Iowa Public Television

What was the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad was not a railroad at all. It was a network of safe houses, barns, root cellars and similar places where people who had escaped from slavery were smuggled to safety. If these places could talk, their tales would be ones of fear and hope, desperation and inspiration. The men, women, and children remained in each place only briefly, then moved on to the next stop, the next town, the next farm, until they reached 'free' territory.

Discover Iowa's role in the Underground Railroad. In this session, students learn about the routes taken by runaway slaves and the people who helped them escape. Travel back in time as we take a virtual field trip via video footage of four of Iowa's known safe houses.

Please work with students to prepare thoughtful, appropriate questions to pose during the ICN interaction. The questions/comments prepared by students help to make the session interactive and create a richer experience for all participants.

Important Dates:
October: Diversity Awareness Month
October 16, 1859: John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
February: African-American History Month

Following the ICN session, participants receive the complimentary book If You Traveled on The Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine.

Session Related Web sites:

• National Park Service (www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/states.htm#ia) View maps and a list of sites on the Underground Railroad.
• Iowa Pathways (www.iptv.org/iowapathways/) - Discover the people, places, events, and ideas of Iowa. Create your own story of Iowa as you go to unexpected places and explore the past and present. Travel down side trails and uncover artifacts as you explore your Iowa pathway.

Related Lesson Plans and Units:

Visit and tour the historic Iowa houses used on the Underground Railroad as well as the routes used by fugitive slaves by accessing the IPTV K-12 Connections: Iowa's Underground Railroad Teacher's Guide

Do a Thinkfinity Search (www.marcopolosearch.org):

1. Search for: underground railroad
2. Limit Subjects to: social studies
3. Limit search to appropriate grade level.
4. Click on the 'Search' button to view results.

PBS Teachers (http://www.pbs.org/teachers/) - PBS Teachers offers free lesson plans, professional development and more for preK-12 educators.

Are you new to the ICN experience? If so, take a moment to view the IPTV K-12 Connections Frequently Asked Questions and Keys to a Successful Session.

Classroom Resources:

The following related programs are available on IPTV's broadcast or from the AEAs: (Check the K-12 Classroom Television (www.iptv.org/k12catalog) Web site for broadcast dates and times.)

• GEOGRAPHY IN U.S. HISTORY: Civil War and Social Change, program no.3 (Grade Level: Senior High)
• GREAT CAMPAIGNS OF THE CIVIL WAR (Grade Level: 6-12)
• THE IOWA HERITAGE: The Civil War, program no. 5 (Grade Level: Upper Elem./Middle School)
• FOLLOW THE NORTH STAR (Grade Level: 6-12)

Check out the Classroom Resources for additional materials prepared and compiled by IPTV K-12 Connections staff.

Only twelve interactive sites are scheduled for each session. Videotaping is NOT available.

Sessions are provided at no cost to PK-12 students and the adults working with or on behalf of PK-12 students in Iowa.