NCSS Notable Trade Book Lesson Plan

A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Alder

Lesson Plan Author: Mary Amoson

University of West Georgia

NCSS Notable Trade Book Title: / A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler (1989). New York, NY: Holiday House.
Book Summary: / Author Adler provides a simple and accurate picture book about the life of the United States first President, George Washington. Along with simplistic and colorful pictures, this book walks young readers through this important man’s life and legacy.
Georgia Standard: / Historical Understandings SSKH1 The student will identify the purpose of national holidays and describe the people or events celebrated.
f. Presidents Day (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the current President)
SSKH2 The student will identify important American symbols and explain their meaning.
e. Washington Monument
Materials / Copy of A Picture Book of George Washington, The Washington Monument
Quarters, Presidents’ Day, and Celebrating Presidents’ Day: What is a President?
Quarters for each student, blue construction paper, scissors, staples, chart paper, tape, copies of pages from A Picture Book of George Washington for timeline.
Optional for extended activity, brown and black construction paper, book John, Paul, George & Ben.
Objectives: / Students in Kindergarten will …
-identify the US first President George Washington on money and by pictures
-explain why we celebrate President’s Day in February
-identify the Washington Monument that was constructed in memory of George Washington
Procedures
Exploration/Introduction: / I. Prior to reading the book, involve students in discussion by asking:
- Do you know who or what person is on our money?- have money ready to show
- Why do you think this person is on this coin?
- What is a President?
- Who is our President?
II. To facilitate students’ thinking about Presidents:
-Show them the February Calendar and the special date set aside for President’s Day. Read the book, Celebrating Presidents’ Day: What is a President? Bu Kimberly Jordano
Compare the President to the Principal of our school.
-Skim through the book Presidents’ Day by Natalie Rosinsky to show the evolution of the holiday over time.
III. To pre-assess students’ understanding about President:
-Who them a picture of George Washington and ask who this is? Also show them a picture of Lincoln, Roosevelt, and current president.
IV. Introduce A Picture Book of George Washington:
-Show the class the picture of Washington and introduce him to the class.
-Explain that we are going to learn about this important man and what he did for our country a very long time ago.
-Read the story to the class, making sure they notice that the pictures are draw by a person’s hand and not with a camera.
V. After reading the book, ask students to recall Washington’s life from the story. Discuss why they think he was such an important man. Make a timeline using pictures from the book to detail his life as the class mentions elements from the book.
VI. Ask students if they would like to learn more about George Washington, and perhaps even look more like him! At tables make three sided blue hats like
VII. After regrouping with hats, give each student a quarter to look at and hold. Read the story, Quarters by Mary Hill and talk about the quarter, especially when compared to other coins- size, worth, and rough edges. Talk about what you can buy with a quarter! Collect the coins.
VIII. Finally, show the students a picture of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC by using the book The Washington Monument by Lola Schaefer. Read Fact File info on page 30 to class.
Expansion: / After discussing Lincoln, Roosevelt, and the current President:
Show student the Mystery President Power point as a review of Presidents.
Ask them to recognize presidents and national symbols by pictures.
Ask them which President they liked the best and why.
Ask them which President they think they were the most or the least like and why?
Play a matching game with money and national symbols to the President that it was made in memory for or that is on the coin.
Assessment: / Are students able to …
- Identify George Washington by his picture and on a quarter.
-Identify the Washington Monument by picture and state who is was created in memory of.
-Explain what a President is and why we celebrate Presidents’ Day in their own words.
(Teacher and student one-on-one assessment is done for state records and report card assessments in these areas.)
Suggested
Extension
Activities: / Students may create a cherry ax and talk about the story of George Washington chopping Down his father’s cherry tree and not telling a lie. Can read exerts from the lane Smith Book: John, Paul, George, & Ben.
Show brain Pop Jr. video on US symbols at
Brain pop video on George Washington at
Additional videos on individual Presidents and Presidents’ Day can be found on United Video Streaming as well.
Additional
References and Web links: / Books for Children
Jordano, K, & Callella-Jones, T (1999). Celebrating presidents' day: what is a president?.Huntington Beach, GA: Creative Teaching Press.
This simple picture book is a resource to explain what a president is and does in terms a child can relate to and understand. It is perfect for Kindergarten ages.
Rosinsky, N (2005). Presidents' day. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books.
This non-fiction book has many great pictures as well as relevant information about presidents’ day. It flows well and really explains the holiday in a very grow-up, but easy to understand way. Grades K-5.
Hill, Mary (2005). Quarters. New York, NY: Scholastic.
This book tells the reader in easy terms, all about the quarter from creation to use. It has real life pictures and interesting information that will be any small groups favorite! Grades preK-1.
Schaefer, L (2002). The Washington monument. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library.
These drawings and real life pictures are awesome to show students about the Washington Monument from paper to picture perfect building. It has detailed captions and fun facts at the end which allow the reader to skim over the information easily and still hit the highlights! Grades 1-5.
Smith, L (2006). John, paul, george & ben. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.
This book is broken into four stories about famous men that may or may not be true. The section of George Washington is about the cherry tree. The pictures are silly, but memorable and this book can really appeal to all age groups!