Mathematic Skills in Moses Lesson

Theme:	Slavery and the Underground Railroad
Grades:	3
Subject:	Math, RLA
Duration:	45 minute class session
Standards & Goals:	Note that standards in this lesson plan are for example only. This lesson can be easily adapted to meet your state's specific standards Grade 3 CT Standards RLA 4.2 Students speak and write using standard language structures and diction appropriate to audience and task. MATH 1.2 Represent and analyze quantitative relationships in a variety of ways. MATH 3.2 Use spatial reasoning, location and geometric relationships to solve problems.
Objectives:	Students will: - Have an understanding of the definition of a slave - Read Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford - Solve logic-based math problems directly related to Harriet  Tubman’s many journeys to freedom
Materials and Preparation:	-Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Weatherford -Writing journal -Math application worksheet  (Note: for students that learn through listening, have audio versions of the book available. This title is available from RFB&D. Playback system will also be needed.)
Procedures:	Introduction -“Slavery is a practice in which one person, known as a ‘master’ is allowed through customs or even laws to own another human being.” From 1619 to 1865 people were enslaved based solely on skin color. The definition is taken directly from the foreword of Weatherford’s book, Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. -The Underground Railroad is not a real railroad. It is a term that is used to describe a system that helped escaped slaves. People who believed slavery was wrong used their homes to hide and aid fugitive slaves. Slaves were helped with food, shelter and money on their routes to the Northern states and Canada. Instruction -Harriet Tubman was a slave, and she allowed her faith guide her on a dangerous journey to freedom. Harriet Tubman is compared to Moses. The biblical Moses lived in ancient Egypt and led his people, slaves of the Pharaoh, to freedom. -The story will show us how Harriet let her faith guide her to freedom. She continued to travel back to the south on 19 journeys to help as many as 300 slaves. -Read the story of Harriet Tubman. -Harriet Tubman was a leader. Brainstorm what qualities make a person a leader. Practice -Each student will be given a worksheet that has mathematical application questions that relate directly to Harriet Tubman’s journeys. -Provide sufficient time for students to independently work, and then allow time for small groups to talk about how they arrived at their answers. All students should be able to explain how they arrived at their answers for each question. Wrap-up -Review each answer and discuss the logic behind the math in solving each problem.
Assessment:	Assess student success in solving the real world math.

Differentiated Instruction Lesson Tips

Student may have extended time on an individualized basis.

Provide similar mathematical/logic based problems as a model to assist struggling students.

Lesson plan taken from Learning Through Listening wesbite