1. Watch
a United Streaming Video called “Underground Railroad, the
Escape from Freedom."
2. Use Study Guide on
Freedom Train link for Vocabulary.
3.
Literary Circles – Discuss and
identify story elements like character, plot, setting, etc
using
picture books.
Show Way, The Secret to Freedom,
Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad
& Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
http://www.teachersfirst.com/share/ugrr/clara.html
4. Research Harriet Tubman and/or other
important African American's who made a mark in history and
prepare a report or multimedia presentation. (PowerPoint,
PhotoStory, Moviemaker)
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/tubman
http://www.nyhistory.com/harriettubman/life.htm
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html
http://www.historychannel.com/blackhistory/
5. Research Dorothy Sterling, author of
Freedom Train.
6. Use the internet to take Virtual
Tours about the Underground Railroad.
http://pathways.thinkport.org/flash_home.cfm
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/index.html
http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/undergroundrailroadexperience/index_flash.html
7. Prepare an illustrated timeline of
Harriet's accomplishments.
8. Find text and/or recordings of
several old spirituals that were sung by the slaves. What
do the words represent?
http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/Freedom/source.cfm
http://www.osblackhistory.com/songs.php
9. Make a poster map that shows the
routes of the Underground Railroad. Color code the map to
show which states were slave states and which were free states.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/
10. Choose a specific historical event
or topic from Freedom Train (like John Brown's raid on Harper's
Ferry, the Emancipation Proclamation, Nat Turner's rebellion,
the Quakers, the Anti-Slavery Society, etc) Prepare a
report or multimedia presentation.
11. Research the North Star (and/or a
variety of constellations) which Harriet followed to receive her
freedom.
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/gourd1.html
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/planetarium/ftdg1.htm
http://www.teachersfirst.com/share/ugrr/northstar.html
12. Create a poem that memorializes
Harriet Tubman and her efforts to free slaves and help other
people.
13. Put yourself in the place of a
former slave. Write a poem that captures your feelings
about your newfound freedom.
Poem -
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/5wpoems.htm
14. Pretend that Harriet Tubman is
still alive. Write a letter to her telling her how you
feel about her achievements.
15. Drama Production -
For example,
Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom. (This is from Famous
Americans – 22 Short Plays for the classroom. Compiled and
edited by Liza Schafer. Scholastic,1994.)
16. Invite a guest to come and talk
with students about quilting.
17. Create a class quilt using cloth or
paper to be shared with other students.
http://www.osblackhistory.com/quiltcodes.php
http://www.teachersfirst.com/share/ugrr/index.htmlCFID=335029&CFTOKEN=47739648
Checkout a Quilt Kit from Patrick Beaver
18. Use Gaggle Email / Message Board
for communication between fellow students and to pose Critical
Thinking Questions.
Message Boards
Login to Gaggle (www.gaggle.net),
Click Jump To, Click Message Boards, Click Catawba County
Schools Message Boards, Click Freedom Train Novel Study,
Select a topic, Reply
Email
Send list of students email to another
school to set up Pen Pals.
19. Take Fieldtrip to see production on
Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, Celebrate Black History
Month, etc.
20. Underground Railroad Trading Cards
- Prepare a deck of
trading cards, similar to baseball cards-based on famous
Underground Railroad people. For example, you could
include individuals Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass,
Levi Coffin and Sojourner Truth.
21. Underground Railroad Boardgame -
Design and construct a board
game of the Undergound Railroad. You will need the board,
playing pieces, cards, and an instruction sheet with the rules.
Make it a fun game to play!
22.
Story Book/Picture Book -
Create a story book about the
life of an imaginary slave and the life they have experienced.
You could include, life on the plantation, running away,
struggles and triumphs during their journey, and their arrival
to the Promised Land.