Thought you got schooled in that yesterday E...
You and PP back for more??
Notice 2 things...The word ELEMENTARY article (which refers to the grade level you need to working with)..
and the bolded out section...last line
The NEED Project · PO Box 10101 · Manassas, VA 20108 · 800-875-5029 Energy Exchange - March 2006
ELEMENTARY Article: Energy Pioneers
George Washington Carver
A Humble Beginning
George Washington Carver was born around 1864. He
was born a slave on a small Missouri farm. He worked
in the house, doing
chores like washing and
cleaning. During his
youth on the farm,
Carver took long walks
through the woods,
exploring nature and
learning what he could
by observing the trees,
insects and flowers.
A Great Student
Even though he had a great curiosity about the world
around him, Carver was not allowed to attend the local
school because he was African American. The farm
owners, Moses and Susan Carver, allowed him to leave
the farm and attend a school for African American
children. He paid for his food, a place to stay and the
cost of school by doing laundry and cooking.
Whenever Carver could afford to go to school, he did.
When he graduated, Carver started a small farm in
Kansas. He was a better student than a farmer and went
back to school in Iowa in 1890. Carver took art classes
at Simpson College. He drew and painted very detailed
plants and flowers. After a while, he switched to
studying agriculture so he could focus on nature and
his desire to help farmers. In 1891, Carver began
attending Iowa Agricultural College. He earned both
his college degree and an advanced degree.
The Heart of a Teacher
In 1896, Carver became a teacher
at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
Carver wished he could teach
rural farmers about ways to
improve their crops. He created
moveable schools to take the
classroom to the farmers. Classes
were often taught in farm fields
from the back of a wagon. Carver
taught about crop rotation and
natural fertilizers. By 1930, the
moveable schools had a nurse, a
home demonstration agent, an
agricultural specialist, and an architect who shared the
latest information with rural people.
The Mind of a Scientist
Carver wanted to help
African American farmers
be able to support their
families with the crops
they grew. He discovered
practical new uses for
crops. Carver worked in an
area of chemistry known as
chemurgy. A chemurgist
finds industrial uses for
crops. Carver mostly
studied the peanut,
soybean and sweet potato. He found more than 300
new uses for the peanut, 100 for sweet potatoes and
100 for soybeans.
Henry Ford was very interested in the work that Carver
was doing with soybeans. Carver consulted with Ford
on many projects. In 1942, Ford developed a vehicle
that used a bushel of soybeans in its construction. Ford
and Carver both believed that petroleum supplies were
limited. They worked together on projects that replaced
petroleum with crops to produce rubber, plastic and
fuel. Today, the fuel that Carver made from soybeans is
called biodiesel.
The Spirit of a Gentle Man
During his free time, Carver would draw, paint,
crochet, knit or do needlework. He enjoyed making
useful items for his friends from natural materials.
Carver was also interested in natural pigments. He
would use soil, berries and plants to make bright and
bold colors for paint and fabric dyes. Upon making a
new color of paint, Carver would often take it to a local
farmer and help paint the
outside of the house.
Improving the lives of others
both on and off the fields was
important to Carver.
A Great Legacy
George Washington Carver is
an energy pioneer because of
his work with soy fuels. He
developed many products
from crops that we still use
today. Carver taught practical
things, always wanted to learn
more, and wanted to help
other people have better lives.
Pond near Carver’s boyhood
home in Missouri.
Credit: National Park Service
Credit: Library of Congress
Statue of Carver at
George Washington
Carver National
Monument, MO.
Carver in a farm field.
Credit: National Park
Service
AI
