Grade Level
Year/Grade 11 (Age 16-18)
Academic Subject
English as Second Language
Lesson Duration
30 Minutes
Objective
Students will understand how the Gospel was used to aid slaves in their escape via the Underground Railroad.
Materials Needed
- "Go Down, Moses" by Paul Robeson (song)
- "Letters from a Slave Girl" by Mary Lyons (book)
- Map of the Underground Railroad
Procedure
- Introduction (5 minutes)
- Greet the class and give necessary instructions.
- Ask students if they have heard of the Underground Railroad and if they know how it worked.
- Explain that the Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves in the 1800s to escape to freedom in the northern states or Canada.
- Explain to students that the Gospel played a big role in the Underground Railroad and that we will be exploring how it was used.
- "Go Down, Moses" (10 minutes)
- Play the song "Go Down, Moses" by Paul Robeson.
- Ask students to listen carefully to the lyrics.
- After the song, ask students for their thoughts and interpretations.
- "Letters from a Slave Girl" (10 minutes)
- Introduce the book "Letters from a Slave Girl" by Mary Lyons.
- Read a brief excerpt that references the Gospel.
- Ask students to share their thoughts.
- Map of the Underground Railroad (5 minutes)
- Show the class a map of the Underground Railroad.
- Explain how the network worked and point out any areas where the Gospel was particularly important.
- Conclusion (5 minutes)
- Recap the main points from the lesson.
- Ask students if they have any questions or comments.
- Thank the class and dismiss them.
Assessment
- Students will be assessed based on their participation in the class discussion and their understanding of the role of the Gospel in the Underground Railroad.