#4114. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Social Studies, level: Elementary
Posted Sun Feb 17 14:05:31 PST 2008 by Sandy Scarborough (Sandy Scarborough).
Brennen Elementary, Columbia, SC USA
Materials Required: colorful construction paper, glue, scissors, markers, crayons
Activity Time: approximately 1 hour
Concepts Taught: Respond to literature using graphic arts, map skills, Black History Month

For the Read-Aloud selection, read the picture book, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt to the class. Afterwards, discuss links to other books we'd read about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, and compare the characters. Look together at the way Clara pieced together the quilt squares to create a map for runaway slaves to reach freedom. Allow students to work with partners to cut out colored squares of construction paper, glue onto a large plain sheet of paper, and plan their own freedom quilt. Remind them to show cardinal directions and to include "safe houses" and land features (water, forests, mountains are examples.). After their quilt is finished, partners will write a short paragraph to explain the designs on their freedom quilts.