Defining the Underground Railroad
Lesson 1

Subject: Social Studies and Writing 			Grade: 4th
 
Topic: Underground Railroad					Lesson: 1 class

Objective:  
1.	Students will develop background knowledge of the Terms used in conjunction with the Underground Railroad:
a.	Freedom
b.	Slavery
c.	Underground Railroad
d.	Cooperation
e.	Courage
2.	Students will be asked to determine differences and similarities in the terms.
3.	Students will be exposed to different people that were important to the Underground Railroad movement.
4.	Student will write a short summary of what John Parker’s role was in the Underground Railroad.

Materials:
·	Entrance slips 
·	Freedom River by Doreen Rappaport
·	Music from the time period when slavery was prevalent
·	Charts to graph 
·	Kentucky and United States Maps
·	Exit slips

Procedure:

·	There will be music quietly playing in the classroom as the students enter.
·	Each student will be given 5 sticky notes to write what they think each of the 5 terms mean.
·	The students will then be asked to come and place their definitions under the words.
·	The class will read and discuss the definitions and determine how many had the same ideas.
·	Determine which if any of the definitions should be switched.
·	Read Freedom River. Discuss how people were important to the Underground Railroad, in particular John Parker. 
·	Re-evaluate after reading the story if the definitions are in the correct places and see if anyone would like to remove or change theirs.
·	Discuss how John Parker’s location helped slaves escape on the Underground Railroad. Show a map of Kentucky and explain how Parker used to transfer slaves to safety.  Teacher will show overheads of Ripley, Ohio and runaways that John P. Parker helped escape.
·	Students will be given exit slips asking them to briefly explain the role of John Parker and the Underground Railroad.

Assessment:

	Students will be assessed on the exit slips they will write. Their responses will be displayed outside the classroom to bring awareness to anyone who passes by the hallway.

Resources:

Children’s Literature:

Freedom River by Doreen Rappaport

His Promised Land:  The Autobiography of John P. Parker, Former Slave and Conductor on the Underground Railroad by John P. Parker, Stuart Seely Sprague 

Technology:

	“Follow the Drinking Gourd”, The Music Connection, Silver Burdett Ginn, 1995.