Students will compare and contrast travel in the 18th century with travel in current times by planning and simulating a trip to Mount Vernon from a chosen location in the colonies.

1. Trip to Mount Vernon
Intended Grade Level: Upper Elementary School
Lesson Purpose: The student will compare and contrast travel in the 18th century with
travel in current times by planning and simulating a trip to Mount Vernon from a
chosen location in the colonies. Students will describe daily life at Mount Vernon in the
18th century through letters and journal entries.
Lesson Objectives:
• To form traveling teams to plan and simulate a trip to Mount Vernon in the year
1797.
• To use research skills to learn about 18th century travel and identify roads and
cities that existed in 1797 as the basis for a trip itinerary.
• To compose journal entries about the trip that describe daily life at Mount
Vernon.
• To discuss and compare the similarities and differences between travel in the 18th
century and modern day travel.
National Standards:
NSS-USH.K-4.1 LIVING AND WORKING TOGETHER IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, NOW
AND LONG AGO
• Understands family life now and in the past, and family life in various places long ago
• Understands the history of the local community and how communities in North America varied
long ago
NSS-USH.K-4.3 THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES: DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND
VALUES AND THE PEOPLE FROM MANY CULTURES WHO CONTRIBUTED TO ITS CULTURAL,
ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL HERITAGE
• Understands how democratic values came to be, and how they have been exemplified by people,
events, and symbols
• Understands the causes and nature of movements of large groups of people into and within the
United States, now and long ago
• Understands the folklore and other cultural contributions from various regions of the United
States and how they helped to form a national heritage

2. NL-ENG.K-12.6 APPLYING KNOWLEDGE
Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation),
media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
NL-ENG.K-12.8 DEVELOPING RESEARCH SKILLS
Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer
networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
Background:
Today, Mount Vernon has over a million visitors each year and is the most
visited historic home in the United States. However, even during George Washington’s
lifetime when travel was very difficult, thousands of visitors came to Mount Vernon
from all over the world to meet George Washington and visit his home. In 1797, George
Washington finished his second term as President and retired to Mount Vernon to enjoy
the numerous improvements he had made to his estate over the previous 45 years.
Daily life at Mount Vernon included a large range of household chores, farming, and
milling done by over 300 slaves, as well as the activities of the Washington family such
as dining, music and entertaining their many visitors.
Procedure:
1. Assign students into traveling teams and have students write a letter to Mr. and
Mrs. Washington requesting permission to visit Mount Vernon for two days,
using the template (included below). The letter should explain who they will be
traveling with, when they plan to arrive and why they would like to visit the
Washingtons.
2. Have students create their trip itinerary using the Planning for the Trip
worksheet (included below). Students should research travel in the 18th century,
such as modes of transportation.
3. Have students work together to plan, research, and simulate the chosen trips.
Distribute Daily Travel Journals (included below) and have students record what
their activities would have been as they traveled to Mount Vernon and as they
visit the Washington family at Mount Vernon. These activities could include
time spent with the Washingtons, slave chores at the house or farms, music and
sports, other famous visitors they may meet, etc. Their journal should also
include their impressions of the Washington family.

3. 4. Upon completion of their trip, students will compose a thank-you letter to the
Washington family. The letter should include their favorite moment at Mount
Vernon and a brief account of their return journey.
5. In debriefing, compare and contrast a trip to Mount Vernon in 1775 with
traveling today.
This has been adapted from a lesson by Carol Western Paola,
George Washington Teachers’ Institute 2003.

4. Compose a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Washington requesting an opportunity to visit with
them at their home, Mount Vernon. Be sure to tell them with whom you will be
traveling, when they could expect you to arrive, and why you would like to visit them.
September 1, 1797
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Washington,
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5. Planning for the Trip
1. We will travel by ___________________________.
2. It is ______miles from ______________ to Mt. Vernon.
3. It will take _______ days to travel to Mount Vernon.
4. We will travel ______ miles a day.
5. We will need to stay in an inn ______ nights.
6. We will need to stable the horses _____nights.
7. We will pass through these places:
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8. We will need to buy these supplies for the trip:
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6. Daily Travel Journal
Date:______________
Today we traveled from _________ to ___________.
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7. Daily Travel Journal
Date:______________
Today we traveled from _________ to ___________.
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8. Daily Travel Journal
Date: _________________
Today we arrived at Mount Vernon.
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9. Daily Travel Journal
Date: _________________
Today at Mount Vernon we ____________________
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10. Compose a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Washington thanking them for your visit with them at
their home, Mount Vernon. Tell them what your favorite activity was at their home and
any news from your return journey.
September 15, 1797
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Washington,
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