George Washington and the Cherry Tree (Kids' English lesson 1)

20min

800 P

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In this lesson, younger students get a chance to read and talk about how George Washington's father taught him to be truthful.

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George Washington and the Cherry Tree

(English for Kids: Lesson 1)

This is the first of a series of lessons that I am creating for elementary school children.

Each story will look at a short story from history. We will read the story together and the student will answer some questions. I will provide feedback.

If you would like to take this lesson, please read the story, and prepare answers to the questions that follow. You will have a chance to answer these questions in the lesson.

STORY

George Washington was the first President of the United States. When he was a boy, his father loved him very much and worked hard to teach him to be truthful and never to tell lies.

He told his son: ‘George, if you ever do something wrong, never tell a lie or try to hide what you have done. You are only a boy—and boys make many mistakes. Be brave and tell me what you have done. I will not beat you, but I will love and respect you for your honesty, my son.’

One day when George was about six years old, he received a gift. It was a little axe. What do you think he did with that axe? What would you have done with such a gift?

George went around his mother’s garden, cutting down everything he found.

His father had a cherry tree that he loved very much. George used his axe to chop the tree. When his father saw his cherry tree damaged, he was upset. Who had done this terrible thing? He wanted to know. No-one could tell Mr Washington anything about how the tree had been damaged.

Then George came to his father. He carried his axe with him. His father asked him: ‘George, do you know who killed my beautiful cherry tree?’

It was not an easy question for George to answer, but he wanted to be truthful, so he said to his father:

‘I can’t lie, Pa. You know I can’t tell a lie. I cut the tree with my axe.’

What do you think his father did? He hugged his son lovingly and said: ‘George, you killed my tree, and I am sad to lose it. However, you were very brave and told me honestly what you had done. I am very proud of you because you were truthful.’

This is how Augustine Washington taught his son George to be a good and honest man. When George grew up, he became a leader of men.

QUESTIONS:

1. George Washington was President of the United States. What is a President?

2. Do a little research about George Washington. Tell me three facts about him.

3. Do you think that George had a good father? Why do you think that?

4. How do you think George’s mother felt when he cut things down in her garden?

5. Do you think it is important always to tell the truth? Why do you think that?

6. Why is it sometimes very hard to tell the truth?

7. Somebody gave George an axe as a gift. Do you think that an axe is a good gift to give to a small boy? Why do you say that?

8. Imagine that George had told a lie. Imagine that he had said to his father: ‘I didn’t chop the cherry tree.’ What might have happened then?

9. Why do you think the American people chose George Washington to be their president?

If you request this lesson, I will send you an audio file in which I read the story. Please listen to my reading and practice reading the story aloud. I would like to hear you read it yourself. I will help to correct your pronunciation.

This lesson is intended for elementary school students.

© Please note that these study materials are my own creation and are therefore copyright-protected.