Questions: What do you know about George Washington? What does his 1748 writing tell us about him as a young surveyor? What can we learn about how he has changed from his 1753 writing on a dangerous military trip? What character trait does his 1754 letter reveal?
Procedure
Follow lesson procedures in the downloadable lesson plan document.
Assessment Materials
Answer Key Becoming George Washington
Rubric/Answer Key
Additional Resources
George Washington's Remarks
Becoming George Washington: Bibliography and other resources
Becoming George Washington: Introduction to the teacher's resource guide
The Fort Necessity National Battlefield website offers information about George Washington and the Battle at Fort Necessity.
Related Lessons or Education Materials
The teacher's resource guide "Becoming George Washington" also has units for students Grade 4-6:
Unit 1: Young George Washington Grades 4-6
Unit 3: Becoming a Leader Grades 4-6
This teacher's resource guide was written by Carolyn P. Yoder for French and Indian War 250, Inc. and was made possible by the Grable Foundation and the US Dept. of Education.