Grade Level:
                        3rd and 4th Grade

Subjects:

     Language Arts, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:

• Given the story, Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson, the students will gain knowledge and appreciation for Africian-American history.
• The student will gain knowledge of the Underground Railroad.
• The student will learn how quilts played an important role in aiding slaves in finding the Underground Railroad and a way to freedom in the north.
• The student will recognize similes.
• The student will research one famous conductor, Harriet Tubman, of the Underground Railroad.
• The student will utilize map skills.

     Two 45 minute class periods

Materials:

• Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
• Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold
• Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia

• Multi-media Computers

• Collect lesson related books
• Collect Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia
• Arrange to have Star Lab delivered to the school for lesson three and/or finalize field trip to a planetarium
• Schedule multi-purpose room

First Period

1. The teacher will provide background information on the Underground Railroad and history of that era.
2. The teacher will do a preread for Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt.
3. The teacher will introduce story and vocabulary.
4. The student will listen and respond to story as the teacher reads it aloud.
5. The student will chart under the third column on K-W-L chart new knowledge they have learned about quilts.
6. The teacher will encourage student responses to story comprehension questions the teacher will ask as the story is read aloud.

1. The teacher will introduce and read aloud Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky to illustrate another way quilts were used in aiding slaves in their quest for freedom.
2. The student will recognize that similes are used throughout the story.
3. When given a United States map, the student will utilize their map skills for locating places that were destinations for slaves fleeing the south using:  grid/coordinated, cardinal directions, a scale, and symbols.

     The teacher will modify lesson to meet student's IEP (Individual Educational Program
     and/or special needs)

Enrichment Activities:

1. Students will become familiar with Routes North Site (click on Routes North quilt square)
2. Research Harriet Tubman:  Using vocabulary and information about Harriet Tubman, the student will create a crossword puzzle in Puzzlemaker.

     Informal Teacher Observation

• Student responses and participation
• Completed puzzle

     Language Arts:

• Listening/Speaking - 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15
• Reading Comprehension - 3.16,.3.18,. 3.20, 3.24, 3.28, 3.32, 4.20, 4.25, 4.26, 4.33, 4.39
• Reading Vocabulary - 3.38

• History - 3.39, 4.35, 4.38, 4.40, 4.41
• Civics  - 4.3, 4.6
• Geography - 3.29
• Study Skills - 4.43

     Language Arts:

• Speaking/Listening
• Literary Texts

• National Heritage/Cultural Contributions
• Movement of people within the United States
• Civil War Effects on American People
• Cultural Diversity
• Diversity in American Society

Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold
Underground Railroad Site:  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html
Mapping and Routes North Site:  http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/Greenway/leahy/ugrr/index.htm
Harriet Tubman Site:  http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/tubman.html
Puzzlemaker:  http://www.puzzlemaker.com
United States Map:  Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia "Underground Railroad"

Created By:

    Janet Mundell
    Mary DeBalski
    Cathy Lennon

Pleasant Valley Elementary
 
 
 

LESSON 1

LESSON 3

LESSON 4

LESSON 5