Founding Faces: Leaders Who Shaped a Nation- George Washington
This self-paced course uses NearPod to explore George Washington’s life through 5 interactive modules. Students build reading, writing, and research skills, while creating a final physical artifact to reflect their learning and analysis.
Harrow Strickland, NBCT 2010/2020 M.Ed
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(2)
New on Outschool
What's included
5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentProjects
2-4 hours per week. Each module will contain one longer writing assignment attached to a physical project assignment.Progress Report
After a student has completed all five NearPod modules and submitted their written assignment and presentation of a physical project, a progress report will be sent to parents/guardians.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 7
Beginner Level
What will be taught? This class will explore the lives and legacies of key figures from the founding era of American history, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams, and others. Students will engage with both historical content and ELA skills, enhancing their understanding of history while practicing reading, writing, and critical thinking. What topics will you cover? The course covers the personal stories, contributions, and historical significance of each figure, including their impact on the formation of the United States. Learners will analyze texts, historical events, and monuments while creating projects that reflect the legacies of these individuals. How is your class structured? The class is self-paced, structured into five interactive Nearpod modules for each historical figure. These modules blend social studies content with ELA skills through reading assignments, writing activities, and hands-on projects. Students can complete the modules at their own pace, with the option to purchase the entire series or receive one module each week. How will you teach? Using interactive lessons, I will guide learners through a combination of multimedia tools such as slides, video clips, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and creative projects. The course emphasizes independent learning, with students creating physical artifacts like models or dioramas to showcase their understanding. What's your teaching style? My teaching style focuses on providing clear, step-by-step guidance that encourages independent exploration. Each lesson integrates reading and writing tasks into historical content, blending ELA skills with social studies to ensure learners not only understand the material but also develop critical literacy skills. How much will learners get to interact with you? Since this is a self-paced class, there is no peer interaction, and direct feedback is only provided if requested at the end of the series. While learners won’t have direct interaction throughout the modules, they will be guided by carefully designed lessons and activities that allow them to work independently at their own pace.
Learning Goals
Students will analyze the historical significance of key figures in the founding era by identifying their contributions to important events, leadership qualities, and lasting impacts on the formation of the United States.Students will develop critical reading comprehension skills by examining informational texts, biographies, and primary sources to gather key details about each figure’s life and legacy.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)5 Lessons
over 5 WeeksLesson 1:
Module 1: Introduction to George Washington
My lesson is about building reading comprehension and critical thinking skills through interactive activities focused on George Washington’s life. Students will watch an interactive video, read or listen to a PowerPoint, complete a fill-in-the-blank activity, engage in a matching exercise, play a "Time to Climb" game, and respond to an open-ended question requiring a paragraph. This lesson encourages synthesis of information and writing skills, aligned with Common Core standards. Lesson 2:
Module 2: Monuments of a Legacy: Unveiling Washington’s Image
My lesson is about analyzing how monuments represent George Washington’s legacy. Students will complete an interactive reading on the history of monuments using Nearpod’s “Draw It” tool to highlight key details. They will engage in a fill-in-the-blank vocabulary exercise, play a “Time to Climb” game to test reading comprehension, and respond to an open-ended question to write an informational paragraph on which monument most reflects Washington’s character. Lesson 3:
Module 3: Washington Through Words and Stone: A Character Study
My lesson is about exploring George Washington’s character traits as portrayed in both literature and historical monuments. Students will closely read excerpts from selected books and compare these character portrayals to how Washington is depicted in various monuments. Through guided activities, they will analyze key traits, make comparisons, and respond with short written reflections. Lesson 4:
Module 4: Sculpting a Legacy: Crafting Washington’s Monument
My lesson is about applying creative writing and presentation skills as students design a new monument that better reflects George Washington’s character and legacy. Through a series of guided activities, students will write a narrative from the perspective of a sculptor explaining their design choices. They will also present their monument ideas, showcasing both their artistic vision and understanding of Washington’s leadership. Other Details
Learning Needs
The self-paced format allows flexibility, while interactive activities, visual aids, and chunked tasks keep students engaged. It's designed for multi-sensory learning and comprehension.
Parental Guidance
In these self-paced lessons, students will encounter sensitive content, including the use of enslaved labor at George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, and in building historic monuments. The lessons will explore Washington's legacy, including his ownership of enslaved people, which may be challenging for some learners. Since no class discussions will take place, we recommend monitoring your child’s progress and being available for conversations. Clear content warnings will be provided, and we encourage breaks and reflection to ensure a thoughtful and respectful learning experience.
Pre-Requisites
Students should have basic reading and writing skills and be able to navigate through Nearpod using keyboard/mouse/touchpad/touchscreen.
Joined July, 2024
5.0
2reviews
New on Outschool
Teacher expertise and credentials
Alabama Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University at Montgomery
30 years public school experience teaching 5th grade ELA/Social Studies integrated
Professional Development
2019 American Revolution Institute- Washington DC
2017 Gilder Lehrman Seminar: The American Revolution, NYC
2015 Gilder Lehrman Alabama History Teacher of the Year
2015 NEH Landmark Workshop: Seat of War and Peace, Ford’s Theater, Washington, DC
2014 Barringer Fellowship Thomas Jefferson Monticello Teacher Institute, VA
2012 Mt. Vernon Summer Teacher Institute, Washington, DC
2012 NEH Landmark Workshop- At the Crossroads of the Revolution- Concord/Boston, MA
2012 Teacher Advisor for Smithsonian National Museum of American History
2011 NEH Landmark Workshop: Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, PA
2010 Smithsonian National Museum of American History K-12 Summer Teaching AssociateReviews
Self-Paced Course
$10
weekly or $50 for all content5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
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Ages: 10-13
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