How did free and enslaved blacks work to craft freedom for themselves and their families before the Civil War? Young historians read about the life of Thomas Day, a free black man who also owned slaves and had abolitionist ties in nineteenth-century America.

Concepts

black history month, african american history, famous african americans, the abolitionist movement, slavery, slave narratives

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Front-load any vocabulary words that learners may have difficulty with in the reading before beginning the assignments
• For younger learners, consider focusing on the concept of freedom and what it means to be without some of the freedoms that most people may take for granted

Classroom Considerations

• Learners should have a solid understanding of the institution of slavery, as well as the concept of abolitionism, prior to beginning this lesson
• Preview the materials to determine if they are appropriate for the age and maturity level of your class

Pros

• All reading passages and worksheets included (see included materials)
• Offers lesson extension ideas

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.5.1 RI.5.2 RI.5.3 RI.5.4 RI.5.5