GOAL: construct a time line of our nation's Founding Fathers
process: graphing (and the psychology of leadership)
most paintings of American's "Founding Fathers" show men in
the twilight of their years.
Were they "that" old during the American Revolution ?
They were simply wise.
A Time Line of their lives reveals that in 1776,
Many teachers are 25-44 years old so now the reader finds a personal connection with American history and begins to wonder about the psychological make-up and leadership qualities these men must have possessed. At the next faculty meeting look around the room and pretending it is 1776, make a list the peers you would entrust to lead "the revolution." Who do students entrust as their leaders for a sports activity; a class assignment ?
How can the teacher nurture others to gain these skills ?
Washington was only 44 when he was pressed into battle. Putting that into perspective --
However these four leaders were lifelong military men, trained in the science and tactics of battle. Much of Washington's knowledge came from an on-the-job training program. Necessity being the mother of his invention.
This activity illustrates of how a simple process like graphing generates questions and viewpoints that never would have arisen with another approach to the topic.
GW-44
JA- 41
TJ- 33
JMa-25
JMo-18
JQA- 9
age in 1776
1776
age in 1776 & age at death
70 / 84--Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790
44 / 68--George Washington 1732-1799
41 / 91--John Adams 1735-1826
33 / 83--Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826
25 / 85--James Madison 1751-1836
18 / 73--James Monroe 1758-1831
9 / 81--John Quincy Adams 1767-1848