The Underground Railroad Lesson 1 Sweet Clara and

The Underground Railroad Lesson 1 “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt” Learning Team C Yasheika Benford, Susan Highfield, Ryan Keller, Karla Lewis, and Shay Sing

by Deborah Hopkinson Students will read “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt”

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt Slaves in Virginia 1862 The book is the story of an African American girl's escape from slavery on a southern plantation.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt Slaves picking cotton before the Civil War At a very young age, Clara is taken from her mother and put to work on the cotton plantation.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt Harriet Tubman (far left) and family Like most slaves, Clara longs for freedom and, in her case, yearns to be reunited with her mother.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt When the rigors of cotton-field labor overwhelm Clara, a kindly woman she calls Aunt Rachel trains the girl to be a seamstress in the main house.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt Clara begins to put together a map-quilt, stitching in any information she learns from conversations about an escape route to Canada.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt Will the quilt help Clara escape to freedom and be reunited with her mother?

Quilt Project Identify landmarks in the story that Clara could use on her quilt Each student will create a quilt that describes the journey Clara might have taken Identify various uses for quilts and describe the significance of Clara’s quilt

The Underground Railroad Quilt Code Monkey Wrench Prepare the tools you’ll need for the long journey, including the mental and spiritual tools. Or (as a Ship’s Wheel), the pilot is prepared to begin the transport. Wagon Wheel Load the wagon or prepare to board the wagon to begin the escape. Bear’s Paw Take a mountain trail, out of view. Follow the path made by bear tracks; they can lead you to water and food. Bowtie Dress in a disguise, or put on a change of clothes.

The Underground Railroad Quilt Code Crossroads Refers to Cleveland, Ohio, a destination offering several routes to freedom. It also signifies reaching a point where a person’s life will change, so one must be willing to go on. Log Cabin A secret symbol that could be drawn on the ground indicating that a person is safe to talk to. It also advises seeking shelter. Shoofly Possibly identifies a friendly guide who is nearby and can help.

The Underground Railroad Quilt Code Flying Geese Points to a direction to follow, such as where geese would fly during spring migration. Drunkard’s Path Create a zig-zag path, do not walk in a straight line, to avoid pursuers in this area. Star Follow the North Star. Worked in conjunction with the popular song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd, ” a reference to the Big Dipper constellation.

Leaders of The Underground Railroad Levi Coffin (“President” of the Underground Railroad) http: //www. indianahistory. org/pop_hist/people/coffin. html http: //www. waynet. org/nonprofit/coffin. htm

Levi Coffin (1798 -1877) young Levi Coffin Mr. Coffin in his later years

Leaders of The Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman (“Moses” of the Underground Railroad) http: //www 2. lhric. org/pocantico/tubman. html http: //www. greatwomen. org/women. php? action=viewone&id= 159

Harriet Tubman (1820– 1913) young Harriet Tubman Mrs. Tubman in her later years

Would You Have Helped? Discuss whether you think you would have assisted in helping the slaves to freedom if you had been a free individual at that time. Consider the pros and cons of your decision, including the dangers for yourself if you decided to help. Are you sure? Read the text of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850: http: //www. usconstitution. net/fslave. html

The Slave Escape Route Play the following interactive game. . . Follow the journey of escaping slaves as they make their way through the Underground Railroad by clicking on this link: http: //www. nationalgeographic. com/railroad/j 1. html

Map of Escape Routes

How Did The Various People Work Together? The routes from safe-house to safe-house (houses where fugitive slaves were kept) were called 'lines'. Stopping places were called 'stations'.

How Did The Various People Work Together? Those who aided fugitive slaves were known as 'conductors'. In order to keep terms as clandestine as possible, the fugitive slaves were known as 'packages' or 'freight'.

Music of the Underground Railroad Slaves were told to "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (the Big Dipper) to freedom. Look at the lyrics to this spiritual in the link below and see if you can decode the directions contained within. http: //education. ucdavis. edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/ly rics_follow. htm Other slave songs include: Steal Away Songs mentioning Canada

Music of the Underground Railroad (cont. ) To listen to an example of the slave song, “Hoe Emma Hoe, ” click this link and press the “Music On” button: http: //www. history. org/history/teac hing/enewsletter/february 03/works ongs. cfm

Conclusion The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad. It was a complex network of individuals who worked together in secret to help slaves make their way to freedom. It was a process that required a coordinated effort from many brave people working together across the country to end unfair and cruel slavery practices.

References Colonial Williamsburg web site: Slave Work Songs. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http: //www. history. org/history/teaching/enewsletter/february 03/worksongs. cfm Hopkinson, Deborah. 1993. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Illustrated by James Ransome. New York: Alfred Knopf. Indiana Historical Society. 2006. Indiana’s Popular History: : Levi Coffin. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http: //www. indianahistory. org/pop_hist/people/coffin. html Info Please. 2007. Harriet Tubman. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6 th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. Retrieved March 11, 2007, from http: //www. infoplease. com/ce 6/people/A 0849622. html

References (cont. ) Levi Coffin House, State Historic Site. 1998 -2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http: //www. waynet. org/nonprofit/coffin. htm National Geographic web site. 2007. The Underground Railroad. The Journey. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http: //www. nationalgeographic. com/railroad/j 1. html Pocantino Hills School. 1998 -2007. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http: //www 2. lhric. org/pocantico/tubman. html Signs in Stiches and Song. 2003. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http: //www. teachersandfamilies. com/share/ugrr/clara. html

References (cont. ) Tobin, Jacqueline L. and Raymond G. Dobard. 1999. Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad. Doubleday Publishing. UGRR Menu Rail. No date. Music of the Underground Railroad. Follow the Drinking Gourd. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http: //education. ucdavis. edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/lyrics_follo w. htm U. S. Constitution Online. 2006. Fugitive Slave Act. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http: //www. usconstitution. net/fslave. html Women of the Hall. No date. Harriet Tubman. Retrieved March 13, 2007 from http: //www. greatwomen. org/women. php? action=viewone&id=159 Mrs. Sing's Third Grade Class Web site