Presidents and American Symbols: Supplemental Guide 2A | The Legend of George Washington and the Cherry Tree 41Presenting the Read-Aloud 10 minutes
The Legend of George Washington and the Cherry Tree
Show image 2A-2: George Washington and his father
This is young George Washington with his father, Augustine
Washington. Augustine Washington loved his farm by the river. He
loved the green meadows where he raised horses and other animals.
He loved the rich soil in which he grew plants for food or to sell in
town. He loved the fruit trees on his farm that had beautiful blossoms
in spring and delicious fruit through the summer and autumn.Augustine especially loved his cherry trees. When his son George
was about five years old, Augustine said, “George, I will teach you
everything I know about cherry trees. I will teach you how to take care
of them so that they will grow tall and strong.”[Ask students: “Were Augustine’s cherry trees important to him? How can you
tell?” Call on volunteers to answer.]
Show image 2A-3: Cherry tree cut down
So you can imagine how upset Augustine was to find one day that
someone had chopped down one of his best cherry trees! On this day
he was walking with a man who worked for him and helped him on
his farm. Augustine said, “This was no accident. Someone chopped
down this tree on purpose. Who would do such a thing?”[Invite students to guess who might have done it.]
Augustine and the worker were talking and did not notice the little boy
silently hiding behind a tree.[Invite a student to point out the little boy hiding behind the tree. Ask: “Who do
you think he is?”]
George listened to the grown-ups’ conversation. He knew his father
was angry and disappointed about what had happened to the cherry
tree. Show image 2A-4: George confessing
George knew what he had to do. George took a deep breath. Then he
stepped forward. His heart was beating fast and he looked worried.
Then he said to his father, “Father, I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down