Colonial Williamsburg

Objective:

Students will be able to compare and contrast manners and expectations of behavior in the eighteenth century with those of today.

Materials:

• A copy of George Washington'sRules of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation.



• Make a chart or an overhead transparency similar to the following:

Manners	Home	School/Society

Procedures:

1. Have students brainstorm about the manners they use in school and at home. List these on the chart or overhead in the "Manners" column.
   
2. Decide where each manner is used. Make a check in all appropriate boxes.
   
3. Read and discuss the examples from George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior.
   
4. Compare and contrast the manners of the eighteenth century to the manners
   of today.

Alternate Activity:

Pass out a different Rule of Civility to each pair of students, and have them rewrite the rule using modern English.