Internet Based Lesson

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Internet Based Lesson

• What it is
• A lesson that is worthy of study
• Goes beyond what is found in textbook
• Purpose
• To explore the value of technology as a genuine
  teaching tool
• Should feature reputable site(s)

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• Is NOT a self-contained site
• Not one where students would simply go there
  read, or interact with what has been
  professionally produced
• Lesson should include audience involvement
• Lesson should fit into regular lesson plan format

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• Information may be presented
• On Powerpoint
• On Elmo
• Handouts
• Poster

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Sample Internet Lesson
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Time Autumn night, 1853

• Place Potomac River

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• Where is the Potomac River?

Begins in W VA, To Northeast To MD, PENN
border SE thru VA, To Washington DC
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• A passenger boat heads down the river. As it
  makes its way past Mount Vernon, the captain
  adheres to a tradition that started during the
  War of 1812.
• He tolls a bell in solemn respect for George
  Washington

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• Louisa Cunningham, a passenger asleep in one of
  the cabins, was awakened.
• She came out on deck to see what was happening.
• What she saw would have a profound impact on her
  life and start a chain of events that would
  impact future Americans as well.

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Mount Vernon, illuminated by the moon, was in a
state of ruin

• Its roof was collapsing,
• its old, weakened portico was held upright only
  by means of unsightly wooden supports.

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• Overgrown shrubs, tall grass, and withered trees
  surrounded the once proud home of the first
  president.

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Mount Vernon condition described to Ann Cunningham

• Louisa wrote to her sister, who was receiving
  treatment for a permanent spinal injury
• Ann was unable to walk
• As Ann read the letter, she was filled with a
  sense of purpose
• To rescue the home of the first president

Ann Cunningham
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Objectives

• Identify the skills Ann Cunningham had acquired
  that empowered her in the quest to save Mount
  Vernon.
• Evaluate the historical role of the Mount Vernon
  Ladies Association.

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Ann Cunningham on a mission

• Her goal to raise funds to purchase Mount Vernon
• A daunting task for a woman
• A daunting task for an invalid
• Crippled by spinal injury from a fall from a
  horse
• She wrote a letter to the editor of the
  Charleston Mercury, asking all Ladies of the
  South to enlist in the cause
• Signed the letter A Southern Matron
• Why didnt she sign her name?

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• The first meeting of a group of ladies interested
  in the call netted 293.00.
• 100.00 of that donated by Anns mother
• Mount Vernon Ladies Assoc. formed
• Orator Edward Everett learns of the campaign
• Offers to speak about the cause donate the money

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• A tough legislative battle ensued in Virginia to
  gain a formal charter for the Association
• Why was the battle a tough one?
• Took a lot of wining dining badgering of
  legislators
• Charter status eventually gained!
• John Washington, Jr. decides not to sale the
  estate to women

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Ann Meets John Washington, Jr.

• John, great nephew of 1st president, had been
  criticized for letting Mount Vernon deteriorate
• Ann journeyed by steamboat to Mount Vernon
• Carried up the hill in a chair
• Q What strategy would you use if you were Ann
  Cunningham (to convince JW to sell)?
• Even though JW was not accommodating, she told
  him that he was not the evil man that had been
  described by the media

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• Those words of kindness seemed to soften JW
• Soon thereafter, the home was sold
• Price 200,000.00

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Mansion continues to decline

• In July 1858, Harper's Weekly published an
  article describing the deplorable condition of
  the estate.
• Though slanted to promote the endeavors of the
  Ladies' Association, the article was filled with
• images of "decay on every side. . . . Normandy
  contains far better preserved memorials of
  William the Conqueror than Virginia does of
  Washington."
• "the timbers supporting the roof are almost
  entirely gone. . . . A severe storm might blow it
  down in its present condition."

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Association Takes Control of Plantation

• The date Washingtons birthday 1860
• 1861 Ann arrives to oversee restoration
• Crippled by her spinal injury, she settled into a
  room on the 1st floor
• During the bleak winter months of 1860, she
  commented that "everything looks well--a great
  change in all out-buildings. The portico is up
  being painted."

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• Preceding information from
• http//www.gmu.edu/bios/potomac/
• http//www.thehistorynet.com/AmericanHistory/artic
  les/12962_text.htm
• The Plight of Mount Vernon, by Robert Poch
• http//www.house.gov/petri/gw005.htm
• Remember the Ladies
• http//www.nativesoil.com/Everett.cfm
• Edward Everett

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That Was Then, This is Now

• I can truly say that I had rather be at home at
  Mount Vernon with a friend or two about me, than
  to be attended at the seat of the government by
  the officers of State and the representatives of
  every power in Europe.
• -- George Washington

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(No Transcript)
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The East Front
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• The front of Mount Vernon faces the Potomac
  River.
• Washington lived at Mount Vernon for 45 years.

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The Dining Room
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• The largest room in Mount Vernon and one of the
  most ornate. Washington began construction of
  this room as the Revolution began, but wartime
  shortages delayed completion until after he
  returned.

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• The U.S. presidency began in this room, as George
  Washington was officially notified of his
  election as first U.S. President here on April
  14, 1789.
• Within 2 hrs. of his death, Washingtons body was
  placed in this room.

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The Study
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• He used the study extensively, starting each day
  by shaving and dressing here at four or five
  o'clock in the morning.

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• Active as the study was, a relative once
  described it as "a place that none entered"
  without a direct order.

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Master Bedroom
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• Mrs. Washington decorated the bedroom. It
  features the large bed she had made for them,
  portraits of her grandchildren, her dressing
  table and writing desk.

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• The room doubled as her office, from which she
  would oversee the household, the laundry and the
  kitchen, as well as teach her grandchildren and
  some of the slave children to sew and read.
• On December 14, 1799, at age 67, George
  Washington died on the bed in this room.

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Slave Memorial
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Washingtons Tomb
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Mount Vernon at Night
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• The preceding came from
• http//www.mountvernon.org/

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Discussion Questions Objectives

• How valuable was Mrs. Cunninghams knowledge of
  history to the success of her project?
• Identify skills (learned thru schooling) that
  enabled Mrs. Cunningham to gather support for the
  Mount Vernon project?

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• Identify historical treasures in your local area
  that deserve protection.
• Are the women in the story heroines? Why/why not?

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What Have We Learned About Heroes?
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They Come in All Shapes, Sizes, Colors
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Sometimes they can fly
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Sometimes They Run
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And Sometimes They Cant Walk at All
STILL SUPERMAN
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Assignment

• Choice A
• Identify a person in your county whose story is
  worth preserving for future generations
• Supply a rationale for your selection.
• Research the individual and write an article (3
  5 pages) about his/her story.
• Choice B
• Identify a landmark in your county that should be
  marked for its historical value (one that is not
  honored at the present time)
• Research the site and write a persuasive argument
  (3-5 pages) for your case.