Tough Choices &

How to Make Them

A modern day lesson learned through the Civil War.

Index

Expectations

1. Students will write journals entries, from a variety of perspectives including that of being a slave, demonstrating their knowledge about life in 19th century America.

2. Students will complete the “Following the Drinking Gourd” packet.

3. Students will solve the “History Mystery.”4. Students will create a flow chart to track Abraham

Lincoln’s decision process that lead to emancipation. 5. Students will complete an authentic problem solving

exercise on the choice between conventionally and organically grown cotton and prepare an in-class presentation supporting their final decision.

Slavery in America

Lam

Workers tend planted fields Involuntarily committed To the fluffy white fibers Of their masters.

Trapped withinMud walls Of the one-room quarters At auntie’s house.

So many brothers None of them my ownBranded family By the stripes on our backs.

Gospel songsEcho hope Of wading watersFollowing the drinking gourd.

Slavery in America

• “Lam” implies several themes within slavery: – Hard labor– Poor living conditions– Families split apart– Inhumane treatment– Religious beliefs– Desire for freedom

• Let’s look at these themes in more depth.

Life as a Slave

• Click on pictures to read about these former slaves lives. • Journal Entry #1

– Write a memoir about a specific event in your life as a slave. Make sure that your account contains aspects of at least 3 of the 6 themes of slavery. (Click here to review themes)

Quilts of Freedom

• Journal Entry 2– Create quilt squares that

would represent important landmarks on your journey from school to home.

– Trade “quilts” with another student. Can they find their way to your house?

•Slaves used quilts with hidden symbols to map the path of freedom.

•Can you guess what these quilt squares represent?

•Click on the squares to see if you are right and to learn more!

1 2

3 4

Songs of Freedom

• Many slave songs were also coded with directions on how to escape to freedom.

• Follow the Drinking Gourd, which referred to the big dipper in the northern sky, was one such song.

• Click on the book to watch a video.

A Drinking Gourd

Songs of Freedom

• Songs weren’t only a way to map out freedom. They also expressed daily life.

• Click on the picture to watch a video about the meaning of music in the African-American culture.

• Journal Entry # 3– Write about a song that

makes you feel better when you listen to it. Does singing out loud lift your spirits?

A life of their own: music and dance in the Slave Quarter at Carter’s Grove in Colonial Williamsburg.

Mapping Freedom

•Click on Map to open document and print.

•Read pages 1 – 4 to review covered material.

•Complete pages 5 - 9 to turn in.

The Slavery Controversy

• Some people called abolitionists wanted to end slavery. – They believed that

slavery was ethically & spiritually wrong.

– Click on “History Mystery” to learn more about abolition.

The Slavery Controversy

• Many others wanted to keep slavery in the United States. – They argued that slavery was

needed for economic prosperity in the South, and that most slave owners didn’t treat their slaves harshly.

– They wanted laws to protect slavery and to force the return of runaway slaves. An April 24, 1851 poster

warning colored people in Boston about policemen acting as slave catchers.

Events Preceding the Civil War

Lincoln’s Role in Ending Slavery

• Journal entry #4

Gettysburg Address

• Key Points: – Our nation was

founded on the idea that all men are created equal.

– We can best honor those who died in the war by not letting our nation perish.

Lincoln delivering his speech at Gettysburg.

• Click on picture to read the Gettysburg Address.

Flow Charts

• Flow charts show a process.

• Loops are used when more than one choice can be made.

• They are used to draft multiple-ending stories.

• They make good visuals when evaluating decisions.

Problem Solving Chart

Similar to the previous chart, this problem solving chart is another way to evaluate issues and reach a decision.

End of Slavery Chart

• Using Inspiration software, create a flow or problem solving chart showing the decisions Abraham Lincoln had to make before there was an end to slavery.

• Click on logo to open Inspiration software.

Tough Choices Today

• Today, there are still many tough choices to be made – many by YOU!

• As a responsible citizen, it is important to learn about all aspects of an issue so that you can make informed decisions.

• The following is a simulation where you will be learning about the pros and cons of conventional and organic cotton farming. You will analyze conflicting opinions, conduct research and then develop a personal opinion.

The Many Sides of Cotton

• Click on cotton photo to open worksheets and print them.

• Read pages 148-149.• Journal Entry #5

– After reading “A Tale of Two T-Shirts,” what thoughts do you have about conventional versus organic farming?

Components of an Environmental Issue

• “Understanding environmental issues can be complex. One way to investigate and analyze an issue is to look at the following components. – Problem– Issue– Parties– Interests– Beliefs– Values– Solutions

Problem or Issue?

Parties & Their Interests

Beliefs & Values

Solutions

Remember: “It is important to realize that there are many ways to analyze environmental issues. Some people, for example, do not distinguish between issues and problems. It’s also important to find ways to size up social, economic, cultural, and political contexts.”

The Many Sides of Cotton

• Read the 6 viewpoints discussed in Cotton Concerns on pages 149-159.

Letter Summary

Letter Summary

Letter Summary

Letter Summary

Letter Summary

Letter Summary

Compare & Contrast

• Complete pages 160-161.

• Re-read your 5th journal entry. – The “Tale of Two T-

Shirts” was supplied by Patagonia, Inc. Based on what you know about Patagonia’s position on organic cotton, do you view the story differently?

– Add any new thoughts to your journal entry.

Bias

Research

FYI