SEED to table:
Farming at
mount vernon
Instructional Ideas
Order the Program
previewing instructional activities
- Create a K-W-L chart, filling in “What I Know” and “What I Want to Know” before viewing the program.
- Discuss the roles that George Washington played in his life, including farmer, surveyor, soldier, leader, president, husband, and father.
- Read a biography about George Washington and discuss important aspects of his life. Tell students that George Washington was a farmer.
- Fold a sheet of paper in half. Ask students to draw a picture of their home on one half of the paper. Discuss with students what they know about George Washington’s home and what they think it looked like. Record students’ responses on a chart. Then ask students to draw on the other half of the paper George Washington’s home.
- Assess student knowledge of George Washington by playing Four Corners. Ask a question such as, “What was George Washington’s main job?” Provide four answers and indicate to the students which corner of the room corresponds to each answer, such as soldier, president, husband, and surveyor. Allow students to travel to the corner they pick, but then discuss each answer.
- Discuss life in the past and the present. Create a T-chart with the students to reflect what life was like in George Washington’s time compared to today.
- Discuss what a gristmill is.
- Look at samples of flour and corn meal. Engage children in a hands-on experience. Let them handle flour and corn meal. Have students share differences between the two and how they think the process to make flour and corn meal might differ.
