This is a homeschool lesson plan that is appropriate for
students in middle school or high school.
Introduction
Explain that this lesson is inspired by something that Mary
Rhodes, a famous Kentucky Christian, wrote about Washington, DC. She was one of
three women who became the founding nuns of the Sisters of Loretto Roman
Catholic Order, headquartered in Nerinx, Kentucky. This first American order of Catholic nuns was
established in Kentucky in 1812. Rhodes grew up in the vicinity of Washington
DC before she moved to Kentucky. Years later in 1851, she wrote to her nephew
about how beautiful the buildings and monuments of our capitol must be. She
also used that idea to connect to her faith. She wrote:
“I can readily conceive that the creation of
those edifices, and various other improvements have greatly contributed to the
beauty and magnificence of that immortal city – but what immortal did I say?
Alas! To truly does the tiny smitten flower as well as the crash and fall of
empires tell us, that all things on earth must pass away! Absurd and
inapplicable then the word, to ought else below, than to the undying Spirit,
breathed by the Omnipotent into this our poor tenement of clay…”[1]
Vocabulary & Reading Comprehension
This passage contains many words that homeschoolers may find
unfamiliar. Before they can truly understand what the writer is saying, they
should use a dictionary to define them: conceive, edifices, immortal, smitten,
absurd, inapplicable, omnipotent, tenement. Then, using what they have learned,
students can be encouraged to rewrite the passage using their own words. This
will tell you whether they truly comprehend it. Then ask the students to
discuss whether they agree with what Mary Rhodes wrote.
History and Geography
Download the map that Pierre L’Enfant drew in 1791 to
illustrate the plan of Washington, DC from the Library of Congress website[2].
Then download the National Park Service’s map of the monuments in the city
today[3].
Compare and contrast the two maps. Discuss what the students would like to
visit if they had the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital. Ask the
students to use the maps to give directions from the White House to one of the
monuments or other famous buildings. Require them to use the words, “North,
South, East and West”.
Research and Writing
Ask your students to select a monument to learn more about.
Then help them devise a research plan using the internet or the library. Assign
them to write an essay about the monument. Make sure they cite their work. This
is a great time to teach about how to use and write footnotes.
Art Extension
Ask the students to draw a poster or make a 3-D model of the
monument they researched.
By Lesley Barker ©2021
No comments:
Post a Comment