Presentation on George Washington
This is the culminating activity we did after a 6 part hands-on unit on the American Revolution. We had a colonial-themed dinner and the children each dressed up as a famous person from the American Revolution time period and presented on him/her. My lessons are geared toward 2nd-3rd grade level children and their siblings. These are lessons I created to do with a weekly homeschool co-op. We meet each week for 2 1/2 hours and have 14 children between the ages of 0-12. Use these fun lessons with your class, family, homeschool co-op group, after school program, or camp!
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American Revolutionary War Themed Dinner
First we had an American Revolutionary War themed dinner. Each family brought 1 main dish and 1 side dish or dessert to share. If desired, they could bring colonial-style food (as that’s what people were still cooking during the American War for Independence). Here are a few recipe links to inspire you:
Colonial Food Descriptions & Recipes
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Molly Pitcher, Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, & Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)
Presentations
First the children sang the 13 Colonies Song they have been learning. (Tune: Yankee Doodle):
Virginia, Georgia, Delaware, and North Carolina;
Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
Pennsylvania, New York,
New Hampshire and New Jersey,
Rhode Island and Connecticut:
These were the thirteen colonies!
Then each child presented on their assigned person. They dressed up like him/her. Some children also displayed a portrait they had drawn or painted and some children showed their reports if they wrote one.
I had my oldest son write a report. As we read an 80 page biography on his assigned person, I had him write three main ideas/events after each chapter and then draw a picture to illustrate what had occurred in that chapter. This really helped him make a cohesive presentation as the events were already in order and his drawings quickly reminded him of what to speak about next.
Here are the people we assigned:
Abigail Adams
Benedict Arnold
Lord Charles Cornwallis
Benjamin Franklin
King George III
Patrick Henry
General William Howe
Thomas Jefferson
Francis Marion
Molly Pitcher
Paul Revere
George Washington
Decorating for the Presentations – Here are some items to make the dinner more festive.
Field Trip Ideas
We went to a Civil War battle reenactment because that’s all we have around where I live. As a family we also went to an art museum to see some portraits made during this time period. If you live close to a battlefield, then go by there. If your area has battle reenactments, then that would be a great place to go!
Looking for the lessons?
Singing the Declaration of Independence using a quill pen and homemade ink from Lesson 3: Lexington and Concord, Thomas Jefferson, and Declaration of Independence Lesson
Make tricorn hats and mob caps, “brew” root beer with Samuel Adams, hold a tea party as you study the Boston Tea Party, reenact the Battles of Lexington and Concord, make ink and quill pens in order to sign the Declaration of Independence, cook hasty pudding, drill with Baron von Steuben as you study Valley Forge, write a secret code and seal it with wax as you study Benedict Arnold, present on the people of the American War for Independence, and more during this exciting unit study!
- King George III, Patrick Henry, & Samuel Adams Lesson – This is part 1 of a 6 part hands-on unit on the American War for Independence. Make tricorn hats and mob caps, “brew” root beer with Samuel Adams, bake cornmeal molasses rolls, and more!
- Paul Revere, Boston Massacre, and Boston Tea Party Lesson – This is part 2 of a 6 part hands-on unit study on the American War for Independence. Hold a tea party, act out the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, bake a pound cake, examine the work of silversmiths, and more!
- Lexington and Concord, Thomas Jefferson, and Declaration of Independence Lesson – This is part 3 of a 6 part hands-on unit study on the American War for Independence. Make tin can lanterns, reenact the Battles of Lexington and Concord, make ink and sign the Declaration of Independence with a quill pen, eat ice cream with Thomas Jefferson, and more!
- George Washington, Battle of Trenton, & Betsy Ross Lesson – This is part 4 of a 6 part hands-on unit study on the American War for Independence. Make powder horns, cook hasty pudding, reenact the crossing of the Delaware and Battle of Trenton, paint the first American flag, and more!
- Benjamin Franklin, Battle of Saratoga, & Valley Forge Lesson – This is part 5 of a 6 part hands-on unit on the American War for Independence. Build “dragoon pistols,” drill with Baron von Steuben, cook and eat firecakes, experience cold feet at Valley Forge, reenact the Battle of Saratoga, and more!
- Battle of Yorktown, Benedict Arnold, Swamp Fox, & John Paul Jones Lesson – This is part 6 of a 6 part hands-on unit on the American War for Independence. Make drums, write a secret code and seal it with wax, make and eat hominy, act out the battles of Bonhomme Richard, Cowpens, and Yorktown, and more!
- American Revolution Presentations and Field Trip Ideas – This is the culminating activity we did after a 6 part hands-on unit on the American Revolution. We had a colonial-themed dinner and the children each dressed up as a famous person from the American Revolution time period and presented on him/her. Also included are the field trips we attended while studying this unit.
- The Constitution and President George Washington Lesson – This a hands-on lesson plan on the Constitution and President George Washington. Dance a minuet, cook and eat Nelly’s Hoecakes, go on a “fox hunt,” make a Constitution tree, and more! This lesson follows my 6 part unit on the American War for Independence.
The Frugal Gourmet: The Colonies (Colonial Cooking)
Colonial Williamsburg History of American Cooking
The Frugal Gourmet Colonial Christmas
Konos Volume II
Konos Curriculum
Would you like to teach this way every day?
I use Konos Curriculum as a springboard from which to plan my lessons. It’s a wonderful curriculum and was created by moms with active boys! The lessons from this unit are based on the lessons from the Courage Unit Study found in Konos Volume II.
If you’re new to homeschooling or in need of some fresh guidance, I highly recommend Konos’ HomeSchoolMentor.com program! Watch videos on-line of what to do each day and how to teach it in this great hands-on format!
© 2011 Shannon
Where Would You Recommend We Go To On a Field Trip for This Unit? – Or just let me know you dropped by! I love getting feedback from you!
anonymous on August 13, 2011:
Great ideas!
HeatherTodd1 on May 13, 2011:
Thanks for the Great article!
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