Unit Plan
Curated OER

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave, Written by Himself

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
 The narrative works of Frederick Douglass engage learners in the topic of slavery. They will experience American history in a new way, a Douglass expresses his thoughts in his own words. Pupils then interpret this literary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Am Freedom Bound!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Upper elementary and middle school learners engage in this awesome lesson plan on the Civil War. In it, they watch streamed video, perform Internet research, engage in hands-on activities, and use their geography skills to locate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Primary Source Adventures: Runaway Slaves Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine social changes in Texas during last half of ninteenth century relating to the institution of slavery. They brainstorm methods that unhappy slaves may have used to avoid obeying their masters, and read and discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery During the Nineteenth Century

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research the life and daily activities of a slave during the nineteenth century. They write an essay role playing a slave during this time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slaves, the Labor Force, and the Economy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine critical role that slaves, freemen, and plebeians played in the Roman Empire. They complete creative writing that addresses how the Roman class system and the use of slavery contributed to the downfall of the Roman Empire.
Unit Plan
Yale University

"This is Not a Story to Pass On": Teaching Toni Morrison's Beloved

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders read "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. In groups, they research the life and works of Morrison and read a speech by Sojouner Truth. Using the novel, they discuss the experiences of slaves and the effect of slavery on their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SLAVERY IN ARKANSAS, THE LIFE OF A SLAVE

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners participate in a variety of activities to demonstrate an understanding of mid 1800 role of slaves. Vocabulary, writing and math are integrated into the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery Issue And Views North Versus South Around 1850s

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the views of both sides of the Civil War. Through class discussion and debate, they look at how each side justified their position during the Civil War. Students write a letter explaining one of the viewpoints from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Escape From Slavery

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students make a timeline of Frederick Douglass' life. They role play your favorite scene from the story. Students write at least 5 journal entries from Frederick Douglass' point of view.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

COTTON AND SLAVERY IN ARKANSAS

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read about the cotton industry in America and demonstrate the roll of slaves picking and removing seeds from a boll of cotton. The relationship between slaves and cotton production is established.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery in Arkansas Workshop

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explain the viewpoints of runaway slaves and the slave owners. They use stick figures to organize the escaped slaves according to their chances of actually remaining at large.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery In America During the Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students continue their examination of the Civil War. In groups, they use the internet and print sources to research the life of a slave. For each slave researched, they copy quotes and other information from primary and secondary...
Lesson Plan
1
1
National Endowment for the Humanities

From Courage to Freedom: The Reality behind the Song

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study how Frederick Douglass uses language to describe a realistic picture of slavery in his writings which are primary source documents. They examine his use of word choice, imagery, irony, and rhetorical appeals and use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voyage to Freedom - What Does It Mean?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the Underground Railroad by creating a quilt.  In this U.S. History instructional activity, 5th graders discuss the history of slavery through a class "word splash" and by reading an Underground Railroad...
Lesson Plan
Center for Literacy and Disability Studies

Slave Resistance

For Teachers 8th Standards
How did colonial enslaved people in America struggle to defend themselves and maintain their African heritage?
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

African American Music: Let’s Sing and Play Clapping Games

For Teachers K - 2nd
Two lessons focus on making a beat. Using popular African American music of its time, scholars listen and analyze the rhythm then recreate it with hands drums, and cups. 
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine”

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Scholars go on a musical journey to discover the origin, importance, and evolution of the song, "This Little Light of Mine". Class members boost their voice talents and clap to the beat while learning the lyrics in both English and Zulu....
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Runaway Slaves: From the Revolution to the New Republic

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Who were the enslaved people in colonial America? Using ads from enslavers looking to recapture escaped people, young historians put faces and identities to them. Primary sources, such as wanted ads, help scholars reconstruct who these...
Website
ESRI

Juneteenth: An American History through Maps

For Students 6th - 12th
An interactive website traces the history of Juneteenth celebrations from their origin in Galveston, Texas, on June 19th to the present day.  Using interactive maps, learners can find information about the African-American...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Lincoln and the Republicans: The Cause of the War?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
In today's political rhetoric, many forget the pivotal role the Republican Party played in the causes of the Civil War. The party's formation was the final straw for Southerners who saw the enslavement of people of African descent a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make an ABC Book of Slavery And the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Pupils learn about a topic through research, drawing, and the production of a finished product
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Colonization Society Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students read an article online "Colonization and Emigration" and break into debating groups. They research points that support their side, namely whether or not the American Colonization Society was for or against segregation. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slave Auctions in South Carolina

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine primary sources in the form of auction records, create frequency charts, graphs and diagrams that they analyze to anwer questions followed by the writing of a paper that demonstrates their comprehension of the lesson.

Other popular searches