In this activity, students will integrate what they have read in Flight to Freedom and the article, "Slavery, the Civil War & Reconstruction - The Underground Railroad". These texts discuss the Underground Railroad, the secrecy, and the system that helped slaves escape to the North.
Have students record and illustrate information from each article in a T-Chart. Side-by-side cells should relate to one another.
Flight to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad
"Slavery, the Civil War & Reconstruction - The Underground Railroad"
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a T Chart that integrates information from both Flight to Freedom and "Slavery, the Civil War, & Reconstruction" and presents them side by side.
Engage students by organizing a hands-on simulation that helps them experience the challenges and decisions faced by those involved in the Underground Railroad. This activity builds empathy and deepens understanding of historical events.
Assign specific roles to students (such as agents, travelers, or stationmasters) so each child actively participates and learns the responsibilities of different people in the network. This makes history personal and memorable.
Create safe stations using desks or posters labeled as homes or hiding spots. These represent stops along the Underground Railroad and give students a sense of movement and secrecy as they travel between stations.
Incorporate secret codes (like hand signals or notes) for students to communicate, simulating the real methods used to avoid detection. This step reinforces the importance of secrecy and cooperation.
Gather students after the simulation to discuss their feelings, what challenges they faced, and what they learned about courage, risk, and teamwork. This reflection ties the simulation back to the historical content and encourages empathy.
Using a T-Chart helps students visually organize and compare facts from two sources. Have students create two columns: one for key details from Flight to Freedom and another for related facts from "Slavery, the Civil War & Reconstruction." Encourage them to illustrate each fact to deepen understanding.
Key facts include: Agents used secret codes and destroyed records, routes ran in zigzags to Canada, and travelers were sometimes hidden in caves. These details show the secrecy and dangers involved in the Underground Railroad.
'Slavery, the Civil War & Reconstruction' emphasizes the moral reasons for helping slaves, the use of the North Star for guidance, and the way each house gave directions to the next. 'Flight to Freedom' focuses more on secret codes and physical hideouts, showing different perspectives on the same topic.
Students can draw scenes like secret meetings between agents, travelers hiding in caves, houses guiding fugitives, or slaves navigating by the North Star. Visuals help reinforce the challenges and bravery involved.
The best way is to use graphic organizers like T-Charts that encourage students to compare facts side by side, find connections, and create illustrations. This strategy builds critical thinking and helps students synthesize information from different perspectives.