TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATED CLASSROOM

LESSON

Teacher
Charlene Coppadge

Title
“Take a journey on the Underground Railroad”

Description of Activity
Students will learn about the Underground Railroad; conductor, Harriet Tubman; and its
passengers.

Suggested grade level

Intermediate
Grade 6-8

Pennsylvania Subject Area Standards

• 1.2.8 Reading Critically in All Content Areas
• 1.4.8. Types of Writing
• 1.5.8. Quality in Writing
• 1.6.8. Speaking and Listening
• 1.8. 8. Research

NETS Standards
• Creativity and Innovation 1A & 1B
• Communication and Collaboration 2A & 2B
• Research and Information Fluency 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D
• Critical Thinking, Problem-solving and Decision-marking 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D
• Digital Citizenship 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D
• Technology Operations and Concepts 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D
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LESSON

Learning objectives
• Students will use vocabulary related to the Underground Railroad.
• Students will identify key facts related to the Underground Railroad.
• Students will blog their personal responses to the Underground Railroad after reviewing
website video.
• Students will make a judgment about the morality of the Underground Railroad by
blogging.
• Students will construct a Wordle using ten words which describe how a slave might have
felt while traveling the Underground Railroad.
• Student will make a Glogster based around the Underground Railroad and its conductor,
Harriet Tubman. Students will be asked to be creative using famous quotes, pictures and
personal narratives about the historical journey and its conductor.

Materials required
• twenty-five personal computers with headsets
• internet access
• writing utensils
• blog accounts
• Underground Railroad worksheet
• vocabulary words
• Webster’s dictionarys

Approximate number of class periods and length

This unit will be taught in approximately 7 days. One hour per class period to review and discuss
the main topic. Students’ blog accounts have already been set up. Students are familiar with
Wordle, Glogster and Wikispaces from previous units.

Classroom management strategies:

This unit will take place in the computer lab as well as in the classroom.

Warm up
Unit will take place during Black History month. Teacher will conduct open discussions with
students to find out what they may already know about the Underground Railroad. Students will
review list of vocabulary words which deal with the Underground Railroad. Students’ blog
accounts have already been set up. Students are familiar with Wordle, Glogster and Wikispaces
from previous units.
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LESSON

Activities/ Procedures
Day 1 – Students will have open discussion as to what they know about the Underground
Railroad. Students will be given a vocabulary worksheet for completion utilizing Webster’s
dictionary. Vocabulary words will be reviewed in class. Students will be instructed to review
vocabulary words each night in preparation for test at end of week.

Day 2 – Students will go to computer lab and visit www.freedomcenter.org/underground-

railroad/. Students will write down 3 facts that they learned while reviewing this site. Facts will
be placed on students’ individuals blogs.

Day 3 – Students will go to computer lab and visit interactive digital storytelling website
www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1a.html. After reviewing website, students will complete
the Underground Railroad worksheet. Vocabulary words will be reviewed in regular classroom.

Day 4 - Students will go to the computer lab. Students will construct a Wordle using ten words
which describe how a slave may have felt while traveling the Underground Railroad. Students
will have final review of vocabulary words in regular classroom.

Day 5 - Students will go to the computer lab and blog answering the following journal question:
If you had been a slave in the 1850’s, with all the risks involved, do you think you would have
had the courage to run away? Why or why not? Students will also utilize the classroom blog to
discuss the moral issues (i.e., right vs. wrong) that the Underground Railroad posed. Responses
must be answered in complete sentences. Students will be given vocabulary test in their regular
classroom.

Day 6 – Students will go to the computer lab. Glogster rubic will be review with students.
Students will create Glogsters on the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman.

Day 7 – Students will go to the computer lab. Students will finish up their Glogsters and present
them to class.
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LESSON

Assessment strategies
• Wordle rubic
• Journal/blog rubic
• Glogster rubic
• Glogster presentation rubic
• Vocabulary test-graded on 100 point scale
• Definitions -graded on 100 point scale
• Worksheet-graded on 100 point scale

Multimedia Project: Take a Journey on the Underground

Railroad
Teacher Name: Mrs. Coppadge

Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Glogster Product shows a Product shows some Uses other people's Uses other people's
large amount of original thought. ideas (giving them ideas, but does not
original thought. Work shows new credit), but there is give them credit.
Ideas are creative ideas and insights. little evidence of
and inventive. original thinking.

Glogster Interesting, well- Relatively interesting, Delivery not smooth, Delivery not smooth
Presentation rehearsed with rehearsed with a but able to hold and audience
smooth delivery that fairly smooth delivery audience attention attention lost.
holds audience that usually holds most of the time.
attention. audience attention.

Wordle All requirements are All requirements are One requirement More than one
met and exceeded. met. was not completely requirement was not
met. completely met.

Journal/Blog Covers topic in-depth Includes essential Includes essential Content is minimal
with details and knowledge about the information about the OR there are several
examples. Subject topic. Subject topic but there are 1- factual errors.
knowledge is knowledge appears 2 factual errors.
excellent. to be good.
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LESSON

Related Websites
www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/j1a.html
www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/kids
www.freedomcenter.org/underground-railroad/
www.library.thinkquest.org/J0112604/
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/
www.undergroundrailroad.com/
www.glogster.com
www.wikispaces.com

Back-up plan:
Students will write an essay as to what the Underground Railroad may have meant to freed
slaves. Read aloud book “Time for Kids: Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage”. School
library will be utilized to research books on the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman.

Branching out
Pair the below level students with the above level students and allow them to review the story of
the Underground Railroad in digital storytelling. Below level students will be allowed to work
with a partner to complete all worksheets. Below level students will be given additional time to
complete assignments whether in regular classroom or with respective learning support teachers.