3rd–5th Grade Objectives

• ReadingandlisteningtoastoryaboutHarrietTubmanandhercontributionstoAmericanhistory

• ResearchingandidentifyinganAfricanAmericanhero’sachievementsandpresentingthisinformationtotheclassorallyandinwriting

Materials Needed• “AWomanCalledMoses”Readers’TheaterScript• “AWomanCalledMoses”comprehensionquestions• Chartpaper(optional)• Markers• “HallofFame”frame• Scissors

Preparation

Makeacopyofthe“AWomanCalledMoses”Readers’TheaterScriptforeachstudent.

Introduction

RemindstudentsthatFebruaryisBlackHistoryMonth,whichcelebratesthemanypositivecontributionsofAfricanAmericansthroughouthistory.Tellstudentsthatyouwouldliketoshareastoryofonesuchperson,HarrietTubman.

Procedure

1. Distributethecopiesof“AWomanCalledMoses”tostudents.Youcanalsocutapartthecomprehensionquestionsandpassoutonequestiontoeachstudent.Encouragestudentstothinkaboutthequestionsasyoureadthescripttogether.

2.Invitestudentvolunteerstoreadthedifferentcharacters’partsaloudastherestoftheclassfollowsalong.

3.EncouragestudentstosharewhattheylearnedaboutHarrietTubman.Togetstarted,youmaywanttopromptstudentswiththecomprehensionquestions.Writestudents’responsesonchartpaperortheclassroomboard.

•Whyisthestorytitled“AWomanCalledMoses”?Whatisthewoman’srealname,andwhyisshecalled“Moses”?

•WhatdoesHarrietmeanwhenshesays,“Mytrainhasnevergoneofftrack”?Isshetalkingaboutanactualtrain?Explain.

•WhydidHarrietpretendtobereadinganewspaperwhenshecouldnotreadaword?

•DoyouthinkCatoandBessiewillmakeittofreedom?Whyorwhynot?

•HowdoyouthinkHarrietfeelswhenshehelpspeopleescapetheirlivesofslavery?

4.AskstudentstoexplainwhyHarrietTubmanwasanAmericanhero.

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5.Explainthatheroesarenotalwaysfamous.Peoplewhomakepositivecontributionssometimesbecomefamous—butmanyotherheroesdonot.

Independent Practice

1. ChallengestudentstodoanInternetsearchfor“AfricanAmericanheroes”or“AfricanAmericanachievements.”AskthemtochooseandresearchanAfricanAmericanwhohasmadeapositiveimpactinscience,history,sports,music,artormedicine.Encouragestudentstoseekoutlesser-knowncontributorsaswellasfamiliarones.Remindthemthattheideaistoeducatetherestoftheclassaboutapersonorachievementstudentsmaynotknowabout.

2.Giveeachstudenta“HallofFame”frame.Thenhavestudentsdrawapictureoftheirpersoninsidetheframeandrecordinformationaboutthisperson’slifeandcontributionsbeneaththepicture.StudentscanalsodownloadapictureofthepersonfromtheInternet,printitoutandthencutitout.

3.Invitestudentstogiveabriefpresentation(1–3minutes)onthepersontheychose.Displaytheir“HallofFame”projectsonabulletinboardinhonorofBlackHistoryMonth.

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Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Characters:

Narrator

Harriet Tubman

Cato: (whispering)Bessie,I’mscared.

Bessie: (whispering)Iknow,Cato.Butwe’regoingtobeallright.Evenbetter—we’regoingtobefree!

Narrator: Althoughshetriedtosoundbraveforherlittlebrother’ssake,Bessiewasactuallyveryfrightened.Thetwoslaveshadrunawayfromtheirplantationatdusk.Aftersloggingthroughmilesofmarshyland,theywerenowcrouchedbeneathsomebushes,tryingtocatchtheirbreath.

Cato: Bessie,whatwillhappentousifwe’recaught?

Bessie: Youknowwhatwillhappen!They’llbeatusandwhipusuntilwecan’tstanduponourownfeet.ButI’mnotgoingtoletthemcatchus.I’lldiebeforeI’llgoback!

Cato: Shh!Iheardogs!

Narrator: BessieandCatoheldtheirbreathandlistenedtothebayingofthehounds.Theycouldheartheirownerandtheoverseershouting.Werethesoundsgettingcloser?Wouldthedogsfindthem?Theytrembledinterror.Atlast,thesoundsgrewquieterandthenfadedaway.

Bessie: Ithinkthey’vegoneaway.PraisetheLord!

Cato: Whydidn’ttheyfindus?Mr.JimalwayssaidhishoundshadthebestnosesinthewholeSouth!

Bessie: Thosedogsmighthavethebestnoses,buttheydon’thavethebestbrains!Wefooledthembywalkingupthatcreek.Theycouldn’tsmellourtrailinthewater.That’swhythatsongaboutthedrinkinggourdsays,“Theriver’sbankisamightygoodroad.”

Cato: Whatwillwedonow?

Bessie: We’regoingtodojustlikethesongsaysandfollowthedrinkinggourdtofreedom!

Narrator: Pointingupatthenightsky,BessieshowedCatohowtofindtheconstellationthatpeoplecalledtheDrinkingGourd.

Bessie: Itlookslikeabigwaterdipper,see?Lookatthetwostarsthatmakethefrontedgeofthedipper.Followthelineofthosestarsuntilyouseeanotherlittlestar,shiningallbyitself.

Cato

Bessie

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Cato: Iseeit,rightthere!

Bessie: That’stheNorthStar.Rightnow,it’sshiningonslaveswhohavealreadymadeitnorthtofreedom.Andwe’regoingtomakeit,too.Thatstarisgoingtoshineonusandshowustheway.

Narrator: Allthroughthatlongwinternight,CatoandBessiekeptheadingnorth,runningwhentheycould,walkingwhentheycouldn’t,andrestingonlywhentheyhadto.Theywantedtogetasfarawayaspossible.Bythetimetheskybegantolighten,theywereexhaustedandhungry.

Cato: I’msotired,Ican’twalkanotherstep.

Bessie: Look!There’sahouseupahead.Maybewecangethelpthere.

Cato: Howdoweknowthey’llhelpus?Whatiftheytieusupinsteadandtakeusback?

Bessie: We’lllookforasign.Ifthere’salanternhangingonahitchingpost,thatmeansit’ssafe.

Narrator: Keepingtotheshadowsofthetreesbytheroad,BessieandCatowalkedclosertothehouse.

Bessie: Doyouseeahitchingpostanywhere?

Cato: Yes!Thereitis—andthere’salanternhangingonit!

Narrator: Theycreptuptothedoorjustasthesunpeekedoverthehorizon.Bessieknockedcautiously,prayingthatthelanternreallywasasignal.Frominsidethehouseavoicecalled,“Who’sthere?”Foramoment,Bessiewasn’tsurehowtoanswer.Thensherememberedwordsshehadheardinwhisperedconversationsaroundtheslavequarters.

Bessie: Afriendofafriend!

Harriet Tubman: Thencomein,friend,andfindafriend!

Narrator: Thedooropenedtorevealasmallblackwoman.Behindherstoodaplainlydressedwhiteman,theownerofthehouse.BessiecouldseefromhisclothingthathewasamemberoftheReligiousSocietyofFriends,sometimescalledQuakers.ShehadheardthatQuakersdidn’tbelieveinslavery,andtheyoftentriedtohelprunawayslaves.

Harriet Tubman: Comeinquickly!Slavecatchersoftenpassthisway,andyoumustnotbeseen!

Bessie: Thankyou!MybrotherandIareverygrateful.Weonlyneedalittlefoodandaplacetotakearest,andthenwe’llbeonourway.Wedon’twanttoputyouindanger.

Harriet Tubman: I’mnotafraidofslavecatchers!Anddon’tyouworry—mytrainhasnevergoneofftrack,andI’veneverlostapassengeryet!

Narrator: BessieandCatoglancedateachothernervously.Whatwasthiswomantalkingabout?

Bessie: I’msorry,butIdon’tunderstand.Whattrain?Whattrack?

Harriet Tubman: Why,I’mtalkingabouttheUndergroundRailroad,ofcourse!I’myourconductor,andyoucancallme“Moses.”

Narrator: CatoandBessiestaredatthewomaninconfusion.

Cato: Undergroundrailroad?Youmean,therearetraintracksbeneaththishouse?

Harriet Tubman: (laughing)No,no!Therearenotrackshere.

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Bessie: Wait—I’veheardsometalkaboutthis!Theundergroundrailroadisn’treal.It’sacodewordforpeoplewhohelprunawayslaves.

Harriet Tubman: That’sright!Usingcodewordshelpsuskeepthesecret.Wecallsafehouseslikethisone“railwaystations,”andFriendGriffinhereisa“StationMaster.”Runawaysare“parcels”or“passengers.”Peoplelikemeare“conductors.”

Cato: NowIunderstand!

Harriet Tubman: You’reaquickone—andaluckyone,too.Yousee,I’mwaitingtoconductfourpassengerstothePromisedLand.Theyshouldbeheretonight.Ifyoucanwaituntilthen,I’lltakeyoualong.

Bessie: ButIthoughtthePromisedLandmeant“heaven.”

Harriet Tubman: ThePromisedLandisourcodeforCanada,acountryfartothenorthofhere.InCanada,slaveryisillegal.Onceyougetthere,you’llbefree!

Narrator: BessieandCatoagreedtowaitandjointheotherpassengersontheUndergroundRailroad.Mr.Griffingavethemfoodandthentookthemtothebarnwheretheycouldhideandrest.Theycrawledintothesweet-smellinghayandwereasleepalmostinstantly.Butitseemedlikenotimebeforetheywereawakened.

Harriet Tubman: Cato,Bessie,wakeup!I’vebroughtyousomesupper.Youneedtoeatnowandgetreadytogo.Theothersarehere,andwe’llbeleavingatsundown.

Cato: Thankyou,Moses.

Bessie: That’snotreallyyourname,isit?

Harriet Tubman: No,myrealnameisHarrietTubman.I’mcalledMosesbecauseIleadmypeopletofreedom!

Cato: YoumustbeverybravetocomebacktotheSouth!

Bessie: Aren’tyouafraidthatyou’llbecaught?Eventhoughyou’refreenow,aslavecatchercouldstillsellyoubackintoslavery.

Harriet Tubman: No,I’mnotafraid.TheLordwatchesovermeandprotectsme.Hetellsmewhattodo!Eversincemyskullgotbroken,I’vebeenabletohearHisvoice.IknowHewillkeepmesafe.

Cato: Yourskullgotbroken?How?

Harriet Tubman: Iwasjustagirl,maybe12or13—I’mnotsurejustwhenIwasborn,soIdon’texactlyknowmyage.Iwasinthestore,pickingupanorderformymaster,whenaslavecamerushing in.Hewasarunaway!Theoverseerwasrightbehindhim.Heshouted,“Grabhim!Grabthatboy!”

Bessie: Whatdidyoudo?

Harriet Tubman: Ididn’tdoanything.Iwasn’tabouttohelpcatchthatslave.Ihopedhewouldgetaway.

Bessie: Thenwhathappened?

Harriet Tubman: Theoverseergrabbedaheavymetalweightfromthestorecounterandthrewitattheboy.Butithitmeinstead,rightinthehead.Itbrokemyskullandknockedmecleanout!Iwasunconsciousfordays.TheythoughtIwoulddieforsure.

Cato: Butyoudidn’tdie!

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Harriet Tubman: No,I’mmightystrong!Andmightystrong-willed,too.AfterIgotwell,Ibegantothinkaboutrunningawaymyself.Iwassotiredofbeingbeaten,hungry,andsick.ButIwasafraid.ThenIheardthatIwasgoingtobesoldtoaplacefarthersouth.Iwouldbefarawayfrommyfam-ily,andevenfurtherfromthepossibilityoffreedom.Imadeupmymindtogo.

Narrator: BessieandCatonodded.Theyknewwhatitwasliketobemistreated.That’swhytheyhadrunawaythemselves.

Bessie: So,howdidyouescape?

Harriet Tubman: Thesamewayyoutwodid.IfollowedtheNorthStar!Somekindpeoplehelpedmealongtheway,butmostlyIwasonmyown.WhenIfinallycrossedtheborderintofreedom,IlookedatmyhandstoseeifIwasthesamepersonnowthatIwasfree.Therewassuchagloryovereverything…andIfeltlikeIwasinheaven.

Cato: Thatmusthavebeenwonderful.

Harriet Tubman: Itwas.ButIrealizedIcouldn’treallybefreewhilemyfamilywerestillslaves.Ihadtogoback.

Narrator: HarrietTubmanmadethedangerousjourneybackintotheSouthtohelpherfamilyescape.Sherescuedherparentsandsomeofhersistersandbrothers.Butwhenshetriedtorescueherhusband,hetoldherhewasmarriedagain,anddidn’twanttoleave.SoHarrietrescuedotherslavesinstead.Afterthat,shereturnedmanytimestoleadslavestofreedom.

Bessie: You’vemadesomanytrips,butyou’veneverbeencaught!Howdoyoudoit?

Harriet Tubman: Oh,Ihavesomegoodtricks!WealwaysleaveonaSaturdaynight,becausetherunawaynoticeswon’tshowupinthepapersuntilMonday.Andwestartbytakingthemaster’shorseandbuggy.Thatway,hewon’tbeabletofollowussoquickly.

Cato: Wewalkedalongwaytogethere.WillwehavetowalkallthewaytoCanada?

Harriet Tubman: We’llwalksometimes,andsometimeswe’llrideinwagons,hidingundersacksoffoodorhay.Wemighteventakearealtrain.Ifweseeslavecatchers,wemayheadsouthforawhile—theyneverexpectrunawaystogothatdirection!

Bessie: You’reveryclever!

Narrator: HarriettoldCatoandBessieaboutaclosecallshe’doncehad.Sheexplainedthatafterherheadinjury,shesometimeshad“fits,”orseizures,andhereyeswouldcloseeventhoughshewasawake.Althoughsheappearedtobefastasleep,shecouldstillhearwhatwashappeningaroundher.Oncewhenthishappened,sheheardmenreadinga“wanted”posterthatofferedarewardforhercapture.

Harriet Tubman: ThepostersaidIwasilliterate,whichwastrue—it’sagainstthelawtoteachaslavetoreadorwrite.SoassoonasIwokeup,Igrabbedanewspaperandpretendedtoreadit.Whenthosemensawmereading,theydecidedIwasn’tthewomanintheposterafterall!

Cato: Thatwasquickthinking!

Harriet Tubman: Now,that’senoughtalk.Itwillbedarksoon,andweneedtogetready!

Narrator: Thatnight,thewomanthatslavescalledMosesonceagainconductedherpassengerssafely.Overthenextfewyears,HarrietTubmanmadeadditionaltripsintotheSouthtoleadslavestofreedom.Later,sheservedwiththeUnionarmyasascout,anurse,andevenaspy!HarrietTubmancontinuedhelpingpeoplefortherestofherlife.Shediedin1913,whenshewasover90yearsold.

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Whyisthestorytitled“AWomanCalledMoses”?Whatisthewoman’srealname,andwhyisshecalled“Moses”?

WhatdoesHarrietmeanwhenshesays,“Mytrainhasnevergoneofftrack”?Isshetalkingaboutanactualtrain?Explain.

WhydidHarrietpretendtobereadinganewspaperwhenshecouldnotreadaword?

DoyouthinkCatoandBessiewillmakeittofreedom?Whyorwhynot?

HowdoyouthinkHarrietfeelswhenshehelpspeopleescapetheirlivesofslavery?

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©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

Person’sName:

BirthDate:

NotableAchievement:

Thispersonmadeadifferenceby