1. Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
Feature Menu
Introducing the Selection
Literary Skills Focus: Characters in a Biography
Reading Skills Focus: Making Connections
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

2. Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
How much should a person sacrifice for freedom?

3. Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry
Click on the title to start the video.

4. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Introducing the Selection
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Introducing the Selection
In 1851, Harriet Tubman led a group of eleven slaves to freedom. During the month-long journey, she struggled to avoid capture on the trip from Maryland to Canada.
As the fleeing slaves traveled on foot by night, they encountered many difficulties and dangers.

5. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Introducing the Selection
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Introducing the Selection
As you read the selection, think about how the system Tubman used to lead slaves to freedom came to be called the “Underground Railroad.”
[End of Section]

6. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Literary Skills Focus: Characters in a Biography
A biography is the story of someone’s life written by another person.
I want my readers to experience what it’s like to walk in my subject’s shoes, so I use lots of details.
Biographers work hard to make their subjects come to life on the page.

7. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Literary Skills Focus: Characters in a Biography
The biography writer helps us “meet” the people in a biography. We observe
Civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads a peace rally.
Humanitarian Mother Teresa cares for an orphan in Calcutta.
actions and motivations,
President and Mrs. Kennedy greet fans at the Orange Bowl in Florida.
values, and
interactions with others.

8. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Literary Skills Focus: Characters in a Biography
Biographers use details to help us feel we know the people about whom they are writing.
I feel like I know what this person’s life was really like.
born in a farmhouse in 1823
attended a one-room schoolhouse
started a newspaper
married childhood sweetheart at 24
became an award-winning reporter

9. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Literary Skills Focus: Characters in a Biography
You will get to know the characters in a biography even better as you compare and contrast them with
Marla is as funny as my Aunt Laura.
She seems braver than other celebrities I’ve read about.
people you know
people you have read about in other texts
[End of Section]

10. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
To understand people in a biography, also consider its historical context:
the time in which the author wrote
the time in which the text is set
the ways in which people saw and thought about the world in which they lived

11. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
As you read this biography of Harriet Tubman, keep in mind that the events take place in the American South before the Civil War.
In that time and place, many African Americans were enslaved.
[End of Section]

12. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Reading Skills Focus: Making Connections
Making personal connections to texts help you read for deeper meaning.
As you read, you can make connections between
the text and yourself
another text
the world around you

13. from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Reading Skills Focus: Making Connections
Into Action: Use a chart like this one to make connections as you read.
I can connect
to myself
to other texts
to situations in the world
Harriet Tubman
Could I risk my life to help other people?
article about Thomas Garrett
the conflict
the resolution
[End of Section]

14. Conductor on the Underground Railroad
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading
Tubman and the fugitives from Maryland endure hardships along their journey to Canada.
Record in a notebook the words Petry uses to describe these hardships.
[End of Section]

15. Vocabulary

16. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
fugitives n.: people fleeing from danger or oppression.
incomprehensible adj.: impossible to understand.
incentive n.: reason to do something; motivation.
dispel v.: get rid of by driving away.
eloquence n.: ability to write or speak gracefully.

17. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
Fugitives are people who are trying to escape oppression or danger.
Those who traveled the Underground Railroad were fugitives from the unjust system of slavery.

18. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
The campers became fugitives when
they built a campfire.
they set up their tent.
they ran away from an angry bear.

19. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
The campers became fugitives when
they built a campfire.
they set up their tent.
they ran away from an angry bear.
What hardships might fugitives face while escaping oppression?

20. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
To some adults, teenage activities may seem incomprehensible.
For example, they may find it impossible to understand why teens enjoy certain sports.

21. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
“I don’t get algebra,” complained Michael’s little brother. “It’s incomprehensible!”
Michael’s brother thinks algebra is
easy and straightforward.
too difficult to understand.
useful and valuable.

22. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
“I don’t get algebra,” complained Michael’s little brother. “It’s incomprehensible!”
Michael’s brother thinks algebra is
easy and straightforward.
too difficult to understand.
useful and valuable.
How do you tackle a subject that seems incomprehensible?

23. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
An incentive encourages someone to do something.
Driven by his motivation to earn a new bike, Keith promised to do his chores all summer: The incentive was enough to convince him to put in the extra work.

24. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
What is most likely Jamal’s incentive for practicing the clarinet every day?
He wants to be a rock star.
He wants to play in the school band.
He wants to get his homework done early.

25. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
What is most likely Jamal’s incentive for practicing the clarinet every day?
He wants to be a rock star.
He wants to play in the school band.
He wants to get his homework done early.
What might a student’s incentive to babysit after school be?

26. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
Patrick wanted to dispel his fear of reptiles.
Bravely picking up the lizard, he hoped the hands-on experience would drive away his fear.

27. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
When Alexis heard some nasty gossip about her best friend, she decided to dispel the rumor. Alex decided to ____________.
pass along the rumor to someone else
refuse to listen to the gossip
explain why the rumor isn’t true

28. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
When Alexis heard some nasty gossip about her best friend, she decided to dispel the rumor. Alex decided to ____________.
pass along the rumor to someone else
refuse to listen to the gossip
explain why the rumor isn’t true
What’s the best way to dispel a feeling of worry?

29. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
LeShawn spoke with eloquence at graduation.
His impressive speaking ability brought the audience to its feet.

30. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
Because Mariella is an eloquent writer and speaker, her guidance counselor suggested that she try out for
the track team.
the band.
the debate team.

31. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Vocabulary
Because Mariella is an eloquent writer and speaker, her guidance counselor suggested that she try out for
the track team.
the band.
the debate team.
Name someone who is an eloquent speaker.
[End of Section]

32. The End

33. QuickTalk 33

34. Conductor on the Underground Railroad QuickTalk
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad QuickTalk
How important is a person’s individual freedom to a healthy society?
Discuss with a classmate how individual freedom shapes American society.
[End of Section] 34

35. Build Background 35

36. Conductor on the Underground Railroad
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad
Build Background
In the Biblical book of Exodus, Moses is chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Moses takes his people on a long, perilous desert journey and leads them to the Promised Land.
As you read this biography, look for reasons why Harriet Tubman was called the Moses of her people.
[End of Section] 36

37. Meet the Writer 37

38. Conductor on the Underground Railroad Meet the Writer
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad Meet the Writer
Ann Petry was the granddaughter of an escaped slave who went north by way of the Underground Railroad. Petry grew up listening to stories. She said, “We always had relatives visiting us They were storytellers, spinners of yarns.”
Petry earned a Ph.D. in 1931 and became a writer of books for young people and adults.
More About the Writer
[End of Section] 38

39. Preview the Selection 39

40. Conductor on the Underground Railroad
from Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the Underground Railroad
Preview the Selection
This excerpt from a biography relates how Harriet Tubman led a group of eleven people out of slavery in 1851.
The fugitives traveled by night and slept by day, always on the alert. The risk of capture was constantly on their minds.
[End of Section] 40