Underground Railroad Exhibit: Teacher Resources - Lesson Plan Three

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

Canadian Teachers Guide

Lesson Plan Three: Underground Railroad Novel Studies

Grade Level: 6 & 7

Subjects: Social Studies (History), Language (Reading)

Developed by: Brenda Healey; Wolford Public School, Wolford, Ontario

Overview: Students are provided with a recommended list of novels on the Underground Railroad theme. Students select and read a novel, and then complete the provided assignments. (A general introduction to the Underground Railroad is provided in Lesson Plan # 1 for teachers who may wish to have more background information.) The list of novels was compiled to reflect the variety of literature based materials related to the UGRR.

Purpose: Students will develop a greater appreciation of the accomplishments and hardships of fugitive slaves. A broader interpretation through fictionalized history will be encouraged.

Objectives:

1. To develop independent reading skills by reading a UGRR novel.
2. To provide an interpretation of the novel and demonstrate an understanding of the vocabulary, plot development, character development as well as formulating a historical impression of the period.
3. To develop an understanding of Canada's role in the Underground Railroad.

Activities: A novel study divided into a series of pre-reading assignments and post-reading assignments.

1. Pre-reading Assignments

2. Assignment 1: General Book Knowledge

   1. What is the title of your book?
   2. Who is the author?
   3. What year was the book first published?
   4. How many pages and chapters are there in the book?
   5. Is there a forward, prologue or epilogue to the book?

   
   Assignment 2: Predicting Outcomes

   1. After examining your book, what do you think this novel will be about?
   2. Write your predictions in a paragraph, remembering an introductory sentence, a body and a concluding sentence. Please write in pen or on your computer. Be sure to include your rough draft that has been edited and revised.
   
   
   
3. Post-reading Assignments: Answer in paragraph form

4. Assignment 1: Character

   1. Describe the main character in your novel. Include a description of his/her appearance, personality, ideas (what the character thinks), behaviour (how the character acts) and values.
   2. What problems does the main character have?
   3. What is important to the main character? Support your answer with examples from the novel.
   4. Does this character change throughout the book? How? Note examples.
   5. Does this character do anything you think is wrong? If so, explain.
   6. Does the character do anything you think is heroic or good? If so, explain.

   
   Assignment 2: Plot
   Write a short plot summary of your novel in your own words. Include who is telling the story, what the main problem or goal is and how the main character is trying to solve/ or achieve it, and what the title has to do with the book.

   Give examples of the following conflicts:

   1. person versus person
   2. person versus society
   3. person versus animal
   4. person versus the elements
   5. person versus him/herself (internal conflict)
   6. person versus fate or destiny

   
   Assignment 3: Setting

   1. When did the story take place?
   2. Where did the story take place? Describe the location, in detail and in your own words.
   3. If you were to live in this setting, how would your life be different?

   
   Assignment 4: Mood

   1. How did you feel while reading this story? Why?
   2. Describe: the sad part, the happy part, the strangest thing that happened and the most exciting thing that happened.

   
   Assignment 5: Your Reaction

   1. What was the theme or message?
   2. Do you think the author was successful in getting the message across? Why/why not?
   3. Discuss some good points and bad points about your novel. Include some examples from the novel to support your answer.
   4. This novel made me:
   5. 1. wish that...
      2. realize that...
      3. decide that...
      4. feel that...
      5. hope that...
   6. Pick a quotation from your novel that has significant meaning for you. Explain it.

Resource Materials:

• Recommended novels
• Other novels from teacher generated list
• Class to visit a local UGRR site if available
• If class has access to Toronto, a class trip to the Royal Ontario Museum to visit the UGRR exhibit "Next Stop -Freedom"

Duration: Two class periods of approximately 45 minutes.

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

• History
• explain Canada's involvement in the Underground Railroad

• Language
• read a variety of fiction and non-fiction material for different purposes
• read independently, selecting appropriate reading strategies
• explain their interpretation of a written work, supporting with evidence from the work and from their knowledge and experience
• understand the vocabulary and language structures appropriate for this grade level