Lesley E. Troppe
Objectives:
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1. Students will use various resources to obtain information on the history and significance of the Underground Railroad.
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2. Students will engage in the activity and become aware of the dangers and tremendous risks that were involved.
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3. Students will discuss and record a written response to questions pertaining to themselves and their experience on the Underground Railroad.
Materials:
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1. Game board and pieces
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2. Paper and pencils
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3. Books, videos, computers and other related material to the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman
Method:
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1. Students should be group from two to four per game.
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2. Students will use game and accompanying pieces to play the game beginning in the South and ending when they have reached freedom the country of Canada.
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3. Students should record notes on significant events that take place as they travel along the Underground Railroad.
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4. Students should use any notes and reflect on their experience to answer questions pertaining to the game. Students will use resources and other pertinent information to respond to a question sheet as accurately as possible.
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5. The instructor will have students utilize all information thus far to write a prompt. The prompt should have the student envision him or herself as a slave on a plantation. This character should write about his or her attempt and successful or unsuccessful escape from slavery. Student should have an introduction, a minimum of three paragraphs, and a conclusion. All prompts should allow the reader to feel, hear, taste, and see what the character is experiencing. All prompts should be sequentially correct.
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6. The instructor can have the students illustrate their stories in various ways. Dioramas, murals, paintings, cartoon strips, etc. can assist the student with his or her writing or enhance it. Final drafts of stories and illustrations can be displayed.
Note: The gameboard is available through Woman’s History Catalog. The phone number is (707)838-6000. The item number is #6911. The cost before tax is $6.95. The game will need to be duplicated and laminated for multiple group use. The game package will include a 20”x 26” black lined gameboard, short biography, discussion questions, song sheets, activity suggestions, bibliography, colored markers and one die. This game is suitable, as packaged, for grades two through six.