"Minty: A Story of a Young Harriet Tubman" by Alan Schroeder is a wonderful non-fiction text for grades 1-3. The story tells about Tubman's life as a young child/slave. A Venn Diagram is a circular diagram with three areas: two people or objects being compared and the middle section in which the two are similar. After reading "Minty" to the students, have them fill in a Venn Diagram comparing their chores and responsibilities to Minty's. Have the students talk about how hard her life must have been, and ask students if they found any similarities between her life and theirs. A Venn Diagram is attached in resources.
"Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky" by Faith Ringgold is specifically for elementary school children. Two characters, Cassie and BeBe, are sent back in time by their "Aunt Harriet," who is Harriet Tubman. Have students use construction paper and cut out boxcar shapes. On each boxcar, children will draw a picture of himself or herself as a slave. Each child should write and answer the following prompts: Name, Age, From (town/city), Landmark Followed (from story) and Freedom Means. After every child completes his or her boxcar, arrange them in a train with a pre-made locomotive with Harriet Tubman driving.
Read "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" by Deborah Hopkinson. Explain to students that some symbols on many slave quilts had hidden messages about the Underground Railroad. Give each student a 6x6 piece of white paper and provide markers, scissors, construction paper and glue. Each student will create a symbol that might mean something on the Underground Railroad. Have the student write the meaning of the design at the bottom of his square. Once everyone's square is complete, tape or staple the squares together to make a quilt.
Sally Isaacs' "Life on the Underground Railroad" is for older elementary children. It details life of slaves and discusses why they sought freedom. In this activity, Internet access for students is required. Have students Google "Underground Railroad," "Harriet Tubman," "Abolitionists," "Underground Railroad Safe Houses," "Underground Railroad Maps" and "Songs of the Underground Railroad." Have students print out the information and summarize the information on construction paper. Also, have them tape or glue pictures that "show" their summaries. The final product will be a bulletin board or wall of student work depicting the Underground Railroad and its passengers.