Underground Railroad Exhibit: Teacher Resources - Lesson Plan Two

Welcome to Next Stop Freedom! An exhibit on the story of the Underground Railroad.

Canadian Teachers Guide

Lesson Plan Two: Deborah Brown - Free at Last, Free at Last!

Grade Level: 6 & 7

Subjects: Social Studies, History, Drama

Overview: Most readings on the Underground Railroad (UGRR) focus particular attention on the escape of the fugitive slaves. This narrative takes the listener beyond the Canadian "border" and highlights the story of settlement for a couple who started a new life in Toronto.

Purpose: The life of fugitive slaves, Deborah Brown and her husband, Perry, will be illustrated. They escaped from the state of Maryland and settled in York Township, present day Markham Street in Toronto.

Objectives:

1. To demonstrate:
2. 1. the realities and hardships of a person coming to Canada via the UGRR.
   2. daily life in the mid-19 ^th-century in Toronto.
   3. the use of the oral history tradition.
3. To develop: good listening, writing and speaking skills on the students' behalf.
4. To work cooperatively in groups.

Activities:

1. Select a student with good public speaking skills to read "Deborah Brown - Free at last, Free at Last!" Request student to be prepared to read to the class.
   
   
2. On the day of presentation students are advised that the narrative is based on a manner of speaking used by former elderly slaves, as recorded by American historical researchers in the 1930s. Students are asked to listen carefully to presentation.
   
   
3. Student presents the "Deborah Brown" narrative.
   
   
4. Students are asked to separate into three groups. Each group is asked to prepare a 3-5 minute presentation/play based on one of the three periods of Brown's life. A member of the group selects from an envelope one of the three themes: (1) Brown's life as a slave, (2) her escape and (3) her life in Canada. A copy of the narrative is made available to each group.

5. Teachers note: have the class as a whole discuss the three scenarios, discuss possible characters and roles for students.

6. Students research the material, write play, select narrator, actors, and actresses, practice presentation.
   
   
7. Students perform short plays.
   
   
8. Students evaluate the three plays based on historical accuracy, written material and enthusiasm.

Resource Materials:

• Copy of the text
• Teacher generated resource materials, such as books and photographs.
• Optional: costumes and props.
• Class to visit a local UGRR site if available
• If class has access to Toronto, a class visit to the Royal Ontario Museum UGRR exhibit titled "Next Stop - Freedom"

Duration: Two classes periods of approximately 45 minutes.

Expectations:
( Refer to Ontario Ministry of Education and Training document. Social Studies 1-6. History and Geography 7-8. Ontario Curriculum - The Arts 1-8.)

• History
• demonstrate an understanding of the strategies used by settlers to adapt to the challenges of the new land.
• explain Canada's involvement in the "Underground Railroad".
• identify the achievements and contributions of Sir John Graves Simcoe.

• Drama and Dance
• describe the overall effects of various aspects of drama and dance.
• interpret and communicate the meaning of novels, scripts, etc...
• evaluate, orally and in writing, their own and others works in drama.
• solve, in various ways, a problem that is presented through drama and dance, and explain ways in which each solution is effective.