Curated OER
Underground Railroad Newspaper
Third graders write an Underground Railroad Newspaper. In this writing lesson students collaborate with their classmates to create an Underground Newspaper. Students each write a different portion of the paper: ads, feature articles,...
Curated OER
Runaway Ad - Using Primary Documents
Students examine a runaway slave advertisement. In this American history lesson plan, students investigate a missing slave advertisement run by Thomas Jefferson in 1769. Students make inferences based on the advertisement.
Southern Poverty Law Center
Teaching Hard History: A Framework for Teaching American Slavery
Pupils investigate American slavery from colonial times through the Civil War. They incorporate primary sources, video clips, and firsthand accounts to understand how the slavery issue gripped the nation. Essays, presentations, and...
Curated OER
Underground Railroad Mini-Unit
Students watch a film about slavery. Students view a PowerPoint about the Underground Railroad and use various resources to make a timeline for the topic. Students research a historical figure from the Underground Railroad era and give a...
Curated OER
Who Got Away? 18th Century Runaway Slaves
Learners read runaway slave advertisements while completing a chart to determine whether slaves successfully escaped. In this US history lesson plan, students must research the Virginia Runaways Digital Project and use the given links to...
Curated OER
Runaway Journeys Migration
High schoolers use the Runaway Journeys site maps and image resources in rounding out their study of the slave migration. They access an excellent multi-media narrative imbedded in this plan.
Curated OER
Rights and Responsibilities, Is It Breaking the Law?
Students investigate the life and trial of Rev. John Mahan who was involved with the illegal Underground Railroad. The issue of breaking the law to help slaves escape is examined in this lesson.
Curated OER
Levi Coffin on Trial
Young scholars are introduced to Quaker beliefs about slavery and actual statements of conviction about slavery by Levi Coffin. They explore the federal laws about returning escaped slaves, specifically the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Curated OER
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Students create an art project based on "Follow the Drinking Gourd," a song used to guide slaves to freedom during the Civil War. They read a picture book to learn the story of how Harriet Tubman and Peg Leg Joe led slaves to freedom.
Curated OER
Runaway Slaves, An American Experience
Sixth graders explore, analyze and study how one's personal experiences impact one's perspective and actions. They interpret ideas and events of slavery from the different perspectives of an abolitionist, slave owner, United States...
Curated OER
Geography and Runaway Journeys Lesson Plan: The Great Dismal Swamp
Learners examine the geography of swamps and the Great Dismal Swamp. They research primary accounts, period literature, and analyze how fugitive slaves lived in the swamps.
Curated OER
Planning an Escape
Students identify characteristics of runaway slaves in the 18th century, Generalize about reasons slaves ran away, and construct plan of how a slave might be successful in running away.
Curated OER
Forest Joe: Outlaw or Hero?
Students read a narrative about a 19th century fugitive slave named Forest Joe. They research the legend of Forest Joe and compare it to Robin Hood and other similar legends from various ethnic groups.
Curated OER
The Fugitive Slave Law and Migration
Students examine the Fugitive Slave Law as a motivating factor for slaves to emigrate outside the United States. After discussing the relationships between fugitive slaves and North American and Caribbean countries, they write essays...
Curated OER
Journey on the Underground Railroad
Learners use Indiana and Michigan state road maps to trace a route to Canada from Madison, IN. with the many possible stops along the way. They make a picture book that depicts a runaway slave's journey on UCR.
Curated OER
Freedom Train
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of slavery and focuses on the Underground Railroad. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The information is used as inspiration for the creation of a dream...
Curated OER
Harriet Tubman
Students study the history of the United States in the 1800s, including the issue of slavery. They discover that the Underground Railroad was a network of people and hiding places in the United States and Canada, set up to help escaping...
Curated OER
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
In this online interactive reading comprehension activity, students respond to 13 multiple choice questions about Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Underground Railroad Simulation
Fourth graders explore the Underground Railroad. In this social studies lesson plan, 4th graders play the part of slaves and travel the "Underground Railroad" to freedom.
Curated OER
Underground Railroad Tic-Tac-Toe
Students discover details about the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, students read primary documents about fugitive slaves and analyze the sources using the provided worksheets.
Curated OER
RUNAWAY JOURNEYS MIGRATION
Students analyze the influences on urban life in the early and late 19th century, different economic, cultural, and social characteristics of slavery after 1800, the rise of racial hostility, and the ending of the Atlantic slave trade.
DocsTeach
Analyzing a Petition about Slavery
Practice analyzing primary sources in a thought-provoking lesson on the impact of slavery. Young historians read a petition regarding the Fugitive Slave Law and answer a series of questions to understand the importance of the document....
Heritage Foundation
Slavery and the Constitution
It's hard to believe the abolition movement was once seen as scandalous. Help learners understand how the US Constitution changed everything. A variety of activities such as corresponding reading activities, group work ideas, and...