Prior knowledge is key when starting any novel unit, but it's essential before introducing Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Three lessons provide primary documents, historical discussions, and extended reading activities that keep learners knowledgeable and engaged throughout the novel unit.

Concepts

uncle tom's cabin, harriet beecher stowe, slavery, novels, guided reading

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Project the runaway slave posters onto the board as class members walk in, and have them journal their reactions to the images
• Allow literature circles to choose their own assessment methods from the second lesson

Classroom Considerations

• Though the resource is designed to provide prior knowledge about the 1850s, learners should have some understanding and sensitivity about the nature of slavery
• The first unit of three, each of which has three parts; navigate the links at the top and side of the page for the rest of the lessons
  

Pros

• Includes a wealth of auxiliary materials and lessons
• Builds historical facts and research into a pre-study of Stowe's characters
• The questionnaire is an applicable resource for any primary source document 

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.9-10.1 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.10a RL.11-12.1 RL.11-12.2 RL.11-12.3 RL.11-12.10a RH.9-10.1 RH.11-12.1