Harriet+Tubman+Reinforcing+Activity

//Teacher:// //Student://
 * Materials:**
 * Youtube video discussing the Harriet Tubman’s life
 * The book Harriet Tubman
 * Laptop for each student or computer lab access
 * Books on the Underground Railroad
 * Notebook Paper & Pencil

Students will compare the life of a slave during the Underground Railroad to their present day life. Students will write a two page reflection discussing the journey they experienced during the Underground Railroad exploration.
 * Objectives:**

This lesson could be used to open a unit on slavery, including the Underground Railroad and the influential people involved (Harriet Tubman).
 * Procedures:**

//Exploration/Introduction:// The teacher will read //Harriet Tubman//Youtube video that explains and depicts Harriet Tubman’s life. The video talks about the struggles Harriet faced while being a slave in the South. It also explains the courage Harriet faced to help and lead the creation of the Underground Railroad.

//Development:// After the 4 ½ minute film, the teacher will engage the students in discussion. The teacher will ask the students why Harriet Tubman is considered a historical hero, and why her actions were considered to be so challenging and dangerous.

//Expansion:// The teacher will explain to the students the environment that Harriet Tubman was living in, and how it is different to present day life challenges. The teacher will ask how they would of acted if they were in her shoes and how her obstacles are different then theirs. The teacher will then read Harriet Tubman, showing the students on a map where Harriet lived, and the journey she took to freedom in the North. The teacher will then discuss any vocabulary the students might be unfamiliar with (Underground Railroad, racism, runaway slave, Moses, and enslavement). The teacher will then discuss more about the Underground Railroad, and how it helped African-Americans escape from the south, and the influence Harriet had on it. The teacher will then have each student take out a laptop and go to either one of the following websites. The teacher will have students take out a pencil and notebook so they can record interesting facts and information they will gather through the internet activity. The teacher will explain to the students that both of these websites contain a virtual journey of the Underground Railroad, and that they will have to make decisions similar to those that a runaway slave would encounter. The students will pick which website they will use and they will complete the journey while writing down each decision they made and the different steps they went through in their journey to freedom.
 * http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/
 * http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/

Once the students complete the tour, they will discuss their experiences with the class. Students will then be given the opportunity to write down any interesting findings that any of their classmates found or experienced. Students can then write a one page reflection about their journey and what they learned through this activity.

Students will be given completion points for their notes they recorded while taking the virtual journey of the Underground Railroad.
 * Assessment:**

Students look up different places, houses, and locations that were part of the Underground Railroad, and their contributions to helping slaves reach freedom. They will write about the different places, and how they helped slaves.
 * Suggested Expansion Activities:**

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/ny1.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/tguide/4index.html
 * Additional References & Web Links:**