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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whispers of Angels: Buffalo and the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What role did Buffalo, New York play in the Underground Railroad? Young historians investigate the Underground Railroad ties to Buffalo and western New York. They create a web site or multimedia presentation based on the research. If...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of African-American Children: A Guide for Teaching Black History at the Elementary School Level

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
How do you introduce the topic of slavery to your youngest learners? The Sneetches, by Dr. Suess, is a great introduction to the idea of being different. Read the story to your class, and discuss desegregation in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History in Literature - The House of Dies Drear

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Hook your learners with a great project. They research the underground railroad and civil rights movement through literature, view the video The Underground Railroad: Escape from Slavery, and read the book House of Dies Drear in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Drinking Gourd

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers write about the impact of the Underground Railroad. They examine primary documents as they conduct independent research to explore the role of the Underground Railroad during the fight for abolition. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Secret to Freedom Teacher’s Guide

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students read the story "The Secret to Freedom" and participate in active reading to personalize what they have read. In this reading lesson, students follow  several writing activities and discuss their work . Students integrate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

John Brown's Passion to End Slavery Leading Up to and Including the Rain at Harpers Ferry

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate John Brown's fight to end slavery. In this slavery lesson, 6th graders read Harpers Ferry, The Story of John Brown's Raid and then research his life as well as the life of slave Osbourne Perry Anderson. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmarks of the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore the impact of the Underground Railroad. In this slavery instructional activity, 9th graders read about the Shadrach Minkins case and discuss the details of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Students consider how the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmarks of the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore the impact of the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, students read slave accounts and discuss the details of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Students consider the impact of anti-slavery efforts in Boston and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literature for Lesson 2 - The UnderGround Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the use of the Underground Railroad. In this Underground Railroad lesson, students determine the meaning of the word slavery. They study the Underground Railroad through the use of literature and Internet websites. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research and learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Underground Railroad lesson plan, students take 2 weeks to research an individual, complete journal writings, read passages in small groups, list major events, and more.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmarks of the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore Civil Rights by reading several books in class. In this Underground Railroad lesson, students discuss The Story of Henry Box Brown and identify the location and functionality of the Underground Railroad. Students answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read about Harriet Tubman and develop vocabulary lists.  In this Underground Railroad lesson, 4th graders find similarities and differences in primary and secondary sources, create a timeline and recognize important...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad: Henry "Box" Brown

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners build Henry's box. In this historical perspective activity students listen to the story Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine about an escape using the Underground Railroad. Learners also read and discuss The Deliverer of Box...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad- People Get Ready...There's a Train a Comin'

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Civil War and slavery lesson, students discuss how successful slaves would be moving around at night, learn the secret vocabulary used for escape routes and review background about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harriet Tubman

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate Harriet Tubman. In this African-American lesson, students read the book A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman and discuss how she was a conductor of the Underground Railroad. Students identify the leadership qualities she...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Drinking Gourd

For Teachers K - 12th
Students, after assessing a valuable history lesson, create an amazing and very personalized quilt. They explore how individuals helping the slaves escape to freedom, hung a quilt on their front porch to let the slaves know that the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literature Focus Unit: Civil War

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a two-week unit on the U.S. Civil War and the Underground Railroad. They read the books "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and "Pink and Say," complete story maps, and dramatize a scene from "Follow the Drinking Gourd."...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minty, A Story of Young Harriet Tubman

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe the life of Harriet Tubman. They define opportunity cost. Students identify the opportunity cost of each of several choices made by Harriet Tubman. They are explained that Harriet Tubman was the first African...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making the Connection With Quilts

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore history of Underground Railroad in Indiana and discover how slaves were assisted on their journey using codes displayed in different quilt blocks. Students examine connection quilts have to ancestry and family...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars examine Harriet Tubman's contribution to the Underground Railroad. They read and discuss an excerpt from the book "The Tamarack Tree," listen to the CD for the book "Follow the Drinking Gourd," and write a journal...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Did Slavery Impact Our Nation?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders closely examine the effects of slavery on American society giving special emphasis to the issue of social injustice, the life of Harriet Tubman, the underground railroad and the achievements of Abraham Lincoln during this...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Signs in the Stitching

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students exercise their creativity by designing an original quilt and a written explanation of its meaning. They use primary sources to develop an understanding of Underground Railroad routes through Indiana.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulated Underground Railroad Experience

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders travel through a mock Underground Railroad.