MYSTERY
Historians look for context clues. In this lesson, students will read some context information to help them understand how slavery ended in the United States. Students will then read a series of excerpts from Mr. Lewis' story that explain how he and his community members faced the new conditions of freedom by working together, sacrificing, establishing rules, values, and even their own town called Africatown.
“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!”
Second Grade Teacher
“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.”
Fourth Grade Teacher
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
Fifth Grade Teacher
"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."
Fourth Grade Teacher
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:
-
MYSTERYUNIT 1, MYSTERY 1
What Examples of Yoruba Values Did Kossula Cudjo Lewis Experience Growing Up in West Africa?
ViewGrade 5 -
MYSTERYUNIT 1, MYSTERY 2
How Did Kossula Cudjo Lewis and Other Africans Experience Captivity and the Middle Passage?
ViewGrade 5 -
MYSTERYUNIT 1, MYSTERY 3
How Did Kossula Cudjo Lewis and the Clotilda Africans Use Their Values To Face the Conditions of Enslavement?
ViewGrade 5 -
MYSTERYUNIT 1, MYSTERY 4
How Did the Clotilda Africans Use Their Cultural Values To Build a New Life?
ViewGrade 5