Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad

Grade Band MS Reading Level 3.4

Adapted Book Usage

These adapted resources are provided by the ACCESS Project at the University of Delaware’s Center for Disability Studies for teachers to help students with significant intellectual disabilities participate in the general curriculum. Please limit the use and distribution of these materials accordingly. Please read and purchase each original text (cited by author) prior to using the adapted text.

ACCESS ProjectCenter for Disabilities Studies

University of Delaware461 Wyoming Road, Newark, DE 19716

Phone: 302-831-1052 Email: deaccessproject@udel.edu

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Chapters 1-3

In the 1800’s, African Americans in the South were slaves. African Americans in the North were free. The slaves wanted to be free. Some slaves ran away and made it to the North. Other slaves were caught and punished. Slaves were given very little food. Harriet and her family were slaves in the South.

Harriet Tubman and her family were slaves in Maryland. They lived in a house with dirt floors on their master’s farm. Harriet was always hungry. She was not allowed to talk to other slaves or learn to read and write. She only got one new shirt every year. Harriet and her family were slaves in the South.

The masters were afraid the slaves would run away. The slaves were afraid their masters would hurt them. Harriet’s mother hoped their master would free her family. Harriet was afraid of her master. If she didn’t do what she was told to do, she was whipped. Harriet and her family were slaves in the South.

Life as a slave was hard, but Harriet loved her family. She liked singing with them. Her father taught her about the weather and the woods. Harriet and her family were slaves in the South.

Chapters 4-6

When Harriet was six years old, she was taken away from her family. She started working for a white woman. Harriet was fed scraps of food. She slept in the corner of the kitchen just like a dog. One morning Harriet was very sick, so she was sent back to her family to get better. Harriet’s life was hard.

When Harriet was healthy, she had to go back to work. She worked for a different white woman. Harriet cleaned and helped take care of the woman’s baby. Harriet was whipped if there was any dirt in the house. She also was whipped every time the baby cried. She was covered in scars for the rest of her life from the whippings. Harriet’s life was hard.

Harriet tried to run away, but she had nowhere to go. She went back to work and the white woman whipped her. She was sent back to the farm with her family. She started working in the fields. She became very strong. Harriet’s life was hard.

Harriet heard a story about a slave who ran away. Free people helped him get to the North. This was called the Underground Railroad. Harriet wanted to be free, but the Underground Railroad was dangerous. If a slave was caught, they were whipped or killed. Harriet’s life was hard.

Chapters 7-9

One day, one of the slaves on the farm ran away. The master tried to stop him and threw a big rock, but it hit Harriet in the head. She was covered in blood. No one thought she would live, but her mother helped her get better. Harriet still had trouble sleeping at night and fell asleep during the day. Harriet wanted to run away.

The master liked Harriet because she was so strong. He let her work outside with her father. Her father showed her how to walk through the woods without making a sound. He was training her to run away. Harriet knew she could live in the woods if she ran away. Harriet wanted to run away.

Harriet married a free man. She wanted him to run away to the North with her. He wanted to stay in Maryland. He would tell Harriet’s master if she ever ran away. Harriet was scared of her husband. Harriet wanted to run away.

Chapters 10-11

One day, Harriet saw one of her white neighbors. The neighbor told Harriet she would help her run away. Harriet decided to run away with her brothers. Her brothers were slow and loud in the woods. They were afraid of being caught, so they went back to the farm. They made Harriet go back with them. Harriet ran away.

Two days later, Harriet heard that she was going to be sold to a new master. She had to run away that night. She ran through the woods to the white neighbor’s house. The neighbor told Harriet how to get to another house. The people there would feed her and send her to the next house when it was safe. This was the Underground Railroad. Harriet ran away.

Harriet learned to trust the white people who helped her. She traveled at night and hid in people’s houses during the day. After traveling for many nights, Harriet made it to Pennsylvania. She was free there. Harriet ran away.

Harriet was happy to be free, but she missed her family. She worked as a cook and saved money to go back to Maryland. She wanted to help her sister run away. Harriet met her sister at a house on the Underground Railroad. Harriet was not afraid of being caught. They went from one house to the next until they reached Pennsylvania. Harriet ran away.

Chapters 12-13

There was a new law that made it harder for slaves to live in the North. It was more dangerous for Harriet to go back to Maryland now. She wanted to bring her husband to the North with her. She went to Maryland, but he wouldn’t go back with her. She was upset and angry with him, but she still helped other slaves run away to the North. Harriet helped other slaves run away.

The Northern United States wasn’t safe for runaway slaves anymore. Harriet needed to help them leave the country. On her next trip, Harriet would take the runaway slaves all the way to Canada. The trip would be longer and more dangerous. Harriet helped other slaves run away.

Harriet loved her freedom. She could choose where she worked. She could make money. She wanted to help everyone become free. Harriet helped other slaves run away.

Chapters 14-17

Many of the slaves talked about how strong and brave Harriet was. Since the slaves couldn’t talk to Harriet, they needed a way to ask for her help. The slaves that wanted to run away left a bandana outside their home at night. Harriet looked for the bandanas. She sang outside their homes when it was time to go. Harriet led runaway slaves to Canada.

Harriet took 11 people with her on her first trip to Canada. On the way, she told them stories about when she escaped. They slept during the day and walked at night. They rested and ate food at the houses on the Underground Railroad. Harriet led runaway slaves to Canada.

It was a difficult for the slaves to go to Canada. The weather was very cold. Harriet wouldn’t let them go back to Maryland, though. If they went back, the masters would know about the Underground Railroad. They had to keep it a secret. The trip to Canada took one month. Harriet decided to make Canada her new home. Harriet led runaway slaves to Canada.

Harriet missed the rest of her family. They were still slaves. She made a plan to rescue them. She went back to Maryland to get her brothers. She dressed up like a man so no one would recognize her. She would have to come back for her parents another time. After a long trip, Harriet and her brothers made it safely to Canada. She helped them make Canada their home. Harriet led runaway slaves to Canada.

Chapters 18-19

From 1851 to 1857, Harriet made 11 trips to Maryland to bring slaves to freedom. One of the trips to Canada was more dangerous than the others. One man’s master was looking for him. The master would give money to anyone who found the man. Going to Canada was very hard.

The trip was hard. Harriet and the group almost got caught. They sang songs and told stories to help each other. They hid under bricks in a wagon. One of the men wanted to stop, but Harriet encouraged him to keep going. When they reached Canada, he was glad he was free. Going to Canada was very hard.

Harriet was worried her parents would be sold. She went back to Maryland to bring them to freedom. They were very old. Harriet used a wagon to help them get out of Maryland. Canada was too cold for them, so they decided to live in New York. Going to Canada was very hard.

Chapter 20-23

People wanted to learn how Harriet helped so many slaves. She spoke about her trips in front of many people. She talked about hiding in barns and not having enough food to eat. The people loved her stories. More and more people wanted to hear about Harriet and the Underground Railroad. They wanted slavery to end, too. Harriet liked telling her stories, but she wanted to do more to help. Harriet spent her life helping people.

The Civil War started between the North and the South. The North wanted to end slavery. The South wanted to keep slavery. Harriet helped the North during the war. She was a spy and a nurse. The North won the Civil War. Slavery was over! Harriet spent her life helping people.

Harriet still wanted to help people. She raised money to help free slaves go to school. She also took care of her parents. When she was older, Harriet told stories about her life as a slave, the Underground Railroad, and the war. Harriet died in the spring of 1913. She will always be remembered for leading people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Harriet spent her life helping people.

Harriet Tubman Vocabulary Definitions*This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Essential VocabularyImportant Vocabulary

Slave: a person who is owned by another person and can be sold by the owner

Free: being able to move or act how one wants

Punish: to make someone feel pain for doing something wrong

Master: an owner of a slave

Whip: to beat with a strap to cause pain

Scar: a mark left on the skin after an injury has healed

Field: an open area of land without trees or buildings

Underground Railroad: a secret route of houses that runaway slaves could safely stay in when they ran away to the North

Dangerous: likely to cause injury or harm

Blood: the red fluid seen from a cut

Strong: having great physical power

Marry: to become husband and wife

Neighbor: a person who lives near another person

Trust: a firm belief in someone or something else

United States: a country in North America

Safe: free from danger or harm

Runaway: a person who runs away or leaves quickly

Canada: a country in North America, above the United States

Brave: feeling or showing no fear

Bandana: a large handkerchief or cloth usually with a colorful design on it

Secret: hidden knowledge

Month: 1 of the 12 parts of the year

Bricks: a material made from clay shaped into blocks and baked, used for building

Wagon: a four wheeled vehicle pulled by animals

Encourage: to help someone else feel courage or hope

Worried: having felt anxious or upset

Civil War: a war between the Northern and Southern parts of the United States in the 1860’s

Spy: to watch, inspect, or look at closely

Nurse: someone who cares for the sick and works with a doctor

Remember: to think of again

Definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com and www.wikipedia.org

Harriet Tubman Vocabulary and Object List* This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Vocabulary ObjectSlave Metal Chain (Key Chain)Free FlagMaster Line leader, dog and ownerWhip Leather, Riding whipScar BandaidField Soil, Shovel, CornUnderground Railroad Toy Train with tracksDangerous Caution Tape; Textured danger signBlood Sticky Substance with Red Dye (Glue died red)Strong WeightMarry Ring; Tulle; Husband and Wife FigurinesNeighbor Door knocker; Toy buildingsTrust Trust Exercise (Falling); Hand Holding to Cross the StreetUnited States Eagle, Flag, MapSafe HelmetRunaway SneakersCanada Maple leaf, textured mapBrave Trophy; Medal; RibbonBandana BandanaSecret Demonstrate whisperingMonth CalendarBricks BrickWagon Toy Wagon, WheelEncourage High FiveWorried Stress BallCivil War FigurinesSpy Magnifying GlassNurse Thermometer, Blood PressureRemember Checklist, Sticky Note

Harriet Tubman Public Domain Vocabulary *This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Slave

Free Punish

Master

Whip

Scar

Field Underground Railroad

Dangerous

Blood Strong

Marry

Harriet Tubman Public Domain Vocabulary *This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Neighbor Trust United States

Safe

Runaway

Canada

s

Brave

Bandana Secret

Month Bricks

Wagon

Harriet Tubman Public Domain Vocabulary *This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Encourage

Worried Civil War

Spy Nurse

Remember