Archive for the ‘Teacher Opportunities’ Category

For the past ten years, the Bill of Rights Institute has partnered with the Mount Vernon Education Dept. on a range of wonderful programs from Teachers’ Institutes to Teaching American History grants. Recently, the Bill of Rights Institute awarded their George Washington Prize for Teaching America’s Founding and a $2,500 cash award to Christopher Belch of Canton High School in Canton, Michigan. All participants of the Bill of Rights Teachers’ Institute “Shaping the Constitution: A View from Mount Vernon” are eligible to participate in the essay contest. Of his experience, Christopher said, “The privilege of being selected to attend the Bill of Rights workshop has been a dream come true! Upon first arriving at Mount Vernon, I was yet again awe struck and it is hard to find the words to describe the opportunity to get an intensive and personalized tour of the estates and the life of Washington.” Congratulations Christopher!

We’re starting a Revolution in the Teachers Learning Center! Who’s creating this excitement?

There’s Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and, of course, George Washington! James and Dolley Madison, Betsy Ross, Pocahontas, Abigail Adams, and Martha Washington are in attendance as well. This names only a few of the 18th century famous beings who are in the Teachers Learning Center.

Famous Beings…err…Famous Be’ans are a great way to introduce an ‘educational’ and ‘fun’ product to your classroom. Famous Be’ans from Creation Station are a historical line of collectible ‘famous beings’ dressed in their appropriate attire. Included with each Be’an is a hangtag featuring an original colorful illustration along with information (in poetic verse and prose) about the historical figure. Continue reading We’re Having a Revolution! »

This summer, the new George Washington Teaching Ambassador for the state of Oklahoma, Jan McClaren, came to Mount Vernon to attend two of our Teacher Institutes, and returned home full of ideas and George Washington-love. This two-year Teaching Ambassador program, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, makes it possible for Jan to travel the state of Oklahoma teaching students about George Washington’s leadership and showing teachers the FREE resources available through the Mount Vernon Education Department. Jan already has requests coming in from teachers all over the state who want her to come to their own classrooms. A teacher favorite is her lesson plan where students choose a presidential candidate from a selection of anonymous resumes of leaders (including Washington, FDR, and even Hitler!) and then campaign for their candidate. No surprise that George Washington has won many of the classroom elections!

The governor of Oklahoma has been drawn into the excitement as well, and last week our Director of Programs, Nancy Hayward, was asked to present a copy of Rembrandt Peale’s Porthole Portrait of George Washington to the state of Oklahoma. Also present were our Oklahoma partners in this initiative- from the left, Kelly Curtwright, Director of Social Studies Education, Oklahoma Dept. of Education, Dan Provo, Director of the Oklahoma History Center, Nancy Hayward, Mount Vernon Director of Programs, Jan McClaren, Teaching Ambassador, Governor Brad Henry, Jean Hendrickson, Executive Director of Oklahoma A+ Schools, and Roslynn Wade, Program Director of Oklahoma A+ Schools.

To learn more about the Teaching Ambassador program, see Jan’s schedule of events across the state, and read about Jan’s adventures in Oklahoma schools, be sure to check out George Washington Wired Oklahoma!

Dean Howarth, a Physics teacher at Mclean High School, has been bringing students to Mount Vernon for 15 years as part of a program he founded called Project Enlightenment. Students develop an 18th century character and then become a first person interpreter for a day at Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon recently honored Dean for his innovation and creativity, as well as the fact it is not everyday you meet a Physics teacher who is so committed to History!! For this, we think Dean deserves a big Huzzah! (18th century “Cheers!”)

GWW: How do your students prepare for their Mount Vernon visit?
DH: New members start early in the fall, with a goal of finding a character by December. The rest of winter is spent delving into the character and establishing a well-rounded knowledge of Washington’s life and times. Early spring is spent developing presentation skill, and crafting interpretive gateways. We have compiled tons of information and maintain an electronic library (to augment our school’s library). We have portrayed well over 150 different characters (all known to have connections to George Washington), and every year we add a few more.

GWW: Where do the costumes come from?
DH: We used to rent them with student dues, but without a budget per se, we have been earnestly collecting them a couple at a time. Ebay, seamstress moms (which are hard to find), donations, costume shop clearance sales, begging and borrowing, have all been used. Now we are almost self sufficient but the Cultural Affairs Division of Arlington County have helped us out considerably over the years. This has been a Herculean task-outfitting over 60 kids is tough!

GWW: What is the funniest thing that ever happened during a program at Mount Vernon?
DH: Since our costumes are often hand-me-downs and not the best quality they are often held together with safety pins and string. Once Tom Paine’s breeches fell down on the Piazza, and Benjamin Rush split his trousers demonstrating medical procedures. Our young ladies, dressed in 18th century fineries, often draw unwanted attention from dreaded packs of middle school boys on field trips (not paragons of ettiquette). Our project hones quick thinking and ad-lib skills. Once a rude boy was annoying our Nellie Custis with low-brow attempts of showing how cool he was. Nellie quickly replied that he reminded her of Hercules, which he seemed to be pleased with, until she added that Hercules was the name of her grandfather’s most stubborn jackass, which was historically accurate based on her detailed research. The boy sheepishly retreated, and we all gave her three cheers for her formidable verbal coup.

GWW: How many students do you estimate have participated in Project Enlightenment?
DH: Probably between 400-500!

GWW: Do you dress up and participate?
DH: Yes, I do. I played Ebeneezer Kinnersley most recently, an 18th century scientist who traveled the colonies demonstrating electrical machines like those of Dr. Franklin. I have also played astronomers, surveyors, and natural science professors.