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George Washington Carver and Sharing
  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 02. Roles of Government, Business, and Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.6 Explain why acting philanthropically is good for the community, state, nation, or world.

A read-aloud book teaches about George Washington Carver and his contributions to science. Students gain an understanding of a famous person of the past and the importance of his  actions for the common good.

Duration: 
PrintOne Thirty-Minute Class Period
Objectives: 
  • describe how science contributes to the common good.
Materials: 

read-aloud copy of A Weed Is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver 

Bibliography: 
  • Aliki. A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985. ISBN: 0671664905. Also available on YouTube.
Instructions: 
Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Read aloud the book "The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver" to learn about his life, love of science, and contributions to a better world. George Washington Carver’s accomplishments are even more remarkable considering he was born into slavery. 

    The book ends with George Washington Carver’s words “Regard nature. Revere nature. Respect nature.” Discuss what those words mean and how George Washington Carver lived those values with his life. 

  2. Look at the timeline in the back of the book. Point out Carver’s birth and death dates. He was born enslaved in 1864. When he died in 1943 he was a world renowned scientist. Share some of the additional significant events in Carver’s life that were not featured in the story.

  3. George Washington Carver loved being in nature. He used passion for helping things grow to help people and serve humanity. 

    George Washington Carver once said, “It is simply service that measures success.” Discuss what he might have meant by this quote and how we can apply it to our own lives.

    What are you passionate about and how can you use those interests to help the world? 

  4. Mr. Carver invented many things with peanuts. Research his inventions. Choose one of his inventions that you think could help improve people’s lives. Create an advertisement for that invention.

    Or...

    George Washington Carver was a careful observer of nature. He studied and painted flowers. Choose a flower or plant near your home to study and illustrate. Try observing the same plant through all four seasons.