2005 Shaping the World: Conversation on Democracy
Thomas Jefferson Talks With George Washington

presented by:

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
Blue Ridge Public Television
Virginia Department of Education
Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School

Program Description

In this interchange between Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, students will have the opportunity to learn more about the men, their opinions on a variety of democratic issues, their views on women and slavery, Washington's Presidency and their innovative farming practices on their plantations.  The men are interviewed by 5th grade students from the G.O. Center at Robert S. Payne Elementary School in Lynchburg, Virginia.

"Shaping the World: Conversations on Democracy" can assist teachers with the following Standards Of Learning

Lesson Plans and Curriculum
    Segment I:  Growing Up in Virginia
    Segment II:  Independence for the Colonies
    Segment III: Governing a New Nation
    Segment IV: Democracy, Slavery and Women

Biographies
     Jefferson
     Washington
     John Locke
     Cicero
     Aristotle
     Algernon Sydney

Other
     Vocabulary
     Bibliography & Websites  
     Philosophical Quotes

Poplar Forest

In 1773, Thomas Jefferson and his wife, Martha, inherited 4,819 acres from the estate of John Wayles, Martha’s father. Jefferson designed an octagonal villa and in 1806 traveled to Bedford County  to oversee the laying of the foundation.  Poplar Forest served as a retreat for Jefferson and his grandchildren as well as a working plantation, generating cash income.  During Jefferson’s residency, 1806 to 1823, the enslaved community ranged from 60 to 100 people.  The house and land was inherited by Jefferson’s grandson, Francis Eppes and later sold to William Cobbs.  Over the years, its acreage dwindled and the house underwent many structural changes.  In December 1983, the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest was formed to rescue this landmark for the educational and cultural benefit of the public.  Today, Poplar Forest is a National Historic Landmark and a Virginia Historic Landmark.  Archaeology and restoration continue.  For more information on Poplar Forest, call (434) 525-1806.

Blue Ridge Public Television

Since 1966, Blue Ridge Public Television’s Education Department has provided instructional television for western Virginia, and today broadcasts SOL-correlated programs to 42 school divisions with 197,000 students.  BRPTV works on-site with all communities of learners, including teachers, pre-schoolers, and adult learners. BRPTV sponsors Virginia's JASON Project, Reading Rainbow Young Authors and Illustrators, and the McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School

The Virtual Advanced Placement School was designed to provide educational opportunities to schools that may have too few students to justify hiring a full-time teacher, are unable to find qualified teachers, or for students with scheduling conflicts.  Advanced placement courses follow the College Board curriculum.  Foreign language courses are open to students from the seventh grade and higher.  The Department of Education the Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School are pleased to make Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest program available to students across the Commonwealth and nation. 


Curriculum researched and developed by Octavia Starbuck and Jackie Almond


Image credits:
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Theodor Horydczak Collection, LC-H8-CT-C01-062
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division LC-USZCN4-159