There are so many wonderful directions you can go with a study on George Washington Carver! Our top recommendations are to study his life, plants and gardening. Here are a few ideas to get you started in those areas!
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For All Ages
Farmer's Market
- Support your local farmers and get fresh picked produce. Use our free download this month to do a scavenger hunt to see how many items you can find available at your local farmer's market.
- Create your own Farmer's Market at home with the Farmer's Market signs in our George Washington Carver download bundle.
You-Pick-It Farm
- Search your state's agricultural tourism page to find you-pick-it farms near you. You may be able to find fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and more!
Plant a Garden
- If you haven't already, plant some flowers, herbs, or vegetables in your gardens or even in pots on your patio.
Videos
- View the National Park Service's Video Struggle and Triumph: The Legacy of George Washington Carver
Visit
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George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond Grove, Missouri
- The George Washington Carver Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis
- The George Washington Carver Museum at the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site in Alabama
- Any national, state. or local park in your area to observe plant life
Preschool
Books
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Eric Carle's eloquent text and brilliant collages turn the simple life cycle of a plant into an exciting story, a nature lesson, and an inspiring message of the importance of perseverance.
A Seed is Sleepy by Diana Hutts Aston
Award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston have teamed up again to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to seeds. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts, making it a guide that is equally at home being read on a parent's lap as in a classroom reading circle.
In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby
Sally is a young girl living in rural Alabama in the early 1900s, a time when people were struggling to grow food in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production. One day, Dr. George Washington Carver shows up to help the grownups with their farms and the children with their school garden.
Activities
- Start a Rock Collection & Paint Rocks -When he was young, Carver loved to collect rocks and paint them.
Elementary
Books
National Geographic Readers: George Washington Carver by Kitson Jazynka
Take a bite into the fascinating history of peanut butter and the man who invented it.
In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby
Sally is a young girl living in rural Alabama in the early 1900s, a time when people were struggling to grow food in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production. One day, Dr. George Washington Carver shows up to help the grownups with their farms and the children with their school garden.
A Man for All Seasons: The Life of George Washington Carver by Stephen Krensky
Offers a look at the many accomplishments of this agricultural pioneer who advocated recycling, pesticide-free farming, and crop rotation as well as being a genius inventor and the first African-American graduate and teacher of a white college.
George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden
With imagination and intellect, George Washington Carver (1864–1934) developed hundreds of unexpected products from everyday plants. This book reveals what an exceptionally uncommon man Carver was: trailblazing scholar, innovative scientist, pioneering conservationist, and impassioned educator.
You can find comprehension questions for this book available at Kids Econ Posters
Famous African Americans: George Washington Carver Scientist and Inventor
George Washington Carver spent his life asking questions and looking for the answers. He gained a reputation as the farmers' best friend after teaching about crop rotation. He told farmers to grow peanuts and sweet potatoes to "rest" their soil between cotton crops.
Who Was George Washington Carver by Jim Gigliotti
Born in 1860s Missouri, nobody expected George Washington Carver to succeed. Slaves were not allowed to be educated. After the Civil War, Carver enrolled in classes and proved to be a star student. He became the first black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and later its first black professor. He went on to the Tuskegee Institute where he specialized in botany (the study of plants) and developed techniques to grow crops better. His work with vegetables, especially peanuts, made him famous and changed agriculture forever.
George Washington Carver for Kids by Peggy Thomas
Includes a time line, resources for further research, and 21 hands-on activities to help better appreciate Carver’s genius. Kids will turn a gourd into a decorative bowl, construct a model of a sod house, brew ginger tea,create paints using items found in nature,grow sweet potatoes,build a compost bin for kitchen and yard waste,learn how to pickle watermelon rinds, and more!
Activities
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Create a helpful pamphlet about an edible plant. During his time at the Tuskegee Institute, Carver published pamphlets with helpful information for farmers and their wives on a myriad of subjects. Create your own pamphlet using our template in the Carver download bundle.
- Start a Rock Collection & Paint Rocks -When he was young, Carver loved to collect rocks and paint them.
Middle School
Books
The Groundbreaking, Chance-Taking Life of George Washington Carver and Science & Invention in America by Cheryl Harness
Cheryl Harness’ lively narrative follows Carver’s rise to international fame: our hero dines at the White House, works with Henry Ford, and testifies to Congress. The book’s vivid illustrations are an invitation to step back in time and become an active participant in this compelling story.
*As a word of caution, there is a small section in this book about a lynching that Carver witnessed along with a small drawing depicting the scene.
Journey to Freedom: George Washington Carver by Charles W. Carey Jr.
Presents the life and accomplishments of George Washington Carver, from his early childhood in slavery to his education and accomplishments in the fields of agricultural science and botany.
Heroes of History: George Washington Carver by Janet & Geoff Benge
George's scientific creativity knew no limits. His ingenious experimentation with peanuts and other plants helped rescue the failing Southern economy. Still remembered for his far-reaching and diverse achievements, Dr. Carver generously shared his talent simply for the reward of helping others.
*As a word of caution, there is a section in this book about a lynching that Carver witnessed.
Activities
- Glance through one of Carver's many pamphlets and find a new recipe to create for your family:
- How to Grow the Peanut & 105 Ways of Preparing It
- How to Grow the Tomato & 115 Ways to Prepare It for the Table
- Collect plant specimens using our Specimen Cards in the Carver download bundle. Here's a picture of a specimen card filled out by George Washington Carver:
High School
All of the suggestions for Middle School would be appropriate for High School as well.
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