The U.S. Civil War 1B |Harriet Tubman, Part I 23

Extensions 20 minutes

Slavery and Freedom T-Chart

(Instructional Master 1B-1, optional)

Create a T-Chart on chart paper, a chalkboard, or a whiteboard.

Label one side “Slavery” and the other side “Freedom.”

Ask students to think about what they learned from the read-aloud

about slavery and the harsh lives the enslaved Africans led. Have

students share what they learned about Minty’s life and the lives

of other enslaved Africans. (Students’ responses should refl ect

an understanding that enslaved Africans were forced to work

diffi cult jobs that often required a lot of skill; they were not paid

for their work; they were not free to make their own decisions;

families were often broken up into different households on different

plantations; they helped each other so it made their lives less hard

and less sad; etc.)

Then, ask students to think of people who had freedom back then

(e.g., plantation owners) and people who have freedom now. Use

yourself, students, and students’ parents as examples. Ask: “Did I

get to choose my job? How about your parents? Am I paid for my

work? What are some freedoms you enjoy now? What freedoms

do you hope to enjoy as you get older?” Make sure you contrast

what is written on the “Slavery” side of the T-Chart.

Record students’ responses on the T-Chart. Tell students that

you are going to write down what they say, but that they are not

expected to be able to read all of what you write because they

are still mastering the rules for decoding. Emphasize that you are

writing what they say so that you don’t forget. Tell them that you

will read the words to them. Once the chart has been completed,

read it to the class.

Harriet Tubman, Part I

1 B