Freedom Fighters
Throughout history, what Americans have helped expand people's rights and freedoms in a democracy?
Students - After we explore what it means to be free and how freedom can be taken from you, you may feel angry and sad. In this project it is your job is to learn about people in American History who were also angered by how freedom was taken away from people.
Overview
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As a class we will complete an activity about our freedoms.
- As a class we will read and discuss a poem about gaining freedom.
- Next you will work in groups of 2-3 students to research
and find important information about how different American people fought
for freedom. As a group you will also create a timeline about your person
and create a presentation to share what you learned.
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Finally you will individually complete a writing assignment about freedom.
Class Activities:
Opening
Activity: Freedom to choose what to play at recess.
- Open your slip of paper. You will find the activity you must play at recess today.
- Find other students who also have the same activity.
- Discuss as a group how fair it is for me to tell you what you must play at recess. Make two lists - one showing why it is not fair and one showing why it is fair.
- Groups will then share their reasons with the class and we will have a class discussion.
Runagate Poem
- The teacher will read the peom Runagate Runagate by Robert Hayden
- The class will discuss what they infer is happening in the poem. The teacher will provide background knowledge about slavery and the class will complete the Underground Railroad interactive activity together.
- The class will discuss; "Why was freedom important to the slaves?" "Why did they take such great risks to be free?" "Were there people to help them?" They will also discuss how the poem may have made them feel mad or sad.
After the opening and poem activities are completed by the class follow the flag to your first project!
Click on the flag