Some enslaved people decided to run for their liberation. Using lyrics of songs they sang, young historians look at these anthems of freedom. An assessment asks them to write the story of escape from the perspective of an enslaved person. 

Concepts

the underground railroad, slavery, slave narratives, fugitive slaves, primary source analysis, primary sources, american music, african american history

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the lesson as a introduction to a unit on the Underground Railroad

Classroom Considerations

• Learners must be able to listen to the songs mentioned, which are available on a two-CD set
• Fourth in a set of six lessons on the lives of enslaved people and music

Pros

• Lesson integrates a variety of primary sources not typically used in history classes
• Prompts and rubrics make the activities easy to implement

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.9-10.3.a W.9-10.3.b W.9-10.3.c W.9-10.3.d W.9-10.3.e RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.3 RH.9-10.4 RH.9-10.10