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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey on the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students 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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students trace the routes of escaping slaves on their journey north by calculating the mileage each one walked and define and use accurately the term Underground Railroad. They read The Drinking Gourd by Jeanetter Winter.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harriet Tubman

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify famous people and events of the Civil War era, identify hardships Tubman encountered by giving an explanation of what they would do in a similar situation, and explain in writing, 3 historical facts about Harriet Tubman.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Quilts of the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders work as a class to create a quilt mapping a route on the underground railroad. Each student create one quilt block using quilt symbols to contribute to the quilt.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study slavery escape routes of the Underground Railroad on maps, read an account of an escape and then write narrative essays about a fictional slave's escape.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diverse Voices - African American Ventures

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research African American history and the Underground Railroad. In this African American history lesson, students discuss the Drinking Gourd. Students read 'If You Traveled the Underground Railroad' and discuss. Students work in...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Underground Railroad-Coded Messages

For Students 4th - 5th
In this worksheet on The Underground Railroad, students are instructed to "use the code word and phrases sheet" in order to decode a set of 10 messages. Word and phrases sheet not included on this worksheet.
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Organizer
Curated OER

Underground Railroad Code Words and Phrases

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Underground Railroad worksheet, students read a list of code words and phrases used during the time of the Underground Railroad, 26 total.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Midnight Train To Freedom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research, discuss and study about the Underground Railroad and examine the risks associated with escaping slavery by reading the article "North Toward Home." They create a museum book to accompany a teacher-created exhibit on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Quilts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to new vocabulary associated with slavery and the Underground Railroad. In groups, they use the vocabulary to identify the various ranges of freedom and create their own vocabulary webs. To end the lesson,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad Research Report

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a research paper on the Underground Railroad. They use internet and traditional resources to gather information from a list provided by the instructor. They use their information to write their paper. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Following the North Star

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students give examples of the impacts of science and technology on the migration and settlement patterns of various groups. They draw stars explaining how the North Star was used to give directions on the Underground Railroad.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Your Way: The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe the difficulties faced when tying to escape using the underground railroad. Participating in an online simulation, students attempt to escape using the underground railroad. They view maps of the routes taken by the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Quilting: The Story of the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore quilting. They read and discuss the book, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. They research African American quilting traditions on the Internet and name three common qualities in quilts. They create a quilt block...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choose Your Own Adventure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate the historical underground railroad. They also access technology to conduct research and write stories with the railroad as part of the historical fiction. The cumulative assessment is the creation of a book...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulated Underground Railroad Experience

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a simulation activity that culminates their study of the Underground Railroad. They climb on obstacles while bells rings and older students act as conductors. They work in a darkened area with only one light...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spirituals

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the significance in the Negro spirituals concerning the Underground Railroad. They explore the cultural, geographical, historical, physical, and Psychological aspects involved in the Underground Railroad
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Puppet Play

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders analyze the book Train to Midnight, based on the Underground Railroad. They compose and perform a puppet play based on the book. Students perform and videotape their puppet plays.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the underground railroad and create a journal as if you were either a slave running away or the "railroad operator". They then draw a map detailing the escape routes and stops of African-American slaves on the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Travelers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars are introduced to new vocabulary associated with the Underground Railroad. Using primary sources, they evaluate the railroad's impact on society in the past and today. They also make a judgment about the morality of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the experiences of the slaves on the Underground Railroad. They analyze maps depicting slaves' routes, calculate the mileage travelled, and write an essay and create an illustration about the Underground Railroad.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Enslaved and Running

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students use runaway slave advertisements to discover how the language varies from the 18th to 21st century. Using primary source documents, they research the brutality of slavery and the desire of those in slavery to be free. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use vocabulary related to the Underground Railroad. They identify key facts related to the Underground Railroad, evaluate their personal responses to the Underground Railroad and make a judgment about the morality of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils research and discuss the use of the Underground Railroad by fugitive slaves. They debate the actions of abolitionists and slave owners according to the laws of the time, create drawings and write narratives.