February 12, 2010
by Mount Vernon Education Department
There are several exciting things coming up at Mount Vernon soon, with the first being the launch of our new exhibit “Bringing Them Home” tomorrow. This special exhibition is in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum at Mount Vernon, and brings together for the first time over 150 objects linked to George Washington that the Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been tracking down since the 1850’s. It’s such a special thing to be able to bring these objects back to their home here at Mount Vernon, even if for just a short while. As a sneak peak, the USA Today article about the show also mentions our new traveling exhibition that opens at the Heinz Center in Pittsburgh next week. Don’t worry- we’ll have lots more details for you about that next week, as well as a brand new, absolutely fabulous website that will launch next week as well. Get excited!
Category: George Washington
February 4, 2010
by Mount Vernon Education Department
You are sitting comfortably on the wide Piazza at Mount Vernon, watching the sun set on the Potomac River. A soft breeze washes over you as you chat leisurely with the teacher on your right. An interesting woman who has the most creative way of teaching about Martha Washington that you have ever heard- you have already exchanged email addresses and look forward to sharing ideas in the future. As you take a sip of the cool white wine and appreciate the evening, Cokie Roberts, sitting in the chair on your left, shares a fascinating tidbit of information about Martha that she is planning to include in her next book. A waiter glides up to offer you another mini-crab cake- yum! As the conversation continues around you, you think back to the busy week you are having at the George Washington Teachers’ Institute. You are a little tired from waking up early to watch the sun rise above the Wharf, but the workshops and lectures kept you engaged throughout the day. Who knew that the author of that book about the Revolutionary War that you just read would be one of your lecturers? You even bought another copy of the book just to have him sign it. Living on the grounds of Mount Vernon makes you feel like one of the thousands of visitors that the Washingtons would hospitably welcome. While you miss your family, it will be very hard to leave this lovely experience behind.
Sound dreamy? Apply for the George Washington Teachers Institute this summer on our website.
Image by L. Toshio Kishiyama.
Category: George Washington Teachers' Institute
February 2, 2010
by Mount Vernon Education Department
The history of the slaves that lived and worked at Mount Vernon is an integral part of the story that we tell. George Washington spent 40 years transforming a small farmhouse into the iconic mansion that stands today, as well as expanding his land to include five farms, a gristmill, distillery, and blacksmith shop. While Washington played a very active role in overseeing his farms and managing renovations on his home, he was no DIY-er. At Washington’s death in 1799, there were 316 slaves living and working at Mount Vernon, and it was these men, women, and children who made Mount Vernon a beautiful, prosperous plantation. To ensure that these individuals are not ignored in the classroom, we provide a range of lesson plans about slave life at Mount Vernon on our website. The elementary lesson “A Day at Mount Vernon” uses a story to show the connections between the Washington family and their slaves, the middle school lesson, “Washington & Slavery: 1799 Census” examines the slave census that Washington compiled shortly before his death, and the high school lesson, “George Washington Stood Here on the Issue of Slavery” examines the contradictions of being both a slave owner and a freedom fighter. Please leave a comment about ways that you teach about colonial slavery in your classroom!
Category: Classroom Resources
There are several exciting things coming up at Mount Vernon soon, with the first being the launch of our new exhibit “Bringing Them Home” tomorrow. This special exhibition is in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum at Mount Vernon, and brings together for the first time over 150 objects linked to George Washington that the Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been tracking down since the 1850’s. It’s such a special thing to be able to bring these objects back to their home here at Mount Vernon, even if for just a short while. As a sneak peak, the USA Today article about the show also mentions our new traveling exhibition that opens at the Heinz Center in Pittsburgh next week. Don’t worry- we’ll have lots more details for you about that next week, as well as a brand new, absolutely fabulous website that will launch next week as well. Get excited!
