The Underground Railroad
by Karen Beaty, Suzanne DeMaris, and Mindy Kusbel
 

    This webquest was designed for use with fifth grade students as a supplement to the study of slavery and the Underground Railroad. For hundreds of years African Americans lived, worked, and died in the Colonies and United States under the system of slavery.  Until President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, there was little hope of freedom for the slaves. The Underground Railroad was begun to provide safe passage for slaves escaping to the Northern States and Canada.
 
 

TASK
  Students will be divided into groups of 4 students
Each group member will choose a role  from the following list:
Conductor
Slave
Slave Owner
News Reporter
 
USE THE FOLLOWING SITES FOR YOUR RESEARCH
Aboard the Underground Railroad
The Slave Trade
Childhood slavery experiences
Buxton Historic Site & Museum
Diary of a Slave
Famous African Americans
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site
Lincoln-Douglas Debates/Map
Levi Coffin House
USA: Index on Abraham Lincoln
History Happens
A Biography of Fredrick Douglass
Harriet Tubman
Stephen Douglas Historical Site
Ohio's Underground Railroad to Freedom
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
 
THE PROCESS
For Teachers
For Students
 
EVALUATION
 
  Evaluation will be based on your individual role and the final group project.  Below is a rubric that explains expectations for individual roles.
 
 Individual Roles
50 points
40 points
30 points
Conductor 8 or more journey logs, 
and 
4 or more resources, 
and 
logs are written in realistic language of the time period with a  minimum 1 page entry per log with significant detail and description and few or no grammatical errors		 6 or more journey logs, 
and 
3 or more resources, 
and 
logs are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 1 page entry per log with significant detail and description and minimal grammatical errors		 5 or more journey logs, 
and 
3 or more resources, 
and 
logs with some detail and minimum 3/4 page entry per log with minimal grammatical errors
Slave
10 or more journal entries,
and
descriptive poem or song,
and 
4 or more resources,
and
entries are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 1 page journal per entry with significant detail and description and few or no grammatical errors
8 or more journal entries,
and
descriptive poem or song,
and
3 or more resources,
and 
entries are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 1 page journal per entry with significant detail and description and minimal grammatical errors
7 or more journal entries,
and 
descriptive poem or song,
and
3 or more resources,
and
entries are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 3/4 page journal  per entry with minimal grammatical errors
Slave Owner
10 or more journal entries,
and
summary of beliefs with supporting ideas,
and 
4 or more resources,
and
entries are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 1 page journal per entry with significant detail and description and few or no grammatical errors
8 or more journal entries,
and
summary of beliefs with supporting ideas,
and
3 or more resources,
and 
entries are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 1 page journal per entry with significant detail and description and minimal grammatical errors
7 or more journal entries,
and 
summary of beliefs with supporting ideas,
and
3 or more resources,
and
entries are written in realistic language of the time period with a minimum 3/4 page journal  per entry with minimal grammatical errors
News Reporter
 6 or more articles and pictures and ads/comics, 
and 
4 or more resources, 
and 
realistic language of the time period used in the newspaper, 
and 
a 3 or more page newspaper with few or no grammatical errors		 4 or more articles and use of a picture or ad/comic, 
and 
3 or more resources, 
and 
realistic language of the time period used in the newspaper, 
and 
minimum 2 page newspaper with minimal grammatical errors		 3 or more articles, 
and 
3 or more resources, 
and 
minimum 2 page newspaper 
with minimal grammatical errors
 
Group Project
All group members may not receive the same points for the group project.
Your points will depend on your participation in the project.
 
40
30
20
Skit
 Skit represents an event and uses language realistic to time period; Students are dressed in roles and are well prepared; All members participate and can be heard Skit represents an event and uses language realistic to the time period; Students are well prepared; All members participate and can be heard Skit represents an event during the time period; Students rely on a script during the skit
Mock Interview
 Reporter takes on the role of interviewer; Each role is represented in the interview; Answers to questions are based on research information; Students are dressed in roles and are well prepared; All members participate and can be heard Reporter takes on the role of interviewer; Each role is represented in the interview; Answers to questions based on research information; Students are well prepared; All members participate and can be heard Reporter takes on the role of interviewer; Each role is represented in the interview; Answers to questions based on research information; Students rely on notes; All members participate and can be heard 
Diorama
 Each member creates a diorama representing a scene or event realistic to the time period; A written and oral explanation accompany the diorama; Dioramas are neat and show evidence of time and effort spent; Oral presentation thoroughly discusses diorama and gives background information and facts learned in unit; Students dress in roles or as characters in the dioramas Each member creates a diorama representing a scene or event realistic to the time period; A written and oral explanation accompany the diorama; Dioramas are neat and show evidence of time and effort spent; Oral presentation thoroughly discusses diorama and gives background information and facts learned in unit Each member creates a diorama representing a scene or event realistic to the time period; A written and oral explanation accompany the diorama; Dioramas are neat and show evidence of time and effort spent
Slide Show
 Members create a slide show representing  scenes or events realistic to the time period; Written captions accompany each slide and an oral explanation will be given during the presentation; Slides are neat and show evidence of time and effort spent; Oral presentation thoroughly discusses slides and gives background information and facts learned in unit; All members participate; Minimum of 25 slides; Students dress in roles or as characters in the  slide show Members create a slide show representing  scenes or events realistic to the time period; Written captions accompany each slide and an oral explanation will be given during the presentation; Slides are neat and show evidence of time and effort spent; Oral presentation thoroughly discusses slides and gives background information and facts learned in unit; All members participate; Minimum of 20 slides Members create a slide show representing  scenes or events realistic to the time period; Written captions accompany each slide and an oral explanation will be given during the presentation; Slides are neat and show evidence of time and effort spent; Oral presentation thoroughly discusses slides and gives background information and facts learned in unit; All members participate; Minimum of 16 slides
 
CONCLUSION

    The Underground Railroad saved many enslaved African Americans from the harsh realities of slave life. The freedom of even one slave was worth the risks encountered by the conductors.  The conductors and passengers of the Underground Railroad need to be commended for their bravery in trying to undo this grave, social injustice.