LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Would you have helped out?

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g68/railroad.html

A lesson plan for Grades 6–8 Information Skills, English Language Arts, Guidance, and Social Studies

Provider: National Geographic

About this resource

Appropriate grades
6–8
Provider
National Geographic

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Creative Commons License

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In this lesson from Xpeditions, students will investigate the dangers faced by escaping slaves and their helpers on the Underground Railroad. Pretending to live back in the time of slavery, students consider whether they would have helped the escaping slaves. Students will write conversations to friends explaining whether they will help on the Underground Railroad and describing the challenges and risks they might face.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 8

  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
    • Objective 4.01: Identify information needs and formulate questions about those needs.
    • Objective 4.03: Develop a search strategy which includes the continuous evaluation of the research process and the information gathered.
  • Goal 5: The learner will COMMUNICATE reading, listening, and viewing experiences.
    • Objective 5.03: Describe, support an opinion, and/or persuade an audience using a variety of media formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).
    • Objective 5.04: Collaborate with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify information problems and to design, develop and evaluate information products and solutions.

Guidance (2001)

Grades 6–8

  • Goal 7: Acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and interpersonal skills to help understand and respect self and others.

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 8

  • Goal 3: The learner will identify key events and evaluate the impact of reform and expansion in North Carolina during the first half of the 19th century.
    • Objective 3.04: Describe the development of the institution of slavery in the State and nation, and assess its impact on the economic, social, and political conditions.
  • Goal 4: The learner will examine the causes, course, and character of the Civil War and Reconstruction, and their impact on North Carolina and the nation.
    • Objective 4.01: Identify and analyze the significance of the causes of secession from the Union, and compare reactions in North Carolina to reactions in other regions of the nation.

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 8

  • Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives through analysis of personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
    • Objective 1.01: Narrate a personal account which:
      • creates a coherent, organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
      • establishes a point of view and sharpens focus.
      • uses remembered feelings.
      • selects details that best illuminate the topic.
      • connects events to self/society.
  • Goal 3: The learner will continue to refine the understanding and use of argument.
    • Objective 3.02: Continue to explore and analyze the use of the problem-solution process by:
      • evaluating problems and solutions within various texts and situations.
      • utilizing the problem-solution process within various contexts/situations.
      • constructing essays/presentations that respond to a given problem by proposing a solution that includes relevant details.
      • recognizing and/or creating an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.