Skip to main content
Search
Services
EDUCATION with Student News

Learning Activity: Washington's Birthday

(CNN Student News) -- The third Monday in February is the federal holiday "Washington's Birthday." Use these activities to encourage your students to learn about and appreciate the famed general, farmer, Founding Father and first president of the United States.

1. Washington and Slavery

Pose the following question for students to investigate: How could George Washington, a man who fought for freedom, liberty and justice, have owned slaves? Refer students to the related resources, and have them explore George Washington's opinions of slavery and how those opinions changed during his lifetime. Have students imagine that they are going to conduct a modern-day interview with George Washington. Ask: What questions would you ask him about the issue of slavery? How do you think that he might respond? Challenge students to document their mock interviews with George Washington and share them with the class.

2. The Purple Heart

Inform students that during the American Revolution, George Washington established the Purple Heart military decoration, known at the time as the Badge of Military Merit. It was unique because in European armies, only officers were eligible for decoration. Washington made the Badge of Military Merit available to lower-ranking soldiers.

Challenge students to find out more about the Purple Heart and Washington's role in its creation. After students share their findings with the class, ask: What does the creation of the Purple Heart tell us about Gen. George Washington? Then, have students arrange to visit a local veterans hospital to share their own works of art, poetry, music or kind words of thanks with some of the hospitalized veterans.

3. Washington's Farewell Address

Inform students that in 1796, George Washington issued his final statement to the American public in what has become known as "George Washington's Farewell Address." Since 1896, every year on Washington's Birthday, the U.S. Senate has chosen one of its members to read the 7,641-word statement in a legislative session.

Next, distribute copies of Washington's Farewell Addressexternal link, and select one or more students to read it to the class. Then, pose the following questions to guide a class discussion about the relevance of this document:

  • What points did Washington stress in this document? What messages did he want to convey to Congress and the American people?
  • In reading the Farewell Address, what did you learn about George Washington's skills as a leader and a politician?
  • Do the points made in Washington's Farewell Address apply to any of the issues currently facing the United States? Explain.
  • Why do you think that the Senate reads the Farewell Address each year on Washington's Birthday?
  • 4. How Should We Celebrate Washington's Birthday?

    Inform students that while Congress has the authority to create federal holidays, states and the private sector are not required to celebrate them. States can determine their own legal holidays, and states have not uniformly adopted the federal holiday name "Washington's Birthday."

    Direct students to visit their state government's Web site to investigate how their state celebrates the Washington's Birthday federal holiday. Have students determine how and to what extent their state honors Washington's Birthday. Then, challenge students to brainstorm ways in which their school or their local community could commemorate the Washington's Birthday federal holiday.

    Correlated Standards

    Social Studies

    Standard I. Culture: Students will learn about culture and cultural diversity.

    Standard X. Civic Ideals and Practices: Students will examine the ideals, principles and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.

    The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/external link) are published by the National Council for Social Studies (http://ncss.org/external link).

    Keywords

    George Washington, Washington's Birthday, Purple Heart, Farewell Address, Presidents Day, federal, state

    Story Tools
    Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
    Top Stories
    Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
    CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
    Top Stories
    Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
    CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
    Search JobsMORE OPTIONS


     
    Search
    © 2007 Cable News Network.
    A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
    Terms under which this service is provided to you.
    Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
    Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
    Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
    Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines