As battles raged and prejudice ran rampant, a child was born to Mary, an enslaved Black woman. Life was difficult. Even though the American Civil War was coming to an end, Mary, her young daughter, and her infant son were kidnapped by slave raiders. After Mary and her children were kidnapped, her owners searched for the family, but sadly, they were only able to find the infant son and “bought him back” with a horse valued at $300. And so begins the inspiring story of a man whose hunger to learn propelled him to greatness. I invite you and your children to learn with me about the life and character of George Washington Carver. As you read through the study, take time to click on the underlined words (hyperlinks) to visit a website or video to learn more. (Please note: The links have been reviewed for family-friendly content, but parents should always supervise children’s online activity.)
Orphaned as an infant, George was raised by Moses and Susan Carver, who were his mother’s slave owners. The timeline of events is a bit fuzzy at this point. When he returned to the Carvers’ home, George was quite sick with whooping cough (pertussis) and Susan was unsure if he would survive. Thankfully, George did survive, although his illness left him with damaged vocal cords and respiratory issues. During the time Susan cared for George, slavery was abolished and the Civil War ended. It has been suggested that with the end of slavery, Moses and Susan Carver accepted the role of surrogate grandparents, but never officially adopted George. Much of George’s early childhood has gaps or conflicting details. It is known, though, that Susan taught him to read, spell, and write at a young age.
As a young boy, George spent most of his free time in the woods studying the plants and insects he found. His time spent alone in nature learning was an activity he continued throughout his life. He once remarked, “Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books.” A great place to start your study is getting outdoors and exploring nature around you. Older children may wish to spend time alone outside listening and learning. Encourage younger children to become comfortable listening and learning from nature. Using their senses, have them journal what they can see, hear, smell, or touch. (Parents, be sure they can recognize poisonous plants, so they don’t accidentally touch them. This is also a good time to remind them not to taste anything they find in the wild without confirming it is not poisonous. Some good resources for this include Outdoor School or the Adventure Skill Guides. You can also introduce young children to poison ivy with the Adventure Brothers.) Gently press their observations skills if needed. Ask children to think about any sounds they heard, unusual or unexpected things they noticed, and any odors they smelled. What impressed them? Are there any plants or animals they wish to study more in depth? This activity should be free exploration for kids to connect with the world around them.
Along with the quote above, the following quotes have been attributed to George Washington Carver:
“We get closer to God as we get more intimately and understandingly acquainted with the things He has created. I know of nothing more inspiring than that of making discoveries for one’s self.”
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.”
Ask children to pick one of these quotes and copy it into a journal or notebook. Encourage them to think through the quote and reflect on it, and even journal why they chose their quote and what it means to them personally. As these quotes reflect, George was a deeply religious man. Throughout his life he attended church, read the Bible and memorized Scripture, and prayed for God to guide him. As an adult, George’s love of humanity and deep humility compelled him to research and freely share his discoveries with others. STEM School has a great explanation of humility for children. If you have teens, Choosing Humility in a Self-Centered Age by TedX offers excellent insights. Interested in learning more about his faith? The C.S. Lewis Institute and Regent’s University Center for Entrepreneurship offers insights into George’s faith for older children and teens, while PBS’s Faith as Inspiration is a great introduction to his faith for younger ones.
Let’s continue with our look at George’s childhood. At the age of 10, George had learned all he could at home and was eager to start in the local school. Even though the Civil War was over and slavery had been abolished, George’s local school refused to admit “colored children.” George was so eager to acquire knowledge that he walked 8 miles to the nearest town to attend a school for Black children. Once there, he made friends with the Watkins family, who allowed him to move in with them in exchange for help with chores. As a midwife, Mrs. Watkins increased George’s understanding of botany by sharing her extensive knowledge about medicinal herbs. She also was a woman of great faith who took George to church with her and gave him his first Bible. Unfortunately, when it came to the school, George discovered that the teacher knew little more than he did! And so began George’s long journey to find teachers who could quench his thirst for knowledge. In 1880, he graduated from Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas, and applied to Highland College in Kansas. Initially accepted, he was later rejected once the school realized that he was Black. George then saved his money and entered Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. The National Park Service Website offers a great summary of George’s life. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page and watch their excellent video of his life.
Through all the challenges he faced, George remained humble and optimistic. Whether wired into his personality or a learned attitude, George made a decision to live free of anger and bitterness. It may have been during his tumultuous childhood that he adopted the attitude that stayed with him throughout his life: “Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied.”
Ask your children to explain what they think this quote means. Using what they learned so far about George Washington Carver, ask them about the ways his life exemplified this quote. Encourage children to share any areas of their lives that they would like to “make something of and never be satisfied.” What are some things they can do now to “start where they are” to achieve success? This is a great way to help older children identify their passions and how to follow them successfully. This is also a great time to talk with children about attitudes in general. If they struggle with anger or resentment toward a sibling or friend, help them identify ways to overcome these feelings. The Mental Health Center for Kids offers several practical strategies for kids of all ages. Summit Ministries also offers a wealth of resources for parents on this topic.
Music studies and art were George’s main interests at Simpson College. It was here that his art teacher, Miss Etta Budd, took special interest in him and encouraged him to pursue agricultural studies at Iowa State College. While Miss Budd recognized George’s artistic talents, she was convinced that a young Black man would not be able to make a living as an artist. Learn more about George Washington Carver as an artist through the free teacher’s guide from the National Park Service.
George transferred to Iowa Agricultural College in 1890 to study agricultural science. It was here that his ability to identify and treat plant diseases was honed. He graduated with his master’s degree in bacterial botany and agriculture in 1896. This was a tremendous accomplishment for any person, but especially for George, who was the first Black student at the school. In addition, he also was the college’s first Black graduate and faculty member. His time there was short yet remarkable for his discoveries of plant fungi and early theories on crop rotation. It was during this time that Booker T. Washington invited George to join him at his institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. In his letter to George Washington Carver, he wrote, “I cannot offer you money, position or fame. The first two you have. The last from the position you now occupy you will no doubt achieve. These things I now ask you to give up. I offer you in their place: work—hard, hard work, the task of bringing a people from degradation, poverty, and waste to full manhood. Your department exists only on paper, and your laboratory will have to be in your head.” This was not an exaggeration! When Carver arrived in Tuskegee, the lab was in a dilapidated building and was without lab equipment. It was said that in the early years of the Tuskegee agricultural program, Carver used “old bottles, broken China, and bits of rubber and wire” that his students would gather for him from the alleys.
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, as it was originally known, has a fascinating history itself. While we won’t spend a great deal of time on it, curious children can learn more at Kiddle and Rediscovering Black History on the National Archives Blog. Established in 1881 to train Black teachers in academic and vocational skills, the Tuskegee Institute grew quickly, and president/principal Booker T. Washington recognized the need to create an agricultural department that taught agriculture science and focused on agricultural resources to help the newly freed slaves become self-sufficient. Reaching out to George Washington Carver simply made sense to Booker T. Washington, because at the time George was the only Black person with an advanced college degree in agriculture science. As we learned earlier, Booker T. Washington could not offer George Washington Carver fame or fortune, but rather he offered an opportunity to come alongside his fellow man and teach them a new way of life. Initially George was unsure about the offer. Not only did it mean he would give up income, as the position paid less, but he would also have to give up his dream of obtaining his doctorate degree. However, Carver ultimately make the decision to accept the position at Tuskegee, writing, “It has always been the one great ideal of my life to be of the greatest good to the greatest number of ‘my people’ possible and to this end I have been preparing myself these many years; feeling as I do that this line of education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom to our people.” Ask your children how this quote makes them feel. What character qualities are evident in the quote? As George began his teaching and research career at Tuskegee Institute, he remained a man of great faith and character. He was known for encouraging his students to “possess 8 cardinal virtues.” Read through the list with your children and talk about each virtue’s meaning.
- Who is clean both inside and outside.
- Who looks neither up to the rich nor down on the poor.
- Who loses, if need be, without squealing.
- Who wins without bragging.
- Who is always considerate of women, children, and old people.
- Who is too brave to lie.
- Who is too generous to cheat.
- Who takes his share of the world and lets other people have theirs.
Talk with your children about George’s eight virtues and how they still apply today. If you have teens, this is an excellent time to share ways you try to live virtuously, including which of these virtues are challenging for you. Pray together and ask God to help you and your teens to practice these virtues.
During his tenure at Tuskegee Institute, George taught practical farming, agriculture chemistry, and art courses to first- and second-generation freedmen and women. He was beloved by his students for his character and accessibility. As a single man, he chose to live amongst the students in the dormitories. Prioritizing his role as a mentor and guide, he had the reputation as a nurturer, which led him to consider himself “their father.”
However significant his teaching years were at Tuskegee, George Washington Carver is more widely known for his research on plants, especially nuts. He focused on finding ways to improve cotton farming through crop rotation with other plants. This is a bit of an oversimplification, as this involved extensive research into soil chemistry and depletion as well as finding the best plants to grow in the Southern soil and climate. Learn more about soil at Dig Deeper, the kids’ website from the Soil Science Society of America.
George focused his research on the use of peanuts and sweet potatoes as enrichment plants that would restore minerals to depleted soil. As farmers adopted his methods, they suddenly had an excess of crops that they didn’t know what to do with. George refocused his efforts and began to experiment with ways to use peanuts and sweet potatoes. His vision to help farmers improve their ability to be self-sufficient through soil chemistry was achieved. Through his research and teaching efforts, farmers had options to “refeed” their soil naturally, while producing a harvest that would support them.
In 1917, George printed a 30+ page bulletin called “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption.” But this was only a sample of the different uses he developed for using peanuts. Surprisingly, he discovered over 300 different uses for the peanut, although not all were edible. Read the full list here. Ask your children if there are any surprises on this list. Are there any peanut foods that you are surprised are not on the list? Interestingly, Carver did not invent peanut butter. Rather, peanut butter can be traced back to the Incas and Aztecs, although the process used today to make peanut butter was patented in 1895 by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (the creator of Kellogg’s cereal). There is a great deal more to learn about this common yet fascinating legume. Here are some websites to get you started: Nuts About Peanuts and the Peanuts Ag Magazine from the National Agriculture in the Classroom website. Filled with hands-on activities, Discover the Powerful Peanut is a great resource for younger children.
While best known for his peanut discoveries, George Washington Carver also learned that soybeans and sweet potatoes help restore minerals absorbed from the soil by cotton. While farmers used these as rotation plants, neither of them became as popular as the peanut. But there is still plenty for us to learn! Read Pod to Plant and the Alabama Ag Mag: Soybeans issue with your children. Looking at the map on the last page in the Alabama Ag Mag, have children identify their state. Ask them: “Is our state one of the top 10 producers of soybeans?” If your state is in the top 10, talk about the uses of soybeans and how this may help your state to be self-sufficient. Just for fun, you could also learn about the relationship between Henry T. Ford and George Washington Carver and how soy was used in the development of the automobile industry.
Does your family enjoy sweet potatoes during the holidays or throughout the year? George Washington Carver was instrumental in bringing sweet potatoes to dinner tables across the United States. While less commonly known, it is through Carver’s efforts that farmers began to widely grow sweet potatoes. Older children can read through Carver’s bulletin How the Farmer Can Save the Sweet Potato to learn more about the growing process and the challenges sweet potato farmers faced. The Sweet Potato Revolution offers a fun look at the innovative uses for sweet potatoes that George Washington Carver invented. Engage young children with sweet potato activities from the Wisconsin Harvest of the Month Activity Guide or check out North Carolina’s Sweet Potatoes Classroom-Ready lesson plans for grades K-12. You may also want to make George’s sweet potato bread recipe.
George Washington Carver spent his life in service to his fellow man. Along with his life-changing research, George developed traveling schools to reach rural farmers. Jessup Agricultural Wagons, or Jessup Wagons as they were commonly called, helped fulfill George’s vision to “be of the greatest good to the greatest number of ‘my people’ possible… feeling as I do that this line of education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom to our people.” Through the Jessup Wagons, George was able to reach more rural farmers to teach them modern farming practices that focused on self-sufficiency, fertilization, and the best crops to plant in their area. But Jessup Wagons was only the start of his extended outreach to farmers. He also created bulletins that were freely distributed. George wrote, edited, and typed forty-four bulletins, and then printed them using the Tuskegee Institute’s printer. At the time, the school was struggling to stay open, so George would often ask for donations to fund the printing. The bulletins strived to meet three goals: to share understandable crop-growing research with farmers, give teachers a little science for the next generation, and provide recipes for housewives. The USDA’s National Agricultural Library offers a summary and full text of 38 of the bulletins written by George Washington Carver. Spend a few minutes exploring them with your students.
His efforts were successful, and George became widely known across the Southern states. He gained the nickname “peanut man” because of his numerous writings on growing and using peanuts. This reputation opened a door for him to speak before the House Ways and Means Committee in 1921. Invited as an “expert witness” by the peanut industry, George was to speak in favor of a tariff on Chinese peanuts to protect U.S. peanut growers. Initially George was ridiculed by Congress, not because of his research, but because of his color. Rather than becoming discouraged or angry, George remained calm, respectful, and continued to share his findings. Originally given only 10 minutes to speak, he captivated Congress so much that they extended his speaking time and gave him a standing ovation when he was finished. PBS Think TV has a short video that gives an overview of the speech and George Washingon Carver’s background. As time allows, work through the PBS George Washington Carver Written Primary Source Activity excerpts. George was successful. His testimony convinced the committee that U.S.-grown peanuts should be protected, and a high tariff was placed on peanuts coming from other countries. It was because of this testimony that George Washington Carver became famous across the U.S. and not just the Southern states.
After his testimony, George returned home to Tuskegee for a short time before he was offered additional speaking engagements at colleges and universities. Using these opportunities, he spoke about organic farming practices and racial equality. He also participated in conferences that dealt with applied chemistry and agricultural products to further his own education. George became widely sought out by business leaders and presidents because of his great wisdom. He was appointed as an advisor to the Department of Agriculture by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Interestingly, he also became a great friend of Henry Ford and spent time with Henry developing practical uses of agriculture in manufacturing. During his later years, George continued to have a great impact on our country, yet through it all he remained a humble man with the mission of helping as many people as he could. George passed away at the age of 78 after a serious fall. Older children may read the New York Times obituary here. George was known as a frugal man and left his life savings to fund the George Washington Carver Institute for Agriculture and Museum at Tuskegee. At the time of his death in 1943, George had $60,000 in his bank account. Have kids determine how much money that is today by using the CPI inflation calculator. Astounding, isn’t it? Even more astounding is how much George’s hard work and innovation are still highly valued and respected today.
Through our study, we have looked at numerous George Washington Carver quotes, and as we conclude our time together, consider the ways George lived out the following words attributed to him: “When you do the common things in an uncommon way, you’ll command the attention of the world.”
Thank you for joining me in this fascinating look into the life of an exceptional man. For me personally, this has been one of the most eye-opening and fascinating unit studies I have written over the years. It is my hope that you also were touched by this great man who lived a humble and self-giving life. I would love to hear from you. How did George Washington Carver impact you and your children? Did you find one particular aspect of his life interesting and go on a rabbit trail to learn more? Share below or send me an email at dcrawford@rainbowresource.com.
~Deanne
