Classroom Activities

Halfway to Freedom

In Halfway to Freedom, students are introduced to the real historical figures John and Mary Jones, prominent Chicago abolitionists. They aid the fictional character, Hannah, who stops in Chicago during her journey on the Underground Railroad. This unit integrates history, language arts, and fine arts as students conduct research, analyze primary source materials, and write both essays and a history-inspired play.

Lesson 1: Artifact Analysis
By exploring the interactive history map for Halfway to Freedom, students will gain an introduction to 1850s Chicago and the primary sources that inspired the story.

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Lesson 2: Historical Heads
This lesson uses the "historical head" conceptual framework derived from the work of James Percoco to explore the thoughts and feelings of the characters in Halfway to Freedom.

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Lesson 3: DBQ Essay
Students will write an essay on John and Mary Jones and the abolitionist movement in 1850s Chicago using the document-based questions approach.

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Lesson 4: Student Playwrights
Students will create an original skit using characters, themes, and key vocabulary words from Halfway to Freedom.

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Lesson 5: Theater Performance
Students will perform an original skit using characters, themes, and key vocabulary words from Halfway to Freedom.

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