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US history is US history during every month of the year, however, every February, we take special note of the history of African Americans. This story of abolitionists and the additional challenges posed by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 should have students sitting on the edge of their seats. |
English/Language Arts
Explore lead paragraphs - setting the scene
Author Rappaport begins her Minute by setting the scene for readers. She is so specific, that you could draw a picture of the courtroom. Have your students draw the picture. Have them compare their pictures with each other. How similar are they? How different?
Explore observation and summary skills
Take the above skill a step further. Pair students and have one face the front and their partner face the back of the room with a piece of paper and a writing instrument. Hold up a piece of artwork (a poster from your old “Picturing America” set or display a piece of art on your whiteboard) and set your timer for two minutes. Have the viewing student explain what they see to the drawing student. At the end of two minutes have students line up with drawings and let describing students do a gallery walk as you display the original art to the students who could not see it while drawing. Switch places and do it again with a second piece of art. Close by having students discuss what would make them better describers. Repeat periodically to improve students observation and explanation skills.
Explore abolitionist writers
There is a serious connection between many of the great writers of the 19th century and the abolitionist movement - think Longfellow, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Louisa May Alcott. Have your students explore the abolitionist movement and the writers who shared their views through fiction , poetry, nonfiction, journals and songs (Julia Ward Howe).
Social Studies
Explore US History - 1850 Fugitive Slave Law
Slavery was an abhorrent institution and remains a shameful part of US history, but the Fugitive Slave Law amplified the social injustice while simultaneously making it impossible for people of conscience to ignore what was happening south of the Mason-Dixon line. Have your students explore the implication of this law - both its origin and eventual outcomes. Can they find evidence that the law actually ended the institution of slavery sooner, or did it stall the beginning of an inevitable Civil War?
Explore US History - Notable African Americans
Your students are most likely unaware of the accomplishments of lawyer Robert Morris. Have your students investigate his many accomplishments and find other notable African Americans who made positive contributions to our nation’s history during the challenging nineteenth century. Share findings and celebrate achievements.
Explore historical maps
Use this Minute to examine maps and identify slave states and free states, as well as length and possible routes of escape. Try out this National Geographic activity to explore further.
Research Skills
Explore triangulating information
Much information published on the internet is false or has only a shred of truth at its core. Yet students (and their teachers) read one thing and take it as fact. This is a good Minute to use to explore the importance of triangulating sources, a journalistic standard. There are many stories that exist about the Underground Railroad that are based in myth, not fact. Were quilts used to send secret messages about routes? Did the Quakers really start the Underground Railroad? Have your students find some interesting facts and then try to validate them through triangulation - finding the information in two additional locations.
Explore lead paragraphs - setting the scene
Author Rappaport begins her Minute by setting the scene for readers. She is so specific, that you could draw a picture of the courtroom. Have your students draw the picture. Have them compare their pictures with each other. How similar are they? How different?
Explore observation and summary skills
Take the above skill a step further. Pair students and have one face the front and their partner face the back of the room with a piece of paper and a writing instrument. Hold up a piece of artwork (a poster from your old “Picturing America” set or display a piece of art on your whiteboard) and set your timer for two minutes. Have the viewing student explain what they see to the drawing student. At the end of two minutes have students line up with drawings and let describing students do a gallery walk as you display the original art to the students who could not see it while drawing. Switch places and do it again with a second piece of art. Close by having students discuss what would make them better describers. Repeat periodically to improve students observation and explanation skills.
Explore abolitionist writers
There is a serious connection between many of the great writers of the 19th century and the abolitionist movement - think Longfellow, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Louisa May Alcott. Have your students explore the abolitionist movement and the writers who shared their views through fiction , poetry, nonfiction, journals and songs (Julia Ward Howe).
Social Studies
Explore US History - 1850 Fugitive Slave Law
Slavery was an abhorrent institution and remains a shameful part of US history, but the Fugitive Slave Law amplified the social injustice while simultaneously making it impossible for people of conscience to ignore what was happening south of the Mason-Dixon line. Have your students explore the implication of this law - both its origin and eventual outcomes. Can they find evidence that the law actually ended the institution of slavery sooner, or did it stall the beginning of an inevitable Civil War?
Explore US History - Notable African Americans
Your students are most likely unaware of the accomplishments of lawyer Robert Morris. Have your students investigate his many accomplishments and find other notable African Americans who made positive contributions to our nation’s history during the challenging nineteenth century. Share findings and celebrate achievements.
Explore historical maps
Use this Minute to examine maps and identify slave states and free states, as well as length and possible routes of escape. Try out this National Geographic activity to explore further.
Research Skills
Explore triangulating information
Much information published on the internet is false or has only a shred of truth at its core. Yet students (and their teachers) read one thing and take it as fact. This is a good Minute to use to explore the importance of triangulating sources, a journalistic standard. There are many stories that exist about the Underground Railroad that are based in myth, not fact. Were quilts used to send secret messages about routes? Did the Quakers really start the Underground Railroad? Have your students find some interesting facts and then try to validate them through triangulation - finding the information in two additional locations.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission
