Oklahoma George Washington Wired

George Washington loved to dance.  “In fact, he paid for his own dance lessons so he would be competent and confident on the dance floor.  As noted by historian Edward Lengel, ‘Dancing grew to become one of Washington’s favorite pastimes, and his skill in the ballroom. . . made him a welcome guest in the homes of politically influential neighbors (Rees, pg. 20).’”  “During the Revolutionary War, Washington apparently danced with Kitty Greene, the wife of General Nathanael Greene, for three hours straight.  When he was president, Mrs. Washington sometimes had to greet guests at the door because there was a queue of ladies waiting for a pin around the dance floor with her husband (Rees, pg. 93).”  Thomas Jefferson once said that Washington was the “best dancer in Virginia.”  Imagine the connection I saw when I walked into Millwood Schools and saw fifth grade students doing the Fox Trot, the Cha Cha, and the Quick Step!  The students have been learning to dance for the past few months and are going to a competition this weekend.  The General will not be in attendance, but I know he would have loved it! 

Quotes taken from George Washington Leadership Lessons by James C. Rees

In late November I was at Mount Vernon.  I always try to take a tour of the Mansion and then refresh my Washington knowledge by meandering through the Educational Center and Museum.  The smell of Christmas was in the air!  I followed my nose to the hallway near the gift shop.  There, looking like Santa’s busy elves, were two chefs working feverishly on a gingerbread house—or rather a Mount Vernon Gingerbread House!  I was mesmerized as they used a circular saw to cut large slabs of the crispy brown cookie.  “When right before my wondering eyes” appeared the famous piazza that faces the Potomac.    Although I scrutinized their “lively and quick movements” as they attached the roof of the porch, I still cannot figure out how it did not collapse in a sugar-filled lump!  As I stood there with my mouth open in amazement at the creation, the Former White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier smiled and “how his eyes twinkled.”  I had to leave before the miniature Mount Vernon was finished but every night “as I lay sleeping all snug in my bed, visions of a Gingerbread Mount Vernon dance through my head.”

Speaking of dessert, we are planning to have the Second Annual George Washington Birthday Cake Contest. 

1. Two categories
   1. 3^rd through 5^th grades
   2. 6^th through 8^th  grades
   3.  Each class (NOT individual students and NOT multiple classes together) creates a FAKE birthday cake (made out of Styrofoam or some light materials-NO edible materials) that reflects George Washington.  This means the cake could represent his whole life or just his presidency or his time as Commander of the Continental Army or????  The entire cake (with all decorations) must be NO larger than 3 feet in height and 3 feet in width.
   4. Send up to three digital pictures of the creation with a 200-word (or less) description of what the cake represents to jmcclaren@mountvernon.org  by January 29.  Please include the name of your teacher, the grade level, the name of your school, and the school’s phone number.  You will receive a confirmation within 32 hours that your pictures were received.
   5. Cakes will be judged on: Reflects Washington’s life (50 pts), creativity & artistic quality (20 pts), the 200-word paper reflects the cake (20 pts), overall impression (10 pts).
   6. The top 3 cakes from each category will be selected and those six cakes are to be taken to the OKSDE Social Studies & Fine Arts Conference to be held at Southmoore High School located at 2901 South Santa Fe.   The cakes will be on display during the Conference.  Each of the finalist’s teachers will receive a $30 gas card to defray the cost of bringing the cake to the event.  Cakes are to be taken home at the end of the conference—no exceptions.
   7. The conference attendees will vote for one winner from each category (3^rd thru 5^th and 6^th thru 8^th).   Each of those winners will receive a George Washington Birthday Party Celebration in their classroom on the afternoon of either the 23^rd or 25^th of February.

If you have any questions, please email Jan McClaren at <jmcclaren@mountvernon.org>

Last Year's Winning Birthday Cakes

One of the schools where I presented recently was Ranch Heights Elementary in Bartlesville.  As I arrived, I noticed the marquee welcoming me.  Signs, monuments, portraits, and even weathervanes tell a great deal about a person or place.  Ranch Heights’ library was full of symbols.  The school’s art teacher, Reita Adams, attended the Mount Vernon Summer Institute last July and her students had studied George Washington’s weathervane—His dove of peace.   As an art project the students designed their own weathervanes.  There were birds, horses, and fish—almost everything you can imagine!  It was delightful and I look forward to presenting Ms. Adams’ lesson on my Blog in the future.  Not only were there scores of these artistic creations, but the General was also there!  The school has one of the beautiful Charles Wilson Peale Porthole Portraits.  Next to the portrait they have a United States flag that has flown over Mount Vernon in a case.  All these signs told me that Ranch Heights Elementary is a friendly, creative, PATRIOT place! 

This is Mangum’s “Thank you” for presenting to their fifth graders.  The poem was so cute I thought I would share it.

A few weeks ago I had the honor of being at Mount Vernon again.  I took a walk near the mansion as the sun was beginning its quick, autumn descent.  From the side of Washington’s home nature revealed a gold and pink-drenched, cloud-filled sunset. Mount Vernon always reveals new levels of beauty every time I visit the General’s home.  I also went to Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria, Virginia to watch part of the taping of an upcoming video about the music of George Washington’s era.  For all of the Oklahoma teachers who recently experienced a workshop or performance by David Hildebrand at the Hardesty Library in Tulsa or the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, he will also be on the Fairfax network video.  Gadsby’s Tavern was an inn where Washington attended a public celebration of his birthday.  The George Washington re-enactor was there to talk about music that our first President enjoyed.  The actor had been in Philadelphia earlier in the week where he depicted the President of the Constitutional Convention.  As we were visiting about that experience, suddenly, the gentlemen was no longer a re-enactor but BECAME Washington as he launched into a story about Ben Franklin.  “The aged Philadelphia philosopher rose slowly while leaning on his Crabtree walking stick.  He pointed behind the General at the chair and stated, ‘I have speculated repeatedly through these heated proceedings if the carved sun on your chair was a setting or rising one. Now that we have formed this new constitution for our young country, I perceive, Sir, that it is a rising sun.’”  His words reminded me to be thankful for our Founding Fathers and their willingness to compromise in order to “establish this constitution for the United States of American.”

Monday the George Washington Teaching Ambassador visited Skyview Elementary in Yukon, Oklahoma.  Mrs. Browning’s room was decorated in red, white and blue—perfect for Veteran’s week.  Some of the students received a lesson about President Washington’s teeth.  They decided his false teeth would be very uncomfortable!  The students also “boogied down” while dancing about the Revolution and the General. 

Tuesday started early at Surrey Hills Elementary also in Yukon.  The kindergarten classes joined together to welcome the George Washington Ambassador.  Some of the students had a very “trying” time when they tried to crush walnuts in their hands like Washington used to do.  The youngsters played a matching memory game after learning about Washington’s farm animals.  They loved the Ossabaw Hogs and his dog, Sweet Lips!  The students learned how flax is shredded in preparation for making linen.  They thought it felt like horses’ hair.

Wednesday, Veteran’s day, found the GW Ambassador in the perfect place—right next to Fort Sill!  Two three-hour workshops were held for Lawton teachers.   Both the morning session for secondary educators and the afternoon presentation for the elementary teachers involved in many hands-on activities.  The teachers used duct tape to create symbols of our country for Veterans Day.  I have never seen so many football coaches get so involved in their art designs—You would have thought they were creating new gridiron plays!

Thursday (that is today), I am getting ready head to Tulsa for a “Revolutionary Day” planning meeting.  Eight schools from the northeast quadrant of Oklahoma are having a special day for fifth grade students at the University of Tulsa in February.  Much planning has gone into this event that is celebrating our birth of freedom.

Friday (tomorrow), I am packing because early Saturday morning I am flying up to Mount Vernon!  Yippee!

A hint of things to come:  The 2009 Mount Vernon George Washington Summer Institute attendees from Oklahoma are busy working on lessons they are creating about Washington.  I am so excited about reading all of them.  In December and January the lessons will be presented on this Blog so that other teachers can get ideas for their Washington Birthday Celebrations in February.  Many times this year I have past the mesmerizing wind turbines of western Oklahoma.  I know that George Washington would have loved them too as he really tried to be environmentally friendly.  Two of our teachers are working on a lesson about the “Green of George.”  I can hardly to see this lesson and the others that these wonderful educators have created.

Washington Irving Elementary in Edmond, Oklahoma received their portrait of George Washington.  Cindy Young, their social studies fifth grade teacher and a big fan of the General, helped select the perfect spot for the painting. Inscribed next to Peale’s rendering of the first president are the famous words, “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.”  These words were uttered by Henry Lee in his eulogy to Washington.  I can think of no better words to illuminate the life of George Washington in the hallways of learning.  Thank you Washington Irving Elementary.

Mountains between two towns…in Oklahoma?  Yes!  Recently I traveled to the southwest part of Oklahoma to the towns of Hobart and Mangum.  Delightful people live in both places.  Since I was making presentations on Monday in Hobart and Tuesday in Mangum, I stayed the night in the mountains—Quartz Mountains to be exact!  This area once provided a “safe haven for Native American people for countless seasons.  Nomadic tribal groups such as the Kiowa, Comanche and Plains Apache found shelter from the cold winter winds.  The Wichita established permanent villages in the shadow of these mountains.” *

 Although these rugged crags do not match the height or the lush emerald foliage of Washington’s beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, they are unexpected in the flat grasslands of Oklahoma.  As I was winding my way up the knolls I had to stop for two deer that slowly sauntered in front of my car—You would think they would know it is hunting season—Run deer, run!!  Once I checked in to my motel I had just enough time to hike around a few of the short paths.  The lady at the Inn’s desk warned me to watch for rattlesnakes—Yikes!  I stepped very carefully!  The views were stunning—from the wooden footbridge to the stark rocks that formed these granite peaks.  This area is a true treasure of Oklahoma.  

*Quote is taken from a sign in the area.