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George Washington's image is pretty familiar to just about anyone living in the US, but what did he look like before the powdered wig? Author McClafferty gets kids thinking about what's behind a person's appearance! |
English/Language Arts
Explore focus - main idea
This Minute is a great one to use for practicing the reading comprehension skill of determining focus, aka the main idea. Another biography to explore - or is it? While George Washington is certainly part of the Minute, the lens here is less about George, and more about the process one must consider when replicating a historic figure for public view. Have your students do a close read of this Minute, hunting for the main idea. Can they support their findings?
Social Studies
Explore basic economics and the monetary system
How does money work? Use this Minute to help your students find out what’s behind these pieces of paper we use for purchasing goods and service. Look at the history of trade, from the barter system to bitcoin. Why does it work? What happens when people “lose faith” in a currency system? What are the key components to a successful currency system? And by the way, just who IS in charge of making - not earning - all that money?
STEM
Explore measurement
Billions. In one dollar bills. What exactly does that look like? Have a little math fun with money. Challenge your students to calculate just how tall a nine billion dollar stack of singles would be. And then ask them where they envision keeping a stash like that!
Art
Explore art-related occupations
When I read a Minute like this, I start thinking about the artist behind the portrait we view daily in our wallets. Who painted this? Were they permanent employees of the US government? Are there still jobs for artists in public service? Have your students explore the occupations available in the creative world, in both the public and private sectors. Of course, students can look at the artist mentioned in this Minute whose occupation involves the recreation of authentic looking hair for wax figures!
Research Skills
Explore the US Mint
Use this Minute as an opportunity to have your kids explore the United States Mint website. There are lessons for K-12 educators and educational games for students. A thorough exploration of the site will yield math, history reading and social studies lessons.
Explore focus - main idea
This Minute is a great one to use for practicing the reading comprehension skill of determining focus, aka the main idea. Another biography to explore - or is it? While George Washington is certainly part of the Minute, the lens here is less about George, and more about the process one must consider when replicating a historic figure for public view. Have your students do a close read of this Minute, hunting for the main idea. Can they support their findings?
Social Studies
Explore basic economics and the monetary system
How does money work? Use this Minute to help your students find out what’s behind these pieces of paper we use for purchasing goods and service. Look at the history of trade, from the barter system to bitcoin. Why does it work? What happens when people “lose faith” in a currency system? What are the key components to a successful currency system? And by the way, just who IS in charge of making - not earning - all that money?
STEM
Explore measurement
Billions. In one dollar bills. What exactly does that look like? Have a little math fun with money. Challenge your students to calculate just how tall a nine billion dollar stack of singles would be. And then ask them where they envision keeping a stash like that!
Art
Explore art-related occupations
When I read a Minute like this, I start thinking about the artist behind the portrait we view daily in our wallets. Who painted this? Were they permanent employees of the US government? Are there still jobs for artists in public service? Have your students explore the occupations available in the creative world, in both the public and private sectors. Of course, students can look at the artist mentioned in this Minute whose occupation involves the recreation of authentic looking hair for wax figures!
Research Skills
Explore the US Mint
Use this Minute as an opportunity to have your kids explore the United States Mint website. There are lessons for K-12 educators and educational games for students. A thorough exploration of the site will yield math, history reading and social studies lessons.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission
