Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky

by Faith Ringgold

Materials/Before Reading/During Reading /After Reading/Beyond Reading/About What You Read


Materials
Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold
paper
pencil
internet access
a printer

Before You Read
Complete one of the following activities before you read.

1.  Anticipation Guide
In this story, Cassie and her brother Be Be travel on the Underground Railroad.  What facts do you know about this railroad.  Print out the anticipation guide  and  answer the questions by agreeing or disagreeing with the statements.  After you have made your decisions read the information provided about the Levi Coffin House.  Complete your anticipation guide before reading the book.

2.  Quick Write
In this story Cassie and her brother Be Be go on an adventure on the historical Underground Railroad.  If you could choose anytime in history to go back and visit where would you go?  Who would you take with you?  Would you want to stay there?  Write a short story in your journals about your visit to the past.  Try to be as creative and factual as possible.
 

During Reading
Complete the following activity while you are reading.

Character Sketch
Write down the names of the major characters and any characteristics they have on the character sketch worksheet.  Get with a partner and compare your notes about the characters after each stopping point.  You and your partner will share your notes with the class.
 

After You Read
Complete one of the following activities after you have read the book.

1.  Sketch-to-Stretch
Think about what the story means to you.  What was the theme?  What concepts did you learn that were not specifically mentioned in the book.  Draw a picture of what the story means to you.  Please do not draw a picture of a character or your favorite illustration.   Try to be creative.  When you have finished write a one sentence description of your picture.

2.  Quiz
How much do you remember from the story.  Get with a partner and play the Underground Railroad game.  Use your knowledge from the book and your pre-reading activities to complete the game.  Make sure that you have your thinking caps on.

Beyond What You Read Activities
1.  Virtual Tour
Take an exciting virtual tour of the Underground Railroad.  Experience the same feelings the slaves did when they were running on the Underground Railroad.  Make the right choices, if you don't you will be caught by slave catchers.

2.  Definition of Freedom
The slaves who ran on the underground railroad dreamed of freedom.  What exactly does freedom mean?  Read through some of the definitions of freedom on the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center web site.  Write down your own definition of freedom and submit your definition to the web site.

About What You Read
 

  5 Points 3 Points 1 Point
Understanding  All activities show knowledge of the plot and extension activities Some of the activities show some knowledge of the plot and extension activities. Activities show very little knowledge of the plot and extension
Completeness Genuine effort put forth.  All of the assignments are completed. Some effort put forth.  Most of the assignments are completed. Very little effort put forth.  Very few of the assignments are completed.
Format Spelling and punctuation is correct with 0 to 2 errors.  The work is presentable and neat. Spelling and punctuation is mostly correct with 3 to 5 errors.  Most of the work is neat and somewhat presentable Spelling and punctuation are not correct.  The work is not neat and not presentable.

Cyberlesson Created by Erika Stewart