Lesson by Tim Bailey
Essay by Denver Brunsman, George Washington University
Grade Level: 7–12
Number of Class Periods: 5
Primary Era: The New Nation, 1783–1815
About This Lesson Plan Unit
Over the course of five lessons the students will read, analyze, and gain a clear understanding of George Washington’s Farewell Address, which was published on September 19, 1796. The first four lessons require students to read excerpts from the address “like a detective.” Employing summary organizers, practice, review, and discussion, they will master the technique of identifying keywords, creating summaries of excerpts and, as an assessment in the final lesson, writing an argumentative essay.
Lesson Plan Author: Tim Bailey
Historical Background Essay by: Denver Brunsman, George Washington University
Additional Information About This Unit
Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social studies.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.5: Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text contribute to the whole.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.11-12.1.a: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content; Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), and create an organization that logically sequences the claim(s), reasons, and evidence.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
According to George Washington, why did he write a farewell address to the nation?
What actions did George Washington encourage the United States to take?
What practices did George Washington warn against?
Documents
Documents
President George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796