FREEDOM QUILT WEBQUEST By Diana Bantel, Elaine Rehm, Andrea Roberts and Tina Weinraub

Introduction In the years before the Civil War, slavery for Black Americans was accepted as normal. There were many people, both black and white, who knew how wrong slavery really was. Although many enslaved people tried to escape from slavery and were successful, most chose not to run away. They stayed and suffered in silence. Not you!

You are sixteen years old. The year is 1856 You are sixteen years old. The year is 1856. You are one of the lucky ones. You have managed to escape to freedom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania via the Underground Railroad. Unfortunately, you had to leave your mother, father, and two little brothers behind in Georgia. You desperately want them to join you in Philadelphia.

Task Your task is to design a plan for their escape and travel to Philadelphia. The plan will be disguised in a quilt sent to your mother as a birthday gift. Shown in the squares of the quilt will be their escape route and the identity of individuals to assist them with their trip. You will need to decide what symbols you can put onto the quilt to either guide them along or help them avoid the many dangers on the way. Your goal is that your family will be able to follow your plan and join you in Philadelphia.

Process

Background To be able to design a quilt, your first step is to become familiar with the Underground Railroad and its connection to quilting. We will begin by reading and discussing the story, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, as a class. To help you understand the experiences of runaways, explore these websites and think about these questions. Why did the Underground Railroad develop? What were the major accomplishments of the Underground Railroad?

Research Websites Addy’s Escape to Freedom "The Underground Railroad" - National Geographic The Underground Railroad

Research You will work in groups of four to plan an escape for your family from Georgia north to freedom in Philadelphia. Each person will research a different part of the escape plan, then you will meet as a group, share what you have learned, and construct the escape. Since you will display the plan on a quilt, you will have to persuade your teammates to see the wisdom of your choice of what should be on the quilt. It will be your group’s task to show on the quilt the most appropriate route, the best “agents” to help in the escape, dangers to avoid along the way, and symbols and codes that may assist in the escape. You will present your quilt to the class and explain the reasons for each of your choices.

Geographer Plans the route, keeping in mind the terrain, weather, and distance. Assemble this information in bullet form on the data collection chart, then draw the route on a United States map, showing through which states the family will travel. You will need to print a copy of the U. S. map by clicking on the following link. Label the states involved in your route. 50 States Use this chart to record your information. Geographer's Data Chart #1421495

Geographer’s Research Websites Routes to Freedom Safe Passage Symbols of Freedom Map of U. S. with URR Routes Aboard the Underground Railroad: Map of Routes Mileage Calculator Aboard the Underground Railroad

Biographer Research “conductors”, “agents” or other people along the way who can help. You will need to find out the role they played in the Underground Railroad movement, where they can be located, and how they can help your family in the escape. Use the data collection chart to record your notes in bullet form. Biographer's Data Collection Chart #1421509

Biographer’s Research Websites Faces of Freedom Whispers of Angels Levi Coffin: President of the Underground Railroad National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: People

Symbologist Research symbols to be included on the quilt that will keep the family on the right track to freedom. On a data collection chart, tell what the symbols were, what they stood for and how they were used. Symbologist's Data Collection Chart #1421504

Symbologist’s Research Websites Did Quilts Hold Codes to the Underground Railroad? The Language of Quilts Underground Railroad Quilts—Secret Codes Underground Railroad Quilts and Abolitionist Fairs Symbols of Slavery Follow the Drinking Gourd

Scout The Scout alerts the passengers to possible dangers along the route. On a data collection chart, list the possible dangers, why they are dangers, and how you could avoid them. Scout's Data Collection Chart #1421493

Scout’s Research Websites Whispers of Angels (Scroll to treacherous terrain and lifesaving waterways) Secrets and Lies Symbols of Slavery Follow the Drinking Gourd The History Channel—Black History Month

The Quilt Meet as a group. Share the information you have found and as a group construct an escape plan including agents to help you, symbols, map with route, and dangers to be avoided. Decide which symbols, if placed on your quilt, would have the best chance of helping your family to safe passage to freedom. Each person in your group will draw and color their square of the quilt on an 18 x 24 “ piece of construction paper. Tape the four sections together and make a border around your quilt.

Presentation Present your quilt and its meaning to the class as an oral report. Use the information on your data collection chart to prepare your script. Each member of the group will speak about the square they researched and drew and how it fits into the escape plan.

Use this rubric to see how you will be graded. Evaluation Use this rubric to see how you will be graded. Evaluation Rubric #1423456

Conclusion Congratulations! Your mission was successful. You were able to help your family escape from slavery. They are now safe and able to enjoy freedom. While you were planning a journey and depicting that journey on a quilt, you were also developing and strengthening skills: locating information, comprehending data, and selecting appropriate details in order to complete your task. You learned the value of teamwork and the benefits of listening and sharing with your classmates and the satisfaction of accomplishment.

Slavery Slavery is a horrible condition and helping people to get out of slavery not only makes their life better, but also improves our world by eliminating a terrible injustice. Slavery still exists today. If you would like to find out more about slavery in the 21st. century and what you can do about it, look at the following websites: 21st Century Slaves Map Online Extra - How We Can End Slavery

Teachers Page Students pretend they are an escaping slave who wants to find the best route to freedom. They take the roles of biographer, geographer, symbologist and scout and work together to compile facts and create a quilt with symbols that will direct them to freedom. Audience: Grades 3-6 PA Standards Addressed : 8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development 8.1.3B, 8.1.3D 8.1.6A, 8.1.6B,8.1.6C, 8.1.6D 8.3 United States History 8.3.3A, 8.3.3B, 8.3.3C, 8.3.3D, 8.3.6A, 8.3.6B, 8.3.6C, 8.3.6D