Teacher Directions

Slavery in America

A mobile device project

Benchmark:

SS.8.A.4.11 – Examine the aspects of slave culture including plantation life, resistance efforts, and the role of the slaves' spiritual system.

Florida Standards

LAFS.RH.6-8.7- Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

LAFS.RH.6-8.8- Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.

LAFS.RH.6-8.1 -Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.

Essential Questions:

1. Explain how the slaves’ spiritual system was a form of rebellion.

2. How did plantation life influence African American culture in America?

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore the issues of slavery in America from 1790 through 1860. Students will examine the economics, politics, culture, and harsh realities that slaves faced in Southern plantations. By examining primary sources and literature they will be able to see slavery from a personal perspective. This will culminate in the creation of a personal narrative through a Paper Slide video,which explores the issue of slavery from aunique perspective.

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Step 1: Group and Topic Selection

  1. Group the students in pairs.
  2. Students are to view the videos on the history channel website, in order to gain knowledge about slavery and plantation life.
  3. Explain to the students that the videos are no more than 5 minutes long and they must view each of the videos that are part of the video list.

Video List

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Ain’t I a Woman?

Frederick Douglass

Origins of Slavery in America

  1. Explain to the students how to access the videos on the history channel website. See step by step instructions below.
  1. Videos can be accessed by clicking on the link:
  1. Once the History Channel websiteopens up with the title Slavery in America, scroll down until you see the subtitle VIDEOS on the left side of the screen. –Image below

c. Place the cursor under a video and when it changes to a pointer finger, you can then swipe to the left and the other videos will appear that are not visible on the screen. –Image below

d.Remind the students that they are watching these videos to help them decide which topic they will be focusing on for their Paper Slide video. The topics they will be choosing from are Plantation Life, Slave Resistance Efforts, and The Slave Spiritual System. You can give a brief synopsis of each topic, in order for the students to gain a clear understanding of what they will be looking for when they view the videos.

e.Explain to the students that as they watch the videos they must take individual notes on each of them. Have the groups answer the following questions as they discuss the content of each video.

  1. What universal themes are explored in the video?
  2. What are some keywords that describe the theme of the video?
  3. What emotions does this video bring forth in viewers?
  4. Which of the three topics does the video address?

f. After the students have done some research they must select a topic form the list:

  • Plantation Life
  • Slave Resistance Efforts
  • Slave Spiritual System

STEP 2: Conduct Research

  1. After the students have selected a topic they must conduct research.
  1. They can use the following websites to help them with the research.
  • Plantation Life:
  • Slave Spiritual System:
  • Slave Resistance Efforts:
  • Slave Resistance Efforts:
  1. Explain to them that they are to take notes on important issues, events and cultural trends that they may want to highlight in their paper slide presentation.

STEP 3: Paper Slide Presentation

1. Explain to the students that a Paper Slide video requires them to make a movie using paper that they have systematically placed in order to portray their story. They must plan and practice how they will slide the paper to make their video.

  1. Let the students know that the link gives them a step by step process, an outline, and a how to video on the making of a paper slide video.
  1. Remind the students that they will use the notes obtained from the questions on Step 1 and 2to help them get organized create a script, art work and make the video.
  2. Have the students download the paper slide planning sheet that is on the video link to help them organize their presentation.

STEP 4: Paper Slide Presentation

  1. Have students present paper slide presentation to the class. See rubric below for project expectations.

Paper Slide Rubric
Beginning 1 / Developing 2 / Very Good 3 / Exemplary 4 / Score
Introduction Slide / Missing the presentation title, student’s name, teacher’s name, and illustration. / Includes the presentation title, student’s name / Includes the presentation title, student’s name, teacher’s name / Includes presentation title, student’s name, teacher’s name, and illustration. / 30%
Background/ Foundational Information / Answered one questions. / Answered three questions. / Answered all five questions. / Answered all five stated questions AND brought in additional research. / 30%
Does each slide provide related illustrations that explain the story? / Illustrations are disorganized and have nothing to do with the storyline. / Illustrations are disorganized but somewhat have to do with the storyline. / Illustrations are organized but do not flow with storyline. / Illustrations are organized and exactly tell the storyline that you are trying to portray. / 40%
Total Score: 100%