Unit studies - President Washington

[mamaMAMAma]

I'm new to unit studies and would appreciate some help on how to put a unit together. We're a waldorf-inspired family(homeschooling for 4 years no) venturing out to a more child led approach. DD10 is really interested in President Washington. She is also very interested in memorizing the states and capitals. She loves to read. We're going to the library to get some historical fiction. What else can I do with this? What would a unit look like? I'm thinking we can do some stuff with money(coins, dollar bills)... Thanks!

[VisionaryMom]

I was just thinking the other day that I don't understand the point of memorizing states & capitals! If your dd wants to, I think that's okay. I memorized huge lists of things for fun when I was a (rather dorky) kid, but as a hs mom, I would teach something about those cities or states. I would pick one topic that interests her and focus on that in various capitals (maybe not all 50, but a few). So if she loves art, I would look online for art museums or art events in that city and learn about them.

Washington - ugh. I would - and will be - working on my own story. My graduate work is in history, and I haven't seen anything out there that captures the truth behind Washington. Beyond the cherry tree, tossing the quarter across the Potomac stories (which, incidentally, I think are interesting in that they were a concerted effort to create a national identity), there is just so much that's untrue about Washington. He was selected because he *wasn't* political. He didn't want to be President. He had to be persuaded, which many founders viewed as a good sign because he would be unlikely to try to usurp his powers. Heck, he didn't have a lot of success as a General - just the right successes at the right times.

This is no help to you, but they are the things I would consider before teaching about Washington. I don't know your dd's age, but for my son (who's 5), I would talk about how people aren't all good or bad and that we shouldn't think anyone is "perfect" - maybe talk a bit about what makes a hero. We're a highly political family, so the idea of voting is something my kids understand, but we would probably talk about how Washington was elected, which was different from elections today, what the President had to do back then, some major legislation during his Presidency, etc.

ETA: I would be careful with historical fiction because I think it can confuse young learners. Is this true or not? Well, if part's true, why not the rest? How do we know? DS has been asking a lot about truth/fiction, and I find some questions are difficult.

I'll use an example from pop culture that DS has mentioned. He's heard of the Jonas Brothers - that they're a band. Okay. They are real people. Then he heard they had a TV show, and a neighbor told him about something that happened on the show. He asked me, and I told him that didn't really happen (it involved one of them getting hurt or some such), that it was fiction. Pretend. Like Handy Manny isn't real. But the Jonas Brothers are real? So, are they on TV or not? Well, if the real band sings songs on the fake show, are the songs real? This has become a rather comical conversation, but I could envision a similar one with DS & historical fiction.

[mamaMAMAma]

I don't get the memorizing either.. and I was shocked when dd10 (almost 10 years old) wants to memorize the states and capitals. I still remember how stressed I was about all the memorization. But, listen to the child right?

We went to the library and the librarian was very helpful. So we got some books on Washington and Clara Barton. Now I just have to figure out how to tie this into language arts and math...

[VisionaryMom]

Originally Posted by mamaMAMAma

I don't get the memorizing either.. and I was shocked when dd10 (almost 10 years old) wants to memorize the states and capitals. I still remember how stressed I was about all the memorization. But, listen to the child right?

Yeah. I actually went through - and this is embarrassing to admit - a stage when I memorized 800 numbers on various infomercials. It was a bizarre phase. At least states & capitals can be useful!

[cloudswinger]

If you don't mind videos, the series Liberty's Kids is pretty good. It covers the American Revolution, and has George Washington as he goes through being selected General, almost being declared King, and becoming President. They did show his losses/failures too, and showed him as being a human being. He's not the primary character though. Anyway, my 6 yo loves the series. We watched it last year, and then we went on a summer road trip to Washington DC, saw the monuments there, and Federal Hall in NYC (which is where he was inaugurated as President). She's rewatching it now, and wants to visit Benjamin Franklin's house. There's so much in it though, since they go into fighting for freedom and what you believe in, and yet not everyone gained their freedom.