The Underground Railroad

Introduction

The Underground Railroad was not actually a railroad.  It was a network of people who worked secretly to help slaves escape and travel safely to freedom.  Fugitives usually traveled secretly at night, and were hidden in safe houses, barns, and haylofts in the day.  Thousands of abolitionists, both black and white, risked their lives to operate the railroad.  The underground railroad operated for many years before and during the Civil War (1800s to the 1860s).

Task

With your partner, you will explore the Underground Railroad links and complete each task.  Consider this essential question:  What was the role of the Underground Railroad in the abolition of slavery?

After your research is complete, your group will create a project using technology, that you will then present to the class.  You will need to include at least 20 important facts.  Be sure to include important people, places, and dates where appropriate:

Process

EXPLORE:

  • As you perform each task, consider these questions:  
    • What are some of the hardest things about being a slave?
    • Describe the plantations. How is the slave housing different from the master’s?
    • Why did slaves runaway?
    • How did they escape?
    • How and when did they travel?
    • What were some of the methods they used to remain undetected?
    • Describe some of the routes they used.
    • Who were the people that helped them, and why?
    • Any additional information that you think is interesting and informative.

          

  • Look through the following vocabulary words to become familiar with words you may come across.

      https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/underground-railroad-vocabulary-guide/

  • Read through the documents on the following pages.  

            http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/children.htm

            http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/underground_railroad.php

  • Click through the following slideshow to learn about famous abolitionists. 

           http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/slideshows/safety_slides.htm

  • Watch the short video on Harriet Tubman.  Read the article. 

           http://www.biography.com/people/harriet-tubman-9511430?page=2#synopsis

  • Participate in this underground railroad journey.  Make sure to explore all the buttons for each picture. 

          http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/

DO:

As a group, create one of the following projects to present to the class on the underground railroad.  Include at least 20 important facts.  Be sure to include important people, places, and dates where appropriate:

Infographic:  https://piktochart.com/   

Mindmap:     http://popplet.com/    (include pictures)

ThingLink:    https://www.thinglink.com/?gclid=CKfY76SiuNICFZFcfgodan0EVQ

iMovie:         http://www.apple.com/imovie/

Collage:        http://www.fotor.com/features/collage.html

 

Evaluation

Evaluation

This is how your work will be evaluated.

  Needs Improvement

1		 Satisfactory

2		 Excellent

3		 Score

 
Using technology, create a project to share with the class about the Underground Railroad Student did not participate in helping team create a project. Student created a project, but did not use an approved tool. Student created a project using one of the tools provided.  
Identify significant people involved in the underground railroad. Student failed to identify significant people, places, and/or dates involved with the underground railroad and/or included less than 10 facts. Student failed to identify significant people, places, and/or dates involved with the underground railroad and/or included less than 20 facts. Student identified 20 facts, including significant people, places, and dates  
Following Instructions Student does not follow two or more of the directions. Student does not follow one of the directions. Student properly followed all instructions.  

Conclusion

Conclusion

The Underground Railroad was the term used to describe a network of persons who helped escaped slaves on their way to freedom in the northern states or Canada.  The Underground Railroad ran from the early 1800s to the 1860s

Credits

Teacher Page

Teacher Introduction

The goal of this WebQuest is intended for your students to explore the Underground Railroad.  At the end of the WebQuest they should be able to answer this essential question:  What was the role of the Underground Railroad in the abolition of slavery?