1. Facing Slavery
Chapter 8
History Alive!

2. Activate Prior Knowledge
A dilemma is a situation that requires you to make a decision, but you do not like any of the choices.
Example: You must eat a vegetable with dinner, and you choices are Brussels Sprouts or Cauliflower. You hate both.
Example: You must do house chores, and your choices are raking the leaves or picking up after the dog.

3. Your Turn!
In your journal, copy and complete the following sentence starters:
1. One dilemma I have faced was when….
2. I chose…
3. …because…

4. Chapter Vocabulary
Enslaved Africans: People from Africa that were forced to work for a “master”
Middle Passage: The voyage of slave traders from Africa to America
Plantations: Large farm with slaves who live on that land
Slave Auction: Sale of a slave to the highest bidder
Overseer: Person who was in charge of the slave work.

5. Three Dilemmas Faced by Enslaved Africans
Read section 8.1
What do you see?
Locate each of the places on your world map.
What does the drawing represent?

6. Dilemma 1: European Slave Trade in West Africa
Read 8.2:“West Africa in the 1500s” and discuss the following questions:
How were the Africans similar?
How were they different?
Do you think their culture more alike or different than that of the Europeans?

7. A Slaver’s Canoe What do you see?
How would you describe the people sitting in the canoe?
What do you think is happening?
Why might the people sitting in the canoe be sad?

8. Dilemma 1: The European Slave Trade in West Africa
Now we will learn about the Africans and how they faced a series of dilemmas after they encountered slave traders.

9. Dilemma 1: The European Slave Trade in West Africa
Read section 8.3 and record notes to question 1 in bulleted format.

10. What Would You Do? How many kids chose…
Discuss Critical Thinking Question A, and record group’s choice and reasoning after number 3 on your reading notes.
Be ready to present your choice and reasoning to the class.
How many kids chose…
1: Refuse to sell slaves
2: Raid other villages and kidnap others to trade
3: Trade your own servants, prisoners, and criminals

11. What did they do?
Read section 8.4 and record notes to see how the Africans actually responded to the European Slave Traders.

12. Dilemma 2: The Middle Passage
What do you see?
What do you see drawn on each image?
Who may have drawn this image?
How would you feel in these conditions? How do you think the Africans responded?

13. Dilemma 2: The Middle Passage
Read section 8.5 and record notes

14. What Would You Do? Group Discussion: Critical Thinking B
Be ready to present your choice and reasoning to the class.
How many kids would…
Refuse to eat?
Try to organize a revolt?
Try to keep your strength for survival?

15. What Did They Do?
Read section 8.6 and record notes to see how the Africans actually responded during the Middle Passage.

16. Dilemma 3: Arrival in America
What do you see?
What are the people doing? Why?
Who might the man on the horse be?
How do you think the enslaved Africans responded to this situation?

17. Dilemma 3: Arrival in America
Read 8.7 and record your thoughts onto your reading notes

18. What Would You Do?
Your group will discuss Critical Thinking C and record answers onto reading notes
Be ready to present your choice and reasoning to the class.
How many kids would…
Run away and risk being caught?
Secretly resist slavery by breaking tools and working slowly?
Work hard and hope to be treated well?

19. What Did They Do?
Read section 8.8 and record notes to see how the Africans actually responded to life in America.

20. Chapter Assessment
Go to for an online assessment
Enter your name, and select chapter 8:Facing Slavery from the sidebar