Lessons on American Presidents.com
  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on George Washington

George Washington was the first President of the USA and is consistently voted as one its top five leaders. He was born in 1732 in Virginia. His family were well off and owned a plantation. Growing up, he learned the morals, manners, and knowledge necessary for an 18th-century Virginia gentleman. He was greatly interested in two things while he grew up: military arts and western expansion.

In 1754, at the age of 22, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Army. He fought in the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The following year he escaped injury in battle although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. His military experience taught him valuable lessons in leadership he would use later in his political life.

From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands. He married Martha Dandridge Custis and devoted himself to farming life. However, he felt exploited by British merchants and British regulations. In 1775, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. He forced the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781.

Washington entered politics and became a prime mover in the steps leading to creating the Constitution in 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the USA’s first President. Washington avoided further wars and promoted the importance of federal power. He died in 1799 and was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington

George Washington was the first President of the USA and is consistently ________________ top five leaders. He was born in 1732 in Virginia. His family ________________ owned a plantation. Growing up, he learned the morals, manners, and knowledge necessary for an 18th-century Virginia gentleman. He was greatly interested in two things ________________: military arts and western expansion.

In 1754, at the age of 22, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Army. He fought in the first skirmishes ________________ the French and Indian War. The following year he ________________ in battle although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. His military experience taught him ________________ leadership he would use later in his political life.

From 1759 ________________ of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands. He married Martha Dandridge Custis and devoted himself to farming life. However, ________________ British merchants and British regulations. In 1775, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. He forced ________________ the British at Yorktown in 1781.

Washington entered politics and became a prime mover in the steps ________________ the Constitution in 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the USA’s first President. Washington ________________ and promoted the ____________________ power. He died in 1799 and was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

George Washington was the first President of the USA and is consistently oedvt as one its top five leaders. He was born in 1732 in Virginia. His family were well off and owned a plantation. Growing up, he learned the morals, rsnmaen, and knowledge necessary for an 18th-century Virginia gentleman. He was greatly interested in two things while he grew up: railiymt arts and western expansion.

In 1754, at the age of 22, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Army. He tfuohg in the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The following year he spdceae injury in battle although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. His military experience taught him laubealv lessons in leadership he would use later in his political life.

From 1759 to the erabukot of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands. He married Martha Dandridge Custis and devoted himself to farming life. However, he felt idetlpoex by British merchants and British regulations. In 1775, he took amcmnod of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. He forced the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781.

Washington entered politics and became a mrpie mover in the steps leading to creating the Constitution in 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the USA’s first President. Washington ddaevoi further wars and promoted the importance of federal power. He died in 1799 and was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the rhseat of his countrymen".

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

George Washington the first USA President was of the and is consistently voted as one its top five leaders. He was born in 1732 in Virginia. owned and off well were family His a plantation. Growing up, he learned the morals, manners, and knowledge necessary for an 18th-century Virginia gentleman. He was greatly interested up grew he while things two in: military arts and western expansion.

In 1754, at the age of 22, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Army. in fought He what of skirmishes first the grew into the French and Indian War. year escaped in following he injury The battle although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. His military experience taught him valuable lessons use in later leadership in he his would political life.

From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands. He married Martha Dandridge Custis himself devoted and life farming to. However, he felt exploited by British merchants and British regulations. In 1775, he of - and command ill troops took his trained embarked upon a was that war years grueling six last to. He forced the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781.

Washington prime mover in entered politics and became a the steps leading to creating the Constitution in 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the USA’s first President. Washington avoided importance the promoted and wars further federal of power. He died in 1799 and was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and the hearts of his countrymen first in".

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about George Washington in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write about George Washington for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about George Washington. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about George Washington. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. GEORGE WASHINGTON POSTER Make a poster about George Washington. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY GEORGE WASHINGTON LESSON: Make your own English lesson on George Washington. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on George Washington. Share your findings with the class.