Activity 4 (4-5 class periods (40 minutes each))
Objective: Read and interpret a testimony from a former slave.
Respond to manuscript by creating a story book with illustrations that retells this story.
This manuscript was written from the perspective of an African American women who was reminiscing about a time when a spy (Abraham Lincoln) visited her master's plantation. She also discusses what happened during the Civil War and tells about when the Yankees hung her master to a tree.
Materials:
Introduction: Read a short book about slave life to the students and discuss how ending slavery prompted the Civil War.
Procedure: Together, read and discuss the Slave Narrative. Before reading, explain what a treasured primary source this is because all people who were slaves have passed away, and this manuscript is a way that history has been preserved so that today we can understand what it was like to be a slave and live through the war.
Then direct the kids to the Sequencing Worksheet. Instruct them and guide them to list the important events from the Slave Narrative from the beginning to the end.
Break the kids up into small groups (4 or so students per group). Explain that they'll create a story book telling and illustrating the story of "Abraham Lincoln the Spy." Be sure to give each of them a copy of the Storybook Guidelines and review it with them so they understand expectations.
Assessment: A lot of class time is needed for this activity so they can create a well constructed book. This project could be crossed with your English curriculum, putting into practice the writing process. A Storybook Assessment Rubric is available to help you grade.