Curated OER
National Park Service: The Life of Frederick Douglass
Brief biography of Frederick Douglass with links to pictures and short biographies of his wife and children.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 19: Runaway Slaves
The Underground Railroad was a significant part of American History. It served as a lifeline to hundreds of slaves who risked their lives to escape the horrors of bondage. Through readings of primary sources and listening to music,...
Info Please
Infoplease: Timeline: Key Moments in Black History
A timeline of African-American history from when the first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619 up to the present.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Learning to Read" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
A learning module that begins with the poem "Learning to Read" by Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit:letter From Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman by Frederick Douglass
A learning module that begins with "Letter from Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman" by Frederick Douglass, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Underground Railroad" by Us history.org
A learning module that begins with "The Underground Railroad" by USHistory.org, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Operating the Underground Railroad
Read about the necessity for a loose organization such as the Underground Railroad. Click on "List of Sites" to find out about Underground Railroad stations across the north.
PBS
Pbs: Africans in America: Harriet Tubman (1820 1913)
Here is a brief article from PBS on the life and accomplishments of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who risked her life on several occasions to ensure the freedom of others. Links to a teacher's guide and primary sources are provided.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Introduction to the Underground Railroad
Ground level history of the necessary creation of the Underground Railroad. Young students will learn about slavery at an introductory level. A Sandstone Player extension activity is available.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Underground Railroad History of Slavery
Experience what it would be like be a slave seeking freedom by taking this journey on the Underground Railroad. Uses popups.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Harriet Tubman: Secret Messages Through Song
This ArtsEdge lesson, part of a larger unit about Harriet Tubman, not only teaches students about spirituals but effectively illustrates the struggle for freedom from slavery.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry
Selected (9) reading passages (grades 5-11) to pair with "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry. Number the Stars is historical fiction set during WWII in Nazi occupied Denmark. 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen risks her life to help the Rosens,...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Slavery in America
People enslaved Africans for their enforced labor from before America's founding until the end of the Civil War. Learn about the history of slavery, its effects on a budding nation, and the fight to abolish it. This collection includes...
Black Past
Black Past: Black Heritage Day Ii: Harriet Tubman (1821 1913)
A profile of Harriet Tubman, for a Black History calendar. Harriet Tubman fought tirelessly against slavery, and was responsible for rescuing over 300 slaves. She received many accolades and awards over the course of her long life.
Success Link
Success Link: Civil War 1861 1865
An eight-lesson unit on the Civil War using Patricia Beatty's young adult novel, Charley Skedaddle, as the unifying text. Geared mainly for middle school, but certainly has good information for high school students as well.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Escaping Slavery: Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Contains plans for three lessons that use the internet and the book Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson to learn about the Underground Railroad. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains...
Other
Presentations From the Life of Frederick Douglass
The actor Fred Morsell, a Frederick Douglass reenactor, provides plays about the 19th century civil rights leader as well as other resources about Douglass's life and work.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Britannica Kids: 300 Women Who Changed History: Harriet Tubman
Encyclopedia Britannica provides a biography of Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), an escaped slave from Maryland who later became one of the Underground Railroad's most famous "Conductors."
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad of the 1800's inspired talented writers of all ages. This lesson will integrate some of these famous writings to encourage students to develop their questioning techniques for analysis of literature while...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Underground Railroad, Route to Freedom
This activity will require the teacher and student to travel throughout the school and its buildings as they travel the underground railroad. As they travel they will stop at safe houses, rest and eat before they proceed finally crossing...
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: The Underground Railroad and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
This collection uses primary sources to explore the Underground Railroad and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Set includes an overview, primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Beloved is a novel inspired by the true story of Margaret Garner, who escaped with her family from slavery in Kentucky to freedom in Ohio in 1856.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: John Rankin and the Underground Railroad
Second graders will view background information on the Underground Railroad in Ohio and will read and discuss primary source letters and sermons by Rev. John Rankin on slavery.
Cengage Learning
Studying Harriet Beecher Stowe
This site is geared for teachers but also gives some good insight for students about studying the work of Harriet Beecher Stowe such as major themes, historical perspectives, personal issues, form, style, artistic conventions, audience,...