T3 G6 Reading W2

JOURNEY TO
FREEDOM
 Genre Focus:
 HISTORICAL FICTION
 Historical fiction often contains information about real
events in history.
 We will read historical fiction texts that focus on being
faced with hardships or struggles.
 We will explore what it means to have personal strength
and will also talk and write about this concept.

 We will read a story about the risk and personal strength

required of people involved in building the
Transcontinental Railroad.
Features of historical fiction:
 It is set in an actual place and time in history

 Itincludes characters who face problems that real

people had in the past

 Itmay include dialect, or an informal way of

speaking
Essential Question:
  How do people show inner strength?

Inner strength differs from physical strength.

It involves the inner makeup of a person
rather than muscles
Vocabulary:
Adages and Proverbs
  What words and sentences on page 35 help you
understand the meaning of the adage, “Patience is
bitter, but its fruit is sweet?”
Abby is fretful and anxious and wishes that she could be
calm like her mother had been and tried to teach her to be.
This text evidence helps explain that the adage means that
patience is difficult but has good results.
 Paragraph 1:

Skill: Cause and Effect

  What is the reason there are only two guests at the
door instead of four?

The letter Nellis presents helps me understand that the two

companions they were supposed to travel with are sick.
Jacob doesn’t have room for Nellis and Emma to wait
until their companions are better. As a result, Nellis and
Emma traveled alone.
 Paragraph 1:

Character, Setting, Plot:

 When and where does the story take place?
The story takes place in 1851 on a farm in Massachusetts
—a station on the Underground Railroad.

 Who are the characters?

Abigail, a 12-year-old girl, her father, and two runaway
enslaved Africans— Nellis and Emma. 
 Page 35:

 How does Abby’s fear contribute to the plot?

Abby’s fear tells readers that she and her father, as well as
the guests, are in a very dangerous situation. It is also
unclear how Abby and her father will be able to help the
runaways, or if Nellis and Emma will eventually escape to
freedom. 
Spotlight on Language
 Who is speaking?  (Abigail) 
 What does the word fretful mean?
fretful means “anxious” or “worried.”
 What does the phrase, “my heart took to pounding.” mean?
 it means Abigail’s heart was beating fast because she was
nervous.
 Why was Abigail nervous? 
There was a sudden knock on the door.
 P. 36–37

Strategy: Make Predictions

 Do you think a doctor will help? Explain your
prediction.

 I predict that a doctor will not help. Based on the

introduction, I know that trying to escape slavery on the
Underground Railroad was dangerous. The fact that Abby
was so nervous in the beginning of the story supports that.
I predict that Papa will not call a doctor because it was too
risky. 
 Paragraphs 3–7:

 Why does father scold Abigail? 

because she pleads with him to call a doctor to help Nellis

 What other things does Abby say and do that

reveal her anxiety? 
She feels like fainting when father tells her to find herbs.
She keeps rehearsing Emma’s words so she won’t forget
what the herbs look like.
 Paragraphs 8–9:

 How does Abby feel about her meeting with Mr.

Carrington?
nervous, scared

 What evidence supports your response?

“Once he’d nodded and continued on, I commenced to
breathe again.”

 Why does Abby tell Mr. Carrington that the herbs were
for a cake?
She remembered her father said not to rouse suspicion, so
she makes up a believable story.
 Paragraphs 8–9
Literary Elements: Dialect
 What does Abigail give Mr. Carrington?
a sprig of mint
Why? 
possibly to distract Mr. Carrington or to show him how calm
and collected she is
 How does he react?

He nods his thanks and moves on.

 How does this interaction help you figure out who “the
Missus” is? 
Because Abby talks about her mother’s cake recipe calling for
mint and gives him a sprig of mint “for the Missus,” I can
determine that “the missus” is Mr. Carrington’s wife.
 Paragraph 1:

 What is Emma’s reaction to the herbs that Abby

brought back? 
She smiles and shows her approval, especially of the mint
Abby brought back.

Do you think that the tea will work? Why or why not? 
Emma is knowledgeable about herbs that cure illness, and
so the fact that she is impressed with Abby’s harvest
makes me think that the tea will work.
 Paragraph 1:

 What do Emma and Abby talk about? 

They talk about their worries.
 What does Abby realize by listening to Emma talk
about slavery?
She realizes that Emma’s worries are much scarier than
hers.
 What words tell you that the conversation changes
Abby’s outlook?
The words “thanked Emma for aiding me so in my own
journey” tell me Abby feels she can overcome her grief
and handle her problems.
 Spotlight on Language

 What context clues help you determine the meaning of

pledged?
The words “infinite gratitude” tell me that pledged must
mean “declared.”

What do you think it means to “voice” something? (to

say it) 

How you might voice your worries?

 Some information about the
Underground Railroad
 The Underground Railroad was an informal network of
secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved Africans
in the 19th century to escape bondage in the United
States.
 Sympathizers all along the route aided the fugitives and
took great risks to help them escape to Canada.
 The Underground Railroad was at its height between
1850 and 1860.
 Paragraph 1:

Authors of historical fiction often

use words from the time period of
the story.
 What does afore mean?
“before”; Abigail hears choked coughing before she enters
the attic.

 Whattime-order phrases help put events in sequence?

“Come morning,” “Once inside”
 WORDS IN CONTEXT

stoop
If you sit on a stoop, you are on a platform with steps at a
building's door.

disposed
If you are disposed to do something, you are inclined to
do it.

eavesdropping
Someone who is eavesdropping is listening to other
people's conversations without their knowing it.
 Paragraph 1:

retaliation
When you do something in retaliation, you strike back to
try to get even.

undaunted
Someone who is undaunted is unafraid.

fortitude
If you have fortitude, you have mental strength.
 Paragraph 1:

rigors
When you deal with the rigors of harsh weather, you cope
with extreme conditions.

infinite
Something that is infinite is endless or without limit.
 Paragraph 1: