Mary Beth Adams- Rock Hill, SC- Winthrop University- 2010

Author: Deborah Hopkinson

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Scholastic (NY); 2010

Objective: Students will examine the life of a slave by comparing and contrasting, explaining, and identifying important events.

Setting: Plantation life during the late 1700’s.

Links to LOC resources:

Book Summary: Told through the stories of a slave child, Clara. Clara is a seamstress on the plantation and when she learns about the route to Canada she begins working on a special quilt-one with a secret map.

Slave Family Slave Farmer Beginning of Slavery Proclamation

How does your life today differ from Clara’s life in the story?

Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast your life today in America with Clara’s life in America on the slave plantation.

Example My Life Clara’s Life

Lives with family

Goes to school

Gets allowance for completing chores

Watches TV and plays video games during free time

Lives with strangers

Works as a field hand and seamstress for free

Designs freedom quilt during free time

Loves family

Has dreams

Similarities

How did the slaves contribute to the

American colonies? In a journal entry explain how the slaves helped contribute to the American colonies, including farming, cooking, languages, and other activities.

1619-1865

What important events occurred during the slavery

time period in America?

Create a slavery timeline including important events that

occurred through the time period of 1619 and 1865.

Standards NCSS: II. Time, Continuity, and Change.

Standard 4-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the settlement of North America by Native Americans, Europeans, and African Americans and the interactions among these peoples.

4-2.6 Explain the impact of indentured servitude and slavery on life in the New World and the contributions of African slaves to the development of the American colonies, including farming techniques, cooking styles, and languages. (H, E)