Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children and Slavery Document Search

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students review the causes of slavery, the Middle Passage, triangular trade and the spread of slavery throughout colonies. They work in small groups and search documents in order to find the answers to a question and document packet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad Activity

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders practice their interviewing skills as they learn about the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, 8th graders discuss the existence and operation of the railroad. Students then interview one another in the personas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fugitive from Labor Cases:

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the cases of Henry Garnett and Moses Honner, both of the 1850s. Students analyze the political climate building up to the Civil War through the lens of these similar cases with different outcomes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reforms of the Mid-1800's

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the reform movements of the mid-1800's in the U.S. They participate in an Internet scavenger hunt, analyze primary source documents, and develop and perform a simulation of a mid-19th century...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life of Frederick Douglass

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the importance of effective leadership in a democratic society. They study the significance of the contributions of Frederick Douglass to America. They compare the effects of political, economic, and social factors...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About Life as a Slave

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the history of slavery. In this slavery lesson, students take a closer look at slavery in the Americas and the abolitionist movement as they visit the suggested museums and their websites.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Chapter 4 – Antebellum Counterculture and Society

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Antebellum South worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages on the Antebellum counterculture and society and respond to 37 short answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Hartford Convention and the Battle of New Orleans

For Students 6th - 8th
For this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the Hartford Convention and the Battle of New Orleans. A short answer question is included as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Southern Agriculture and the Slave Trade

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between agriculture and the slave trade during the 1860s. In groups, they research how two factors led to the explosion of slavery in the Southern United States. Using maps, they answer comprehension...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People and Places in Indiana's Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use an Indiana map to explain why Indiana's geographic location was important to its role in the UGR. They experience personal stories and feelings of the people involved in UGR through role-play and literature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dear Wife and Children Everyone

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the issue of slave vs. free states. They explore the actions and personal commitment of John Brown and write a newspaper article about the Battle of Osawatomie from John Brown's perspective.
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...
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.
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Criminal or Hero

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the origins of slavery.  In this US History instructional activity, 5th graders create a map of the United States that shows where slavery existed.  Students examine the life of a Northern slave through...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abolitionists in U.S. History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and discuss excerpts from the writings of Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass and Sarah Parker Redmond. They compare and contrast the views of the three abolitionists concentrating on the experiences and reasons for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VS.7a

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore, analyze and identify the events and differences between northern and southern states that divided Virginians and led to secession, war and the creation on West Virginia. They discuss the conflicts that developed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

618,000: Shall Not Have Died in Vain

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners explore the American Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students examine a slave auction advertisement and an Abraham Lincoln quote. Learners also read Pink and Say, create a foldable regarding naval warfare, and design a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Connecticut Abolitionists with the Amistad Case

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders compare the activities of the Underground Railroad with the Amistad Case. In this slavery lesson, 10th graders research primary and secondary sources to discover information about Connecticut abolitionists. Students use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Rush Abolitionists: How different was the role of Spanish-speaking blacks under Mexican rule from the role of English-speaking blacks under U.S. rule?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students determine how Spanish-speaking blacks and English speaking blacks were treated differently. In this emancipation lesson, students compare the Mexican and American rules regarding slavery.     
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perspective on the Slave Narrative

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work with the slave narrative as a resource for historical study and evaluate it as a work of literature; students then examine the narrative in the context of political controversy as an argument for abolition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inspiring Freedom: The Remond Family and Abolitionism in Salem

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners examine the abolitionist movement in Salem. Exploring the contributions of the Remond family, they identify how they made the issue one of national and international importance. They discuss the views of the south and how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Patchwork Path

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate slavery by reading a book with their classmates. In this abolitionist movement lesson, 4th graders read the story The Patchwork Path, and discuss the creation of the Underground Railroad. Students create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad (Grade 8)

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders experience what it was like to flee from slavery on the Underground Railroad. They improve their understanding of the history of slavery in the US and become familiar with some of the people who fought to end slavery in...