Lesson Cycle

Lesson Title/Topic: Who is George Washington?

Target Concept: Identify George Washington as an American whose contributions improved the
lives of other Americans.
Standards/Rationale: Social Studies, 1st grade, TEKS (113.12) 2A: identify contributions of
historical figures, including Sam Houston, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin
Luther King Jr., who have influenced the community, state, and nation
Lesson Objectives: The students will
correctly answer 4 out of 5 questions about
George Washington on a worksheet.

Assessment: completed worksheet

Materials: construction paper, glue, markers, My Book about George Washington packet,
chart paper, George Washingtons Breakfast, by Jean Fritz
The teacher will:
The student will:
Focus/Mental Set:
Have students gather on the carpet
Respond to the question
Show the cover of the book and ask
them to guess what it is about.
Tell students that today we will be
reading a book about George
Washington to learn a little more about
him
Listen to the book
Read George Washingtons
Breakfast, by Jean Fritz
Teacher Input:
What is a President?
What do you think the President does
when s/he goes to work?
Show the Scholastic video about
George Washington found at
http://www.simplykinder.com/presiden
ts-day-vidos/
After viewing the video, the students
will participate in a whole-class
discussion.
Use the following questions to aid in
this discussion:

Answer questions

Discuss video facts

Respond to questions

 Stand up and get with your

shoulder buddy on your left
and find out what state George
Washington was born in. When
you think you have the answer
both of you sit down.
Describe for me what the war
with England was like.
How was the American
Revolution different from one
of todays wars?
Give your shoulder buddy on
the right a high-five if you
think George Washington was
a good leader.
People call Superman a hero
and people also call George
Washington a hero. Why do
you think that is? What do they
have in common?
George Washington was
known as the Father of our
Country why do you think
they called him that?

Make a list of facts that were learned

from reading the book and watching
the video. This list should be made by
the teacher and the students together
on a piece of chart paper.

Guided Practice:
Put various art supplies on each desk
Have students create their own
versions of George Washington using
the various materials that have been

Contribute to list of facts

Create a visual representation of

George Washington

placed on their desks

Have the students write 3 sentences
about George Washingtons
contributions to go along with their art
project. The students will use the
information learned from the book
read earlier and the Scholastic video to
write their sentences.
The sentences need to be taped to the
bottom of the students George
Washington figure and then displayed
on the classroom wall

Independent Practice:
Distribute the My Book about
George Washington packet
Have students open the packet to the
last page and answer the review
questions
Closure:
Students discuss answers with their
shoulder buddy
Students will hand in their packets

Write at least 3 sentences

regarding his contributions to the
nation

Answer the questions

Verbalize learning