Mr. Lou Parrotta

Utica City School District

Thomas R. Proctor High School

lparrotta@uticaschools.org

Introduction

In the United States, slavery was one of the most horrendous exercises conducted by a majority race over a minority race. Numerous individuals decided to open a clandestine operation to assist those African Americans held in bondage. This extensive action became known as the Underground Railroad.

While the Underground Railroad assisted thousands of slaves escape to Canada, few residents of Oneida County know that one of the major routes north came directly through the county.

This webquest will allow you to understand firsthand how our county played a vital role in helping slaves gain their freedom.

A diagram of a stop on the Underground Railroad in Rome

Task

1. You will use the AHPPA steps to understand how slavery was combated with the Underground Railroad ran through Oneida County.

2. Your group will create a power point presentation that will illustrate some of the activities used by abolitionists to help the Underground Railroad operate in Oneida County. Your power point should include at least twenty (20) slides with short descriptions.

Process/Resources

1. Visit the Oneida County Historical Society’s website:

2. Visit the Oneida County Freedom Trail website

3. Complete APPA Worksheet #1

4. Complete APPA Worksheet #2

5. Complete APPA Worksheet #3

6. Complete APPA Worksheet #4

7. Research the various people and places that played a role in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad route through the county

8. For your power point, utilize the information from Worksheet #1 to introduce your presentation

9. Be sure to use the information you have in worksheets 2, 3, and 4 to fill in the power point slides

Grading Rubric

	4	3	2	1
Thesis	Clear & well developed	Limited development	Undeveloped	Confused
Analysis	Effective	Limited	Weak	No analysis
Supportive Information	Substantial relevant information	Some factual information	Lacking information, minimal	Incomplete Inappropriate responses
Grammar and structure	No errors	Minor errors	Contains Major Errors	Contains many errors
Organization and Presentation of Power Point	Well organized and well presented	Clearly organized and presented	Weak Organization & presentation	Disorganized and poorly presented
Points Earned	_________	_________	_________	_________

Conclusion

Upon completion of this web quest, students should be able to:

1. Evaluate the role of abolitionists in the establishment of the Underground Railroad.

2. Evaluate the impact of the Underground Railroad.

3. Assess methods of escape and identify escape routes.

4. Describe Oneida County’s role in the Underground Railroad.

New York Learning Standards

SOCIAL STUDIES

Standard 1: History of the United States and New York

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York

Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Standard 1 Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

MATH, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY

Standard 2: Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.