Finish by having the students look at the Freedom Wall in a gallery walk and reflect alone or in a Think, Pair, Share demonstrate an understanding of appropriate listening behaviour by adapting active listening strategies to suit a range of situations, including work in groups

Strand(s): Oral Communication & Reading, Creating and Presenting & Reflecting, Responding, and Analyzing, & Understanding Context Very small introduction to Underground Railroad – a system of paths, safe houses, secret codes, etc. to obtaining freedom across north America and beyond

Johnson, Dolores. Now Let Me Fly: The Story of a Slave Family. Macmillan, 1993. ISBN-13: 9780027476996 Want exclusive content, like free chapters, news, and sweepstakes? Register for the newsletter here! Diagnostic– Getting an idea of what students think and how they see the world is incredibly important so that teachers can start to lay the foundation of a topic. The freedom wall will help inform me of various mindsets in my classroom. Nelson’s illustrations, always powerful and nuanced, depict the evolution of a self-possessed child into a determined and fearless young man." – Catherine Threadgill, School Library Journal

LEARNING SKILLS AND WORK HABITS: Responsibility, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, Self-Regulation B1.1 engage actively in drama exploration and role play, with a focus on examining issues and themes in fiction and non-fiction sources from diverse communities, times, and places Ringgold, Faith. Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky. Crown, 1992. ISBN-13: 9780517885437 Elementary teachers looking for lesson plans and activities for Henry’s Freedom Box will love this post. It includes resource recommendations, free teaching ideas, and information about the book. Weatherford, Carole Boston. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. Illus. by Kadir Nelson. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, 2006. ISBN-13: 9780786851751Prior to this lesson students will have a base knowledge understanding of equity, freedom and slavery. This lesson will introduce the idea of escape and the underground railroad in North America for subsequent lessons to build upon view and compare their ideas and add to their perspectives through a gallery walk of a Freedom Wall Henry does not know how old he is, as no one keeps records of slaves. Henry grew up with his loving mother until his master became ill. He was given to the master’s son to work on a tobacco factory. We will share some written thoughts and ideas aloud on the carpet, and once shared aloud (and approved), we will have a discussion about its value to the Wall, and add the card to the Freedom Wall Fradin, Dennis Brindell. Bound for the North Star: True Stories of Fugitive Slaves. Clarion, 2000. ISBN-13: 9780395970171

This word work lesson plan and set of teaching resources use Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine as a springboard for instruction focused on inflectional endings.

Anecdotal notes will be taken to indicate who is a respectful listener, and on the depth of student comments, questions and peer discussions. I will use this form of assessment to get an idea of what students think and how they see the world, and so that that I can start to lay the foundation of what this unit needs to touch on use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes; iPad slide show with pictures of ways people tried to obtain freedom for visual reference (pews, boxes, etc.) The volunteer will take on the character of Henry. They will answer the audience’s questions by pretending to be the character and speak from his point of view

Understanding cause and effect is a key comprehension and language skill. The text structure of Henry's Freedom Box includes several examples of cause and effect relationships, making it easy to use as a springboard for modeling or independent practice. These powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story." – Publishers Weekly A BIG box – minds on – to encourage students to think about the ways people were willing to go to obtain freedom B2.1 express personal responses and make connections to characters, themes, and issues presented in their own and others’ drama works I will then share some pictures from my iPad/Apple TV connection of other ways people escaped to freedom (eg. church pews, boxes, mail, etc.)Student A – will sit next to peer models and be given copies of the text to help guide him. He will highlight text evidence that exhibits Henry’s bravery in his pursuit of freedom to help guide him compose a question