George Washington's Socks

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

CREATIVE WRITING: “Time-Travel Adventure”

In this activity, students will draft and present their own time-travel adventure, using Woodruff’s novel as a model.

Woodruff combines the excitement of time travel with historical fiction. Using Woodruff’s novel as a model, you will write your own time-travel adventure about a specific era and historical figure. Consider the following questions as you draft your narrative:

• Who is your protagonist? Will you write in first- or third-person narrative style?
• What is the setting? When and where is your protagonist traveling to?
• What are some of the difficulties that your protagonist faces in this new era? How does your protagonist deal with the lack of Comfort in the Familiar?
• How does your story end? Does your protagonist remain in the historical era or return home? Why?

After drafting your piece, share a portion of your writing aloud with your classmates. Once you have listened to your classmates’ presentations, reflect on the various approaches to the Activity: How did your classmates resolve the conflict in their stories? Were there any similarities in time periods, historical figures, or plot? What did the characters learn from their journeys?

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity invites students to explore the theme of travel and the historical fiction genre in the context of a creative writing exercise. Based on the level of the class, it may be helpful to support students by reviewing the function of basic story elements (i.e., characters, setting, plot, climax, resolution). Additionally, this Activity works well as either an individual or group exercise.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an exercise that focuses on the same time period as Woodruff’s novel, the above Activity may be amended to the following prompt: Select another important figure in the American Revolution, and from the point-of-view of Matthew, write a creative dialogue between the two characters. You might also consider adjusting the Activity to benefit visual, tactile, and auditory learners. For example, you might give students the opportunity to render their stories in the form of a graphic novel or comic strip, through 3D modeling and narration, and/or through theatric performance.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. As “chief,” Matthew realizes that it is his responsibility to find a solution to their dilemma of returning to the 20th century.

• How does Matthew define being a leader? (topic sentence)
• Identify 2-3 examples where Matthew asserts his role as a group leader. Explain the importance of the leadership qualities he demonstrates in these sections.
• How does George Washington’s role as the Commander of the Continental Army enhance Matthew’s understanding of the Duty and Responsibility of a Leader?

2. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the definition of empathy is “being aware of and sharing another person's feelings, experiences, and emotions.”

• Based on the above definition, which characters show empathy in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Choose two moments of empathy in the novel and explain how one of the characters shows empathy for another character in each scene.
• How do these characters’ actions speak to the larger theme of Empathy for the “Other”?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. A “foil” is a literary term that means two characters who demonstrate traits that are opposite in nature. Are General Washington and Captain McCowly foils? Why or why not? Find evidence in the text to support your response.

2. The literary device “imagery” involves the use of language that appeals to the senses, such as sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. Find passages that describe the night hike through the woods and the lake setting in Chapters 4-5 and discuss the descriptions in terms of sensory imagery. In what ways do these descriptions foreshadow events in the novel?

3. The phrase “dramatic irony” refers to the difference between how a character understands a situation to how the audience understands it. Discuss the use of dramatic irony in three situations. How does dramatic irony increase the suspense in this story? Select one moment of dramatic irony and analyze its role within the novel.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following reasons best describes why Matthew invites Katie to the first club meeting?

A) Because the two are inseparable

B) Because he knows that his sister loves adventure

C) Because he respects her love of history

D) Because he does not want her to tattle on him

2. Which of the following words best describe how the club members react to the legend of Lake Levart?

A) Skeptical and cautious

B) Unconcerned and eager

C) Interested and confident

D) Timid and excited

3. What characteristic does Matthew note that George Washington and his men had as they crossed the Delaware?

A) Impatience

B) Fear

C) Courage

D) Pride

4. Which of the following phrases best describes what Matthew reflects on during difficult situations?

A) The comforts of his previous life

B) The conditions of soldiers in the Civil War

C) The desire to enlist in the military when he returns home

D) The fear of the Continental Army

5. What does Matthew realize about the people of the 18th century?

A) They had access to more technology than generations after.

B) They were very similar to the people of the 20th century.

C) They were completely different from his family and friends.

D) They did not like nature or natural products.

6. How does Matthew handle the feeling of fear throughout the novel?

A) By singing to himself

B) By thinking of his girlfriend

C) By closing his eyes

D) By asking for help

7. Which of the following phrases best describes how the club members react to the Native American tribe?

A) Fearful of the possible harm they would cause to the tribe

B) Intrigued by their knowledge of the natural world

C) Surprised by their diet

D) Shocked by their wardrobe

8. Which of the following phrases best describes how Matthew feels about the behavior of the rebel soldiers?

A) Awed by their loyalty to the cause

B) Ashamed by their treatment of Gustav

C) Concerned by their poor hygiene

D) Intrigued by their sportsmanship

9. What lesson does the adventure club learn regarding the nature of war?

A) That the good guys always win

B) That men are stronger fighters than women

C) That the good guys and bad guys are not so easily differentiated

D) That death during war is easily justifiable

10. How do the club members react to returning to the 20th century?

A) Delighted to have access to modern conveniences again

B) Fearful that they will never find the boat again

C) Scared to continue life as if nothing ever happened

D) Ashamed that they were dishonest about their whereabouts with their parents

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What is the narration style of this novel? How does this style help the reader understand the plot?

2. A “simile” is a comparison using words such as “like” or “as.” Identify two similes from the text and write a one-sentence explanation of the context of each comparison. Be sure to cite the page number in your answer.