Lesson Plan
George Washington: Hero!
Students will be able to identify George Washington as an important historical figure and recall one key fact about his role in American history.
Understanding historical heroes like George Washington helps students grasp the foundational stories of our country and the qualities of leadership.
Audience
2nd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through engaging slides, interactive discussion, and a matching activity.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pen, Slide Deck: George Washington: Hero!, Script: George Washington's Story, Activity: Hero Matching, and Answer Key: Hero Matching
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Lesson Plan: George Washington: Hero! and all linked materials: Slide Deck: George Washington: Hero!, Script: George Washington's Story, Activity: Hero Matching, and Answer Key: Hero Matching.
* Prepare the whiteboard or projector for the slide deck.
* Print or prepare digital copies of the Activity: Hero Matching for each student.
* Have pencils or crayons ready for the activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Who's a Hero?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What makes someone a hero?" (1 minute)
* Facilitate a brief discussion, encouraging students to share examples of heroes they know (e.g., firefighters, doctors, parents, historical figures). (2 minutes)
* Introduce George Washington as a historical hero we will learn about today. (2 minutes)
Step 2
Introduction to George Washington
10 minutes
- Use the Slide Deck: George Washington: Hero! to introduce George Washington. Follow the Script: George Washington's Story for guided discussion. (5 minutes)
* Focus on his role as a leader during the American Revolution and the first president. (5 minutes)
* Ask simple comprehension questions, such as
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No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Who is a Hero?
What makes someone a hero?
Think about people you admire!
Greet students and start with a warm-up question: 'What makes someone a hero?' Encourage diverse answers and write them on the board if possible.
Meet George Washington!
A very important leader in our country's past.
He was brave and helped make our country free.
Introduce George Washington. Explain he was a very important person in American history. Show the picture and ask if anyone recognizes him.
A Great General
He led an army to fight for freedom!
This big fight was called the American Revolution.
Explain his role as a general. Use simple terms to describe the American Revolution (colonies wanted to be free from England).
Our First President
After the war, he became the first President of the United States!
He helped our new country get started.
Explain his role as the first president. Emphasize that he helped set up how our country would be run.
Why is he a Hero?
George Washington was a hero because he:
* Led us to freedom.
* Became our first president.
* Helped build our country.
Briefly summarize his key contributions and transition to the activity.
Script
George Washington's Story
Warm-Up: Who's a Hero? (Slide 1)
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about heroes. What do you think makes someone a hero? What kind of heroes do you know?"
(Allow students to share examples and ideas. Write down a few key ideas on the board.)
"That's wonderful! Heroes can be all sorts of people, from those who help us every day to famous people from history."
Meet George Washington! (Slide 2)
"Today, we're going to meet a very special historical hero named George Washington. Take a look at this picture. Does anyone recognize this person?"
(Allow for responses.)
"This is George Washington! He was a very, very important leader in our country's past. He was brave and helped make our country free."
A Great General (Slide 3)
"Before he was president, George Washington was a great general. He led an army to fight for freedom in a big war called the American Revolution. Our country, America, used to be ruled by a far-away king, and people here wanted to make their own rules. George Washington helped them fight for that freedom!"
"Can you imagine leading an army? It takes a lot of courage and smart thinking!"
Our First President (Slide 4)
"After the war, when America became its own country, the people chose George Washington to be their very first president! He helped our new country get started and made many important decisions about how we would live together."
"Being the first president was a huge job. He had to show everyone how a new country could work."
Why is he a Hero? (Slide 5)
"So, why do we call George Washington a hero? Because he:"
- "Led us to freedom as a general."
- "Became our very first president."
- "Helped build and guide our country in its early days."
"He helped create the United States of America as we know it today!"
"Now, let's think about what we just learned. Can you tell me one thing you remember about George Washington?"
(Listen to student responses and affirm correct answers.)
Activity: Hero Matching (Transition to Activity)
"Great job, everyone! Now we are going to do an activity to help us remember more about George Washington. We are going to complete a Activity: Hero Matching."
Activity
Hero Matching: George Washington
Instructions: Draw a line to match each description on the left to the correct role George Washington played on the right.
Descriptions
- Led the army to win freedom from the king.
- Was the first leader of our new country.
- Helped America become its own independent country.
George Washington's Roles
- First President
- General of the Army
- Founding Father
Answer Key
Hero Matching Answer Key
Instructions: Draw a line to match each description on the left to the correct role George Washington played on the right.
Descriptions and Matched Roles
-
Led the army to win freedom from the king.
Matches to: General of the Army -
Was the first leader of our new country.
Matches to: First President -
Helped America become its own independent country.
Matches to: Founding Father