Worksheet
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Students 6th - 8th
In this social studies worksheet, students find the words that are related to the underground railroad and the answers are found at the bottom the page.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freedom Train

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of slavery and focuses on the Underground Railroad. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The information is used as inspiration for the creation of a dream...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harriet Tubman

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study the history of the United States in the 1800s, including the issue of slavery. They discover that the Underground Railroad was a network of people and hiding places in the United States and Canada, set up to help escaping...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Importance of Storytelling

For Teachers K - 5th
Students examine how African Americans escaping slavery used storytelling to communicate. They listen to and read the lyrics for the song, Follow the Drinking Gourd, view the Reading Rainbow video, and write and illustrate their own story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Aboard: Underground Railroad Knowledge Chart

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research the Underground Railroad. In this Underground Railroad lesson plan, 5th graders start a KWL chart about the Underground Railroad. Students use a map to locate slavery areas and free states. Students view a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders reflect on their knowledge of the Underground Railroad.  For this slavery lesson, 4th graders discuss slavery and watch a video.  Students complete a K-W-L chart after discussion and reading, as well as, a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the Underground Railroad.  In this American History lesson, 8th graders create a song about the railroad.  Students analyze various symbols used during the Underground Railroad. 
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

Underground Railroad Simulation

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the Underground Railroad. For this social studies lesson, 4th graders play the part of slaves and travel the "Underground Railroad" to freedom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use internet cites to explore the Underground Railroad. They also learn the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation. Focus questions are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad Tic-Tac-Toe

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students discover details about the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, students read primary documents about fugitive slaves and analyze the sources using the provided worksheets. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad Role Play

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students experience what the Underground Railroad was really like by role-playing as escaping slaves. They must travel to the North Star until they cross an imaginary line into Canada.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time of Slavery

For Teachers 5th
Young historians learn about abolitionists, The Civil War, Frederick Douglas, and so many more details about slavery in this highly engaging presentation. Teachers could use this as a whole class review and discussion tool.
eBook
Core Knowledge Foundation

The Civil War

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
A student reader shares information about the history of slavery, the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, women's contributions to the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and reconstruction.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Riding the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Young historians explore the underground railroad and life as a slave during the Civil War. After internet research, they discuss the hazards of travel as a slave and the benefits of freedom. Individually, students write a short story...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad Workshop

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the purpose of the Underground railroad. In this Slavery lesson, 9th graders read stories about people's travels. Students compare and contrast the lives of mothers in these stories.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art -- The Secret to Freedom

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a coded message in a quilt. In this art instructional activity students demonstrate the communication used by the Underground Railroad. Students work in a group to make a quilt with a code in it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Many Underground Railroads

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers plot the migration route of one of the runaway slaves named in a narrative and add it to a map of the United States in 1850. This is an excellent lesson on the Underground Railroad!
Worksheet
Scholastic

Harriet Tubman: Moses of Her People

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
Who was Harriet Tubman, and what was her place on the Underground Railroad? Recall the bravery and achievements of this extraordinary figure with a short, engaging informational text and crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 1st
First graders read a book about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. In this underground railroad lesson, 1st graders learn songs and code words that the slaves used to communicate with one another. Students discuss how all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making the Connection With Quilts

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore history of Underground Railroad in Indiana and discover how slaves were assisted on their journey using codes displayed in different quilt blocks. Students examine connection quilts have to ancestry and family...
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
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National Park Service

Lesson 4: Escape

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Some enslaved people decided to run for their liberation. Using lyrics of songs they sang, young historians look at these anthems of freedom. An assessment asks them to write the story of escape from the perspective of an enslaved...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey on the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars 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.