UndergroundRailroad

UbD Planner Template

United States citizens enjoy tremendous freedoms. All people have basic human rights which should be respected. || ** Essential Questions **How were escaped slaves seeking freedom assisted in their journey from South to North? What is freedom? What are human rights? ||
 * **Standards Met** ||
 * ** Enduring Understandings **The Underground Railroad was a network of people who sheltered runaway slaves as they traveled from slave states towards free states and territories.
 * ** GRASPs Task **

Goal: Students will empathize with the flight to freedom of a runaway slave in mid-nineteenth century United States.

Role: Students read one of two fictional books about the Underground Railroad. Students read additional factual materials about the Underground Railroad. Students write about a secret location on the underground railroad and describe the guardian of this safe haven. Students provide feedback through blog comments on the writing of other students.

Audience: Fourth grade students will connect with other elementary schools interested in the Underground Railroad.

Situation: Students connect their classroom learning with other classroom learners through the use of blogs and Google Maps.

Performance/Product: Students will write a narrative describing one night spent in a shelter on the Underground Railroad. Student narratives will be posted on a blog for comments by teachers and peers. One or more student narratives will be placed on a location on a shared Google Map. Students will identify a Freedom Trail by linking safe havens described by collaborators in other school. || ** 6 Facets of Understanding **

Explain: Why would you assist a runaway slave?

Interpret: Was it right to assist a runaway slave when the law said it was wrong?

Apply: Are there ever times when rules can/should be broken? At school? At home?

Have Perspective: How are we in a position today to be helpful to others with fewer rights?

Empathize: How would you feel if you were a slave escaping an "owner?" How would you feel when you met someone helpful on the underground railroad?

Self Knowledge: What freedoms do you have? What limits do you have? When are you compassionate and helpful to others? ||
 * ** Building Understanding ** ||