Goal:
To learn the format of a friendly letter
To develop writing skills
To promote knowledge of
Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Objective:
Students will read Harriet and the Promised Land by Jacob Lawrence.
Students will respond to the poem and paintings by writing a letter.
Materials:
paper
pencils
Harriet and the Promised Land
Activity
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1. Teacher will introduce
Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad
by reading above mentioned text.
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2. Instruct students to take notice of the paintings. In whole group discussion students will answer:
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____
Are the illustrations happy or sad or scary? Why?
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____
What colors did Mr. Lawrence use?
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Which colors are happy colors? Sad? Scary?
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Why are the slaves painted black with little detail to their faces?
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Is Harriet Tubman strong?
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3. Students then compose a letter to Harriet Tubman. Emphasize the format of a friendly letter. (“Dear “ is the greeting or how one begins the letter; the body is what one has to say in the letter; and the closing is how one says goodbye and sign one’s name)
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4. Share and display work.
Further readings on Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad are:
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“Harriet Tubman” by Eloise Greenfield(Poem from the book
Honey I Love and Other Poems
)
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Heritage Kids- Kumi and Chanti Tell the Story of Harriet Tubman
by Empak “Black History” Publication Series
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Follow the Drinking Gourd