George Washington: Surveyor

For the History Channel’s video on George Washington as a surveyor,

click below.

George Washington created this survey map

when he was16. The map shows his half-brother

Lawrence’s turnip garden

Drawn by George Washington in 1793 – These are all of Washington’s Farms

Tools of the Surveyor

• A compass used to map the land

• A Gunter’s chain used to measure the land

• Stakes with surveyors flags used to mark the measured locations

• A protractor used to measure angles

Surveying the Land

7.92 inchesflag

Link

Perimeter = Sum of all sides10 + 20 + 10 + 20 = 60 feet

A B

DC

20 feet

10 f

eet

20 feet

10 f

eet

Area = Base x HeightA B

D C20 feet

10 f

eet

Does It Measure Up?• Now its your turn…• In small groups, the class will be surveying an

area of the playground. – To do this, each group will need two pieces of

sidewalk chalk, a Gunter’s chain, a pencil, and a copy of the “Does It Measure Up?” worksheet.

• Sketch a picture of the area that includes landmarks such as the slide, swing set, etc.

• Measure the distance between the boundary markers determined by your surveyor

• Once you have completed the measurements, your group will be computing the area and the perimeter of the land you surveyed.