TOPIC: Underground Railroad                         
LESSON LENGTH: Total scope took 5 days
 GRADE: 2
                                                                                              Lessons

OBJECTIVES:
*Students will compare the freedoms Americans have today to the lack of freedom slaves had during the time of the Underground Railroad. 

*Students will create a quilt square demonstrating their knowledge of the Underground Railroad.

*Students will write about the quilt squares that they created.

MATERIALS and TECHNOLOGY:
•	The Drinking Gourd written by Jeannette Winter
•	Minty written by Alan Schroeder and Jerry Pinkney
•	Aunt Harriett’s Underground Railroad written by Faith Ringgold
•	Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt written by Deborah Hopkinson
•	Chart paper and markers
•	A square of construction paper
•	Fabric scraps
•	Glue 
•	Scissors
•	Internet access

PROCEDURE:
DAY 1
1.	Begin by asking the children freedoms that they and their families enjoy because they live in America.
2.	Have each child create a poster as to “Why I Love America”.
3.	Each child will share their posters and make a chart of all the reasons they love America.
DAY 2
4.	Read the Drinking Gourd
5.	As you read stop periodically to make predictions and question the student’s understanding of the story. Also note some differences about America during that time period.
6.	Discuss how during the 1800s America was quite different.  People were treated differently because of the color of their skin.
7.	Make a T-chart of America today and America during the Underground Railroad.  Note the difference in freedoms.
8.	For assessment children can complete the T chart question.
DAY 3
9.	 Discuss with the children that there were many slaves that would run away and people, black and white, that worked for something called the Underground Railroad.  The Underground Railroad helped many slaves make it to freedom. Talk about the trips to freedom.
    10.Read Minty.
11.	Give each child a small book about Harriett Tubman and her life to illustrate.
12.While they are working show the children and do as a class the activity of the choices of a runaway slave on www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad.

DAY 4
13.Read Aunt Harriett’s Underground Railroad. 
14.	After discussing the book have the children discuss how they would feel to leave their family and go on a journey like many of the runaway slaves did.
15.	 Make a journal entry about their feelings.
16.	 As they are working on their journal entry, share with them the web site that shows the journey a man took up to Canada. He tried to live like a runaway slave might have and includes journal entries. The site is http://www.npca.org/walk.html

DAY 5
17.	Make a chart entitled: What we know about the Underground Railroad. This will be a review for the culminating activity.
18.	 Read Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt.
19.	  After a discussion of the book, tell the children to pretend they are working for the Underground Railroad.   As a sign to runaway slaves that it is safe to enter, a quilt will hang on the door.  The children will create a quilt square that will let a runaway slave know it is safe.  This quilt square should demonstrate their knowledge of the Underground Railroad as well.

ASSESSMENTS:
1.	Open Response question comparing freedom now and then.
        Task: Complete the T chart comparing America today and America during the time of the Underground Railroad.

2.	Open Response question of creating the quilt square and writing about it.
           Imagine that you worked for the Underground Railroad.  You hide runaway slaves.  In order to let a runaway slave know it is safe to enter, you hang a quilt on the door.  Create a quilt square that would let a runaway slave know it was safe.  The quilt square should demonstrate your knowledge of the Underground Railroad.
           Write about your quilt square.  Describe it and explain why you designed it that way.

RESOURCES:
Children’s books:

Minty by Alan Schroeder and Jerry Pinkney
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
Aunt Harriett’s Underground Railroad by Faith Ringgold

Upper level books:

Escape from Slavery by Doreen Rappaport
Freedom’s Wings by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
North by Night by Katherine Ayres
F is For Freedom by Roni Schotter

Web Sites:
www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad
http://www.npca.org/walk.html
www.nku.edu/~undergroundrr