The Underground Railroad was a secret network of routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom in the North and Canada. Conductors, such as Harriet Tubman, helped lead enslaved people to safety. Some African American communities used quilts as visual symbols to signal directions or safe houses. While the historical use of quilts is debated, it remains a powerful symbol in African American oral tradition and storytelling. Introducing quilts to students in this context builds historical empathy, cultural appreciation, and artistic expression.
New Jersey Student Learning Standards:
- 6.1.2.CivicsDP.1: Explain how individuals work with different levels of government to make rules.
- 6.1.2.HistoryCC.3: Make inferences about how past events, individuals, and innovations affect our current lives.
- 6.1.2.HistorySE.1: Use examples of regional folk heroes, stories, and celebrations to describe the cultural heritage of the United States.
Curriculum
- 4 Sections
- 4 Lessons
- 10 Weeks
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- Stage 1:1
- Stage 21
- Stage 31
- Stage 41
