The Underground Railroad

As a cross-curricular unit, the 8th grade studies the Underground Railroad and the movement to free the slaves in the south. The students participate in a number of different activities in their four core classes, and one major activity as a grade level. That activity is the Run For Freedom simulation. There will soon be articles on the 8th grade reporters page of the District website, as well as in the Bits-N-Pieces, so I won't elaborate much here. However, these are the pictures that Mrs. Gonwa and I took during the simulation, as slaves tried to Run For Freedom!

UGRR_1.jpg (26670 bytes)

Kaylee leads her slaves in a search for the safety cards.

 

 

 

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Sarah and Caity dig to find a safety card.

 

 

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As Caleb double-checks his notes, Ryan check over his shoulder. "I heard something! A patrol? An alien??"

 

UGRR_4.jpg (26473 bytes)

Kim and Caleb join forces to track down enough safety cards to make a run for it.

 

 

UGRR_5.jpg (34405 bytes)

Slaves on the move!

 

 

 

UGRR_6.jpg (31888 bytes)

Marks searches high, Jeff searches low.

 

 

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Mark leads his groups to the library, where Mrs. Gee (a slave sympathizer)  assists in locating an operating station. (Courtesy of Michelle Keller & Kara Achterhof)

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The patrols stick together. probably formulating a plan! (Courtesy of Michelle Keller and Kara Achterhof)

 

UGRR_2.jpg (59428 bytes)

These slaves appear lost and confused. That's probably the way the conductors wanted them to appear - to throw off the patrols. Because most of these slaves escaped! (Courtesy of Michelle & Kara)

 

Slaverun_1.jpg (51900 bytes)

Justin, Mark, and Steve appear to be home free, but Justin was the only one to learn the words  to "Oh, Canada".

 

 

 

Slaverun_2.jpg (41386 bytes)

After getting caught, Mark watches Matt and Keith chase down Shawn (who didn't make it!).

 

 

 

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These 5 slaves enjoy the freedom & comforts of Canada.  (Courtesy of  Michelle & Kara)

 

 

 

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With no other slaves present, Keith, Amanda, and Chelsy focus their attention on Gina. But she's too smart to run against these odds!

 

Slaverun_4.jpg (33553 bytes)

Jason and an unknown slave are way ahead of Chelsy, but she keeps the chase, knowing she has a partner near the border. All part of the plan! And Jason, at least, did get caught!

 

Slaverun_5.jpg (46332 bytes)

Four slave to one bounty hunter. Care to take odds? Don't bet against Danny. At least three of them were caught!

 

 

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After the simulation....Patrols in the foreground, freed slaves in the back (notice their smiles!).

 

 

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Another shot of the patrols, Courtesy of Michelle Keller. Check out the sheer joy on the faces of freed slaves Claire, Gina, and Kim in the background!!

 

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Our bounty hunters were proud of the job they had done.

 

 

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Captured slaves. Notice the lack of smiling faces!

 

 

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Here's a picture of the freed slaves, courtesy of Michelle Keller. 

 

 

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One of my pictures of the freed slaves, with flash - but they weren't ready!

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So I tried another - without the flash. They sure appear happy in Canada!

 

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