Activity Overview
There are many books related to Slavery in America that can help students better visualize and understand the time period. Some short picture books can be used as a whole class read-alouds, where other longer books can be used as longer novel studies. In this activity, students will create a plot summary of the book using visuals and descriptions. Students should describe the main events and details from the beginning, middle and end of the story in a narrative storyboard of about 6-8 cells using images and text to recreate scenes from the book.
Here are some examples of literature that relate to Slavery in America:
Grades 3-6
- Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
- Sojourner Truth's Stomp, Stomp Stride by Andrea Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
- Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by James Ransome
- Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
- Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, Illustrated by Bryan Collier
- Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
- Frederick Douglass: Words Set Me Free by Lisa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome
- The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom by Emily Arnold McCully
- Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
- What Was the Underground Railroad? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
- Who Was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
- Who Was Abraham Lincoln? by Janet B. Pascal
- If You Lived When there was Slavery in America by Anne Kamma, Illustrated by Pamela Johnson
Grades 6+
- Lest We Forget: The Passage from Africa to Slavery and Emancipation by Velma Maia Thomas
- Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley by Ann Rinaldi
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
- Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper
- Day of Tears by Julius Lester
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Summarize the story in a 4-8 cell storyboard describing the main events in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
Student Instructions:
- Read the story.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create a 4-8 cell storyboard with descriptions and illustrations showing the sequence of major events in the story.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events | Each of the cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. | One cell is out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or two or more cells are out of order. |
| Images | Cells include images that accurately show events in the story and do not get in the way of understanding. | Most images show the events of the story, but some are incorrect. | The images are unclear or do not make sense with the story. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions match the images and show the change over time. | Descriptions do not always match the images or mention the importance of the event. | Descriptions are missing or do not match the images. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is very difficult to understand. |
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