People Who Shaped America: Georgia — James Oglethorpe Create a Monument Design

People Who Shaped America: Georgia — James OglethorpeCreate a Monument Design | Grades 4–8

Bring Georgia history, historical inquiry, research, and creative design together with this engaging No Prep Plans lesson on James Oglethorpe!
Students explore Oglethorpe’s role in the founding of Georgia, the planning of Savannah, his ideas for the new colony, his relationships and alliances, and his lasting legacy. The lesson moves students beyond simply collecting facts by asking them to determine which parts of Oglethorpe’s story are most significant and how history should be represented through a public monument. The source lesson emphasizes Oglethorpe as an English soldier and reformer who founded Georgia, planned Savannah, established early rules for the colony, worked with Tomochichi and the Yamacraw, and helped defend the colony.

Students then work collaboratively as monument designers, using historical evidence to decide what their monument should communicate. Their design incorporates a central figure or symbol, inscription, materials, setting, and a “Living Legacy” element connecting Oglethorpe’s story to Savannah’s famous squares today.

What’s Included
- Teacher Directions for 1–2 class periods (45–60 minutes each)
- James Oglethorpe Overview
- Mini Research Questions
- Group Activity: Create a Monument Design
- Research & Understanding student page
- From History to Monument evidence-analysis page
- Monument Design Planning page
- Final Monument Sketch page
- Online research resources
- Color and black-and-white student pages

Students Will
- Research James Oglethorpe and the founding of Georgia
- Explore the planning and development of Savannah
- Examine Oglethorpe’s ideals, alliances, and legacy
- Distinguish important information from supporting details
- Use historical evidence to support design decisions
- Consider how history can be complicated or oversimplified
- Develop a clear message for a public monument
- Design meaningful symbols, inscriptions, materials, and settings
- Connect historical events to their lasting impact
- Collaborate, create, and present their ideas

Perfect For
- Sub Plans
- Georgia History
- U.S. History
- Colonial America
- Social Studies
- Humanities
- STEM / STEAM
- Project-Based Learning
- Research Skills
- History Centers or Stations
- Enrichment Activities
- Homeschool

What Teachers Love
This lesson is designed to be easy to implement while still providing meaningful, higher-level learning. Students aren't simply answering comprehension questions—they research, evaluate evidence, make decisions, justify their thinking, and transform what they learn into an original monument design.
The structured pages provide support for students who need guidance while leaving plenty of room for creativity and deeper thinking. The included color and printer-friendly black-and-white versions also make the resource easy to use in a variety of classroom settings.
No complicated prep. Meaningful research. Creative collaboration. Real historical thinking.