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George Washington Carver Facts & Worksheets

Born in 1864, George Washington Carver was an African-American who greatly contributed to the field of Agricultural Science.

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Born in 1864, George Washington Carver was an African-American who greatly contributed to the field of Agricultural Science. He was an agricultural scientist and inventor who was known to have developed products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. He also promoted cotton-crop alternatives and developed methods to prevent soil depletion, which is a phenomena that causes the soil to be infertile. He led a meaningful and significant life, and George Washington Carver was the most prominent black scientist of the early 20th Century.

See the fact file below for more information on the George Washington Carver or alternatively, you can download our 41-page George Washington Carver worksheet packs to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL FACTS

  • George Washington Carver was born in the year 1864.
  • The exact date of his birth, however, is unknown.
  • His birthplace was Diamond, Missouri.
  • George Washington Carver’s alma mater was Iowa State University.
  • He died at the age of 79 years old on January 5, 1943, in Tuskegee, Alabama.
  • His resting place is also in Tuskegee University.
  • George Washington Carver was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1923.

EARLY LIFE

  • George Washington Carver was born in a time of slavery.
  • His mother, Mary, was purchased by a white farmer, Moses Carver, nine years before George was born.
  • Mary and George, who was an infant at the time, were kidnapped by slave raiders in Missouri during the Civil War. They were then sold in Kentucky.
  • Moses was only successful in retrieving George. Thus, Moses and his wife, Susan, raised George as their own child, along with his brother, James.
  • James and George were taught how to read and write. Later on, James chose to help Moses work in the field.
  • However, George was a sickly child, so he was taught household chores, such as cooking, mending, embroidery, laundry, and gardening.
  • He also learned to concoct simple herbal medicines. Through this learning, George developed a keen interest in plants at a young age.
  • He was able to experiment with natural pesticides, fungicides, and soil conditioners.
  • George became the “plant doctor” to local farmers, as he was able to examine the condition and improve the health of gardens, fields, and orchards.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • George Washington Carver left Moses’ farm at the age of 11 to attend an all-black school in Neosho, Missouri.
  • He moved to the household of Andrew and Mariah Watkins, a childless African-American couple.
  • Mariah was a midwife nurse, and George shared his knowledge of medicinal herbs with her.
  • Two years later, George moved to Kansas along with other African-Americans who were travelling west.
  • In 1880, George graduated from Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas.
  • He tried to apply for the Highland College in Kansas, but he was rejected as soon as the administration learned he was black.
  • In 1890, George began studying art and music at Simpson College in Iowa.
  • A teacher suggested he study botany at the Iowa State Agricultural College due to his aptitude in drawing plants.
  • In 1891, he moved to Ames, Iowa.
  • He enrolled and became the first black student at Iowa State University.
  • He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1894.
  • Professors Joseph Budd and Louis Pammel urged George to pursue a master’s degree.
  • George received his master’s degree in 1896, and he later taught as the first black faculty member at Iowa State.
  • He was often mistaken as a “doctor” due to the assumptions of his capabilities and knowledge. However, he did not finish his doctorate degree.
  • Soon enough, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science by Simpson College and Selma University.
  • In 1994, Iowa State posthumously awarded him a doctorate of humane letters.

WORK AND CONTRIBUTION

  • In 1896, George Washington Carver was invited to be the head of the Agriculture Department at Tuskegee Institute.
  • George taught at the Tuskegee Institute for 47 years.
  • George Washington Carver developed the Agriculture Department of Tuskegee Institute into a strong agricultural research center.
  • George Washington Carver taught the following:
    • Methods of crop rotation
    • Several alternative cash crops to cotton that would also improve the soil quality
    • Research of crop products
    • Farming techniques for self-sufficiency for black students
  • George Washington Carver designed a mobile classroom that was aimed at educating farmers. It was called the “Jesup wagon”, as it was funded by philanthropist Morris Ketchum Jesup.
  • Carver was widely known for developing methods of preventing soil depletion that was caused by repeated planting of cotton.
  • He conducted and promoted research with peanuts.

DEATH

  • George Washington Carver died on January 5, 1943, due to complications of anemia. These complications were only found out and triggered by a fall in a staircase in his home.
  • George Washington Carver was buried at Tuskegee Institute next to Booker T. Washington, the principal of Tuskegee Institute.
  • On George Washington Carver’s grave, this quote was written:
    “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.”

George Washington Carver Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the George Washington Carver across 41 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use George Washington Carver worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about George Washington Carver who was an African-American who greatly contributed to the field of Agricultural Science. He was an agricultural scientist and inventor who was known to have developed products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. He also promoted cotton-crop alternatives and developed methods to prevent soil depletion, which is a phenomena that causes the soil to be infertile. He led a meaningful and significant life, and George Washington Carver was the most prominent black scientist of the early 20th Century.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets Collection I:

  • George Washington Carver Facts
  • Carver’s Profile
  • Biography by Dates
  • Education Checklist
  • Primary Products
  • Carver Once Said
  • Agricultural Scientists
  • Notable African Americans
  • Modified True or False
  • Carving a Legacy
  • Dear Doctor Carver

Complete List Of Included Worksheets Collection II:

  • George Washington Carver Facts
  • Significant Places in Carver’s Life
  • Find the Words
  • Complete the Information
  • George Washington Carver: A Timeline
  • Carver’s Scientific Contributions
  • Carver’s Words
  • An Outstanding Scientist
  • Carver’s Legacy
  • A Letter to Carver
  • In a Nutshell

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Use With Any Curriculum

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