Dramatizing+Social+Studies

** Activity Category: ** Wax Museum Exhibit **Activity Title**: Meet the Four Founding Fathers **Number of Members**: 4 **Time of the Activity**: 6-8 minutes **PA Standard**: 8.3.3.A. Identify and describe the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups in United States history. ** NCSS Themes **: Time, Continuity, and Change; Civic Ideals and Practices; Power, Authority, Governance; Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. **Skit** __Characters:__ Kelly (Benjamin Franklin), Mary (Thomas Jefferson), Nikki (Paul Revere), Matt (George Washington) __Props__: Presidential clothing (sword, jacket, stockings, hat) __Setting:__ A Wax Museum __George Washington’s Script:__ "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company." I, George Washington, spoke these profetic words during my first term as United States president. I was born on February 22, 1732. My nickname is the “Father of Our Country” and most people know me for being elected the first president of the United States of America in 1789. I was the only president to be unanimously voted into this position. I took office on April 30th, 1789 in New York City. In 1792, I was again unanimously voted president for a second term. I chose not to run for a third term and thus my presidential career ended in 1797. Much had been accomplished in this brief time though. The country’s financial system was well-established and implemented, the Indian threat east of the Mississippi was largely eliminated, and the signing of both Jay’s Treaty and Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain had occurred and lead to U.S. territorial expansions. I may be famous because of my presidential accomplishements, but my career actually began as a soldier, fighting for the British in the French and Indian War. In 1755, at the young age of 23, I was promoted to colonel and appointed commander in chief of the Virginia militia. I was given this honor for my leadership abilities and battlefield tactics. Later on in 1775, I would lead the Continental Army during the American Revolution. My leadership abilities and strategic thinking skills allowed me to lead the United States to a victory over Great Britain, and establish the United States as an independent, free country. I helped to construct the Declaration of Independence and declare our country to be free of tyranny and rule. I retired in March of 1797 and returned to my hometown of Mount Vernon, Virginia. There, I spent the last few years of my life and I passed away on December 14th, 1799.
 * Dramatizing Social Studies **

