George Washington's Socks

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1991

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Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

Introduction

Teacher Introduction

George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff

Genre: Fiction; Historical adventure
Originally Published: 1991
Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 770L; Grades 4-7
Structure/Length: 16 chapters; approximately 176 pages
Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows a group of friends who are transported back in time to the American Revolutionary War after trying on George Washington's socks. Caught in the midst of history, they must navigate the challenges of the war and make important decisions that could alter its outcome. The central conflict revolves around the friends' efforts to find a way back to their own time while also contributing to the war effort and learning valuable lessons about courage and sacrifice.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of war; historical context; descriptions of death and violence

Elvira Woodruff, Author

Bio: Born 1951; American author known for her middle-grade historical fiction and adventure novels; explores themes of time travel, historical events, and friendship; has written novels that engage young readers with historical periods and figures; draws inspiration from her own love of history and storytelling
Other Works: The Ravenmaster's Secret (2003); Dear Austin: Letters from the Underground Railroad (2000); The Memory Coat (1999); Fearless (2005); The Christmas Doll (2000); The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother (2004)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

Duty and Responsibility of a Leader
Empathy for the “Other”
Comfort in the Familiar

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

Develop an understanding of the historical context surrounding George Washington’s role in the American Revolution, which incites the novel’s characters’ desire to learn about this figure.
Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Duty and Responsibility of a Leader, Empathy for the “Other,” and Comfort in the Familiar.
Draft and share a creative writing piece that demonstrates an understanding of historical fiction and the time travel narrative, based on text details.