ANTICIPATE by asking students to think of one thing they think they already know about slavery in America.  Have them tell that one thing to a partner.  Alternatively or in addition, call on random students to share what they thought of.     

DISTRIBUTE one “For Sale: Human Beings!” reading page (2 sides) to each student.

READ the first page with the class.  

PAUSE at the top of the second page after you have read “Freedom and Equality” discuss these provisions with the class and have students underline the phrases that don’t make sense for a country that has slavery.   

FINISH the reading with the class. 

REVIEW concepts from the reading by doing the quick true/false active participation activity with the class.  (See the Active Participation Guide.)      

DISTRIBUTE one “Did They Really Think That?” half-page activity to each student.  (Copy them so the quotes are on one side and the cell phone is on the other.)   

READ each quote with the class.  Together, check the “Examples of Pro-Slavery Thinking” chart on the second reading page.  Have students decide which kind of thinking each quote illustrates and write that type on the line.  Alternatively, have students complete this activity in pairs. 

TIME students for 8-10 minutes while they compose a text message in opposition to their most-hated example of pro-slavery thinking on the other side of the page. 

DISTRIBUTE one “Slavery: No Freedom, No Rights” worksheet to each student (2 sides).  Have students complete the activities on the worksheet.  Note:  Some activities review the reading material, and others introduce new concepts for students to work with.

CLOSE by asking students to remember the one thing about slavery they thought of at the beginning of class.  Ask them to think of one new thing they learned about slavery and tell both things to a partner.