Woodlawn Plantation-History of Virginia

Woodlawn Plantation


Instructional Unit:
Plantation Life.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 4
Social Studies

Objectives:
From Program of Studies for Fairfax County.
1. Compare and contrast roles of people in Virginia past and present (farming now versus plantation farming then).
2. Identify some values expressed by Virginians and show how they are reelected in Virginia history and in America today. Values such as slavery, religion, simplicity,materialism, work and education.
3. Identity the relationship of Woodlawn Plantation to the founding of Woodlawn School.

Pre-Visit Activities:
The fourth graders have been studying about the Colonial era. Prior to visiting they would have received a visit from 2 volunteers in colonial costumes who acted out the school mistress and student, taught 18 century dancing, and put on a tea ceremony.


On-Site Activities:
A docent will meet us and lead us to the room where slides will be shown about the life of Nellie Custis, the outside of the house, the relationship of George and Martha Washington, and the parts of the house they will visit.

Children will then visit the part of the house with the toys. They will be shown whirligigs, dancing man, Jacob's ladder, monkey on a stick, ball and cup,walking sticks, musical instruments, sewing tools, and silhouettes of Nellie and will be invited to use some of these.

A tour of the house will be conducted and lead by the docent. The music room, dining room, living room, entertaining room, and bedrooms upstairs will all be visited and explained. Questions may be asked at times during the tour.

Follow-Up Activities:
1. Using their notes, the students will write a description comparing plantation life with what farmers do now.
2. Students will have a chance to also draw something they have seen and especially liked, or they may draw a floor plan of the house.
3. After the writing, a class discussion will will be held of the things that they saw and liked or had questions about. this is the time to discuss the value questions. After a thorough discussion, the class will be divided into groups to plan a project (poetry, shadow box, mural, skit, play, etc.) to show what they have learned about plantation life in general.
4. Students will plan a way to let the whole school and community know about the relationship between Woodlawn School and Woodlawn Plantation, this could be in the form of a play, a book for younger children, an announcement on our TV news show, a letter written to their parents, an item in the community newsletter, or their own suggestions.

Appendices: none

Bibliography: none



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