About This Lesson
Explore the times and traditions that shaped Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delawareand consider how he used artistic license to promote democratic values.
Look and Learn Gallery Walks spark curiosity by building on students’ interests, inviting them to carefully explore curated galleries and take a closer look at what captures their attention. In this gallery walk, students delve into the times and traditions that shaped Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware. They will compare historical facts with Leutze’s dramatized portrayal and reflect on how the artist assembled a crew representative of America’s diverse population, embodying the motto E pluribus unum—“out of many, one.”
This interactive gallery walk can be adapted for individual inquiry studies or projected for small-group instruction. Accompanying teaching strategies provide frameworks to enrich the experience. The included scavenger hunt crossword puzzle introduces notable individuals, builds historical context, and highlights meaningful connections.
