the underground railroad lesson 1 “sweet clara and the freedom quilt” learning team c yasheika...
TRANSCRIPT
The Underground Railroad
Lesson 1“Sweet Clara and the Freedom
Quilt”
Learning Team CYasheika Benford, Susan Highfield, Ryan Keller,
Karla Lewis, and Shay Sing
by Deborah Hopkinson
Students will read “Sweet Clara and the Freedom
Quilt”
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
The book is the story of an African American girl's escape from slavery on a southern plantation.
Slaves in Virginia
1862
At a very young age, Clara is taken from her mother and put to work on the cotton plantation.
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Slaves picking cotton before the Civil War
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Like most slaves, Clara longs for freedom and, in her case, yearns to be reunited with her mother.
Harriet Tubman (far left) and family
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
When the rigors of cotton-field labor overwhelm Clara, a kindly woman she calls Aunt Rachel trains the girl to be a seamstress in the main house.
Clara begins to put together a map-quilt, stitching in any information she learns from conversations about an escape route to Canada.
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Will the quilt help Clara escape to freedom and be reunited with her mother?
Quilt Project
Identify landmarks in the story that Clara could use on her quilt
Each student will create a quilt that describes the journey Clara might have taken
Identify various uses for quilts and describe the significance of Clara’s quilt
The Underground Railroad Quilt Code
Monkey WrenchPrepare the tools you’ll need for the long journey, including the mental and spiritual tools. Or (as a Ship’s Wheel), the pilot is prepared to begin the transport.
Wagon WheelLoad the wagon or prepare to board the wagon to begin the escape.
Bear’s PawTake a mountain trail, out of view. Follow the path made by bear tracks; they can lead you to water and food.
BowtieDress in a disguise, or put on a change of clothes.
CrossroadsRefers to Cleveland, Ohio, a destination offering several routes to freedom. It also signifies reaching a point where a person’s life will change, so one must be willing to go on.
Log CabinA secret symbol that could be drawn on the ground indicating that a person is safe to talk to. It also advises seeking shelter.
ShooflyPossibly identifies a friendly guide who is nearby and can help.
The Underground Railroad Quilt Code
Flying GeesePoints to a direction to follow, such as where geese would fly during spring migration.
Drunkard’s PathCreate a zig-zag path, do not walk in a straight line, to avoid pursuers in this area.
StarFollow the North Star. Worked in conjunction with the popular song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” a reference to the Big Dipper constellation.
The Underground Railroad Quilt Code
Leaders of The Underground Railroad
Levi Coffin
(“President” of the Underground Railroad)
http://www.indianahistory.org/pop_hist/people/coffin.html
http://www.waynet.org/nonprofit/coffin.htm
Levi Coffin (1798-1877)
young Levi Coffin
Mr. Coffin in his later years
Harriet Tubman
(“Moses” of the Underground Railroad)
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/tubman.html
http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=159
Leaders of The Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman(1820–1913)
young Harriet Tubman
Mrs. Tubman in her later
years
Would You Have Helped?
Discuss whether you think you would have assisted in helping the slaves to freedom if you had been a free individual at that time.
Consider the pros and cons of your decision, including the dangers for yourself if you decided to help.
Are you sure?
Read the text of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850: http://www.usconstitution.net/fslave.html
The Slave Escape Route
Follow the journey of escaping slaves as they make their way through the Underground Railroad by clicking on this link: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1.html
Play the following interactive game . . .
Map of Escape Routes
The routes from safe-house to safe-The routes from safe-house to safe-house (houses where fugitive slaves house (houses where fugitive slaves were kept) were called were kept) were called 'lines'lines'. '.
Stopping places were called Stopping places were called 'stations'stations'. '.
How Did The Various People Work Together?
Those who aided fugitive slaves were Those who aided fugitive slaves were known as known as 'conductors'conductors'. '.
In order to keep terms as clandestine In order to keep terms as clandestine as possible, the fugitive slaves were as possible, the fugitive slaves were known as known as 'packages'packages' or ' or 'freight'freight'. '.
How Did The Various People Work Together?
Music of the Underground Railroad
Slaves were told to "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (the Big Dipper) to freedom. Look at the lyrics to this spiritual in the link below and see if you can decode the directions contained within.
http://education.ucdavis.edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/lyrics_follow.htm
Other slave songs include:Steal AwaySongs mentioning Canada
To listen to an example of the slave song, “Hoe Emma Hoe,” click this link and press the “Music On” button: http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/february03/worksongs.cfm
Music of the Underground Railroad (cont.)
Conclusion
The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad. It was a complex network of individuals who worked together in secret to help slaves make their way to freedom. It was a process that required a coordinated effort from many brave people working together across the country to end unfair and cruel slavery practices.
References
Colonial Williamsburg web site: Slave Work Songs. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/february03/worksongs.cfm
Hopkinson, Deborah. 1993. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Illustrated by James Ransome. New York: Alfred Knopf.
Indiana Historical Society. 2006. Indiana’s Popular History:: Levi Coffin. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://www.indianahistory.org/pop_hist/people/coffin.html
Info Please. 2007. Harriet Tubman. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. Retrieved March 11, 2007, from http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0849622.html
Levi Coffin House, State Historic Site. 1998-2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://www.waynet.org/nonprofit/coffin.htm
National Geographic web site. 2007. The Underground Railroad. The Journey. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1.html
Pocantino Hills School. 1998-2007. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/tubman.html
Signs in Stiches and Song. 2003. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/share/ugrr/clara.html
References (cont.)
Tobin, Jacqueline L. and Raymond G. Dobard. 1999. Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad. Doubleday Publishing.
UGRR Menu Rail. No date. Music of the Underground Railroad. Follow the Drinking Gourd. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://education.ucdavis.edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/lyrics_follow.htm
U.S. Constitution Online. 2006. Fugitive Slave Act. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://www.usconstitution.net/fslave.html
Women of the Hall. No date. Harriet Tubman. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=159
Mrs. Sing's Third Grade Class Web site
References (cont.)