Explain how heinous life as a slave was. Tell the children that slaves had no rights or choices. Men, women and children were treated as property. Slaves could be bought or sold at any time, with no concern for the separation of families. For a slave, learning to read and write was illegal. You may want to read children's books about slavery with your children. By understanding slavery, children can learn the importance and high-stakes nature of the Underground Railroad.
Tell your children that some slaves chose to escape their owners to find freedom in Canada. Show a map that includes escape routes. Tell them about the safe houses along the routes that provided food and supplies. Read children's stories that discuss the Underground Railroad. By hearing narratives, especially through the perspective of other children, kids will develop a greater understanding of slavery and the role the Underground Railroad played in the fight for freedom.
Describe how slaves navigated their own way toward Canada at night. Tell them about the song slaves sung, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," that gives cryptic directions. The drinking gourd was actually a reference to a star constellation, the Big Dipper. Locating the two outer stars in the Big Dipper's "bowl" to find the North Star. By following the North Star, slaves knew they were traveling north. On cloudy nights they could feel for moss on the trees because moss only grows on the north side of trees.
Introduce your children to the heroes of the Underground Railroad. Tell them about Harriet Tubman, one of the leading figures of the abolitionist movement. Tubman, an escaped slave, guided about 20 parties of slaves to freedom. She helped rescue more than 300 people. Explain to the children that Tubman risked her own life and freedom to help others. Frederick Douglass, Thomas Garrett, Susan B. Anthony and William Still were also important "conductors" on the Underground Railroad.
Provide activities that reinforce learning. Have the children map their own routes to Canada from a southern state. Older children can write a journal entry from the perspective of a fugitive slave child. Ask the children if they think they would have chosen to run away or if they would have helped fugitive slaves.