Lesson: Underground Railroad / Lesson 3

Title: Underground Railroad / Lesson 3: Quilts

Type of teaching unit: Lesson Plan

Grade Level(s): 2^nd

Time Frame: 3 days

Subject matter: Social Studies

Teacher Information:

Charlotte Edwards
Officer Elementary School
AAM affiliation: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
cjeteach1@hotmail.com

Lesson plan description and rationale:

Students will identify and understand the symbolism in quilts. Students will understand the historical connections of quilts to the Underground Railroad. Students knowledge of vocabulary words will increase.

State Standards/s:

Social Studies Standards: A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation. 16.A.1a Explain the difference between past, present, and future time: place themselves in time. 16.a.1b Ask historical questions and seek out answers from historical sources (e.g., myths, biographies, stories, old photographs, artwork, other visual or electronic sources).

Fine Arts Standards: B. Apply skills and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one or more of the arts. 26. B.1d Visual Arts: Demonstrate knowledge and skills to create visual works of art using manipulation, eye-hand coordination, building and imagination.

Language Arts Standards: B. Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency. 1.B.1a Establish purposes for reading, make predictions, connect important ideas and link text to previous experiences and knowledge.

Objective:

Students will use the American Memory website to view quilts. Students will discuss the historical symbolism of quilts during the period of slavery and the Underground Railroad. Students will create a quilt of vocabulary words and images that are symbolic of the Underground Railroad that they have encountered by viewing the website.

Resources:

Johnson, Geraldine N.
Block quilt 1978. Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996. [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(br022))]
[afcqltbr br022] (April 2004).

Ludwig, Janet
Wyoming State Winner; All American Medley 1992
Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996 [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(le179))]
[afcqltle le179] (April 2004).

Clarke, Eileen Montana State Winner; Desert Storm 1992
Quilts and Quilt making in America: 1978- 1996
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(le012))]
[afcqltle le012](April 2004).

Denaxas, Pat
Illinois State Winner; Starlight, Starbright. 1992
Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(le007))]
[afcqltle le007] (April 2004)

Hegge, Ken
Oregon State Winner; How Far Willamette 1994.
Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lith (le094))]
[afcqltle le094] (April 2004)

Lee, Kathy
Washington State Winner: Marsh memories 1992.
Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(le104))]
[afcqltle le104]. (April 2004)

Greenhoe-Bergh, Eliza.
Vermont State Winner;
Faraway Farm 1939 Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(le178))]
[afcqltle le104] (April 2004)

Severt, Carrie
Star quilt, detail Quilts and Quiltmaking in America: 1978-1996
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/qlt:@field(DOCID+@lit(br097))]
[afcqltbr br097] (April 2004)

Underground Railroad Resources

Methods:

Anticipatory Set:

Students will review previous lessons of the Underground Railroad. Students will activate previous knowledge to discuss quilts. Students will discuss vocabulary words.

Students will complete cluster word web.

1. (1^st day) Students will view website to interpret a message in a quilt pattern.

2. (1^st day) Students will discuss and connect messages in a quilt to the Underground Railroad.

3. (2^nd day) Students will design symbols that are relevant to the Underground Railroad period.

4. (3^rd day) Students will create a class quilt that is reflective of the Underground Railroad.

5. (3^rd day) Students will discuss the significance of their quilt symbols to the Underground Railroad.

Evaluation:

Students will be able to identify and interpret messages in a quilt pattern. For example, students will identify stars as a symbol for the North Star that guided slaves freedom; bells that represented freedom and homes that were used as safe houses. Students will be able to make meaningful connections of the practice of quilting to the Underground Railroad. Students will understand that quilting served a purpose of communication with hidden escape messages for the Underground Railroad. Students will identify the hidden messages in quilts. Students will create a classroom quilt using symbols and vocabulary words that reflect the period of the Underground Railroad.

Keywords for this lesson:

quilt, secret, message, symbols, pattern, communication