MYSTERY
Historians collect evidence. In this lesson, students will learn how prisoners were kept in West Africa before crossing the Atlantic Ocean by reading the text, reading a selection from Mr. Lewis, and carefully analyzing a primary source drawing of “slave factories." Students will collect evidence and then proceed to learn about the Middle Passage journey across the Atlantic by reading the text, carefully analyzing ship diagrams and descriptions, and reading a selection from Mr. Lewis. They will collect evidence to answer the mystery question: "How did Mr. Lewis and other Africans experience captivity and the Middle Passage?"
“As a second and third grade teacher for the entirety of my career I had long taught students history through inquiry. Seeing students explore history in this way has been SUCH a joy! Lightbulb moments galore! A teacher’s dream!...unlike lessons I had taught in the past, I didn’t have to find the primary sources. I didn’t have to research them. I didn’t have to write the lesson plan from scratch. I didn’t have to do anything but read the lesson plan… and teach the lesson!”
“I just used the first lesson in the Mapping Unit. It was so great to get students talking about what they noticed and also expand their thinking on how maps have a special purpose to the user.”
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
"I liked the simplicity of the handouts. Not too much there to be overwhelming--just enough. Simple, clear directions. The photographs of the clues were great for the students to have."
This Mystery is included in the following Private i History Detectives Unit:
How Did Kossula Cudjo Lewis and Other Enslaved People Experience the Atlantic World?
Other Mysteries in this Unit: