FREDERICK DOUGLASS: LESSON PLANS. - Kutztown University

FREDERICK DOUGLASS: LESSON PLANS.
Frederick Douglass.
“Douglass spoke against slavery, for women’s rights, and for justice. He lectured across the
country and in Europe. He spoke with presidents and world leaders. He was called one of the
greatest speakers of the century. In addition, Douglass wrote books, articles, and essays that are
still read today. And in 1847 he began publishing his own newspaper—The North Star—which
broadcast his message to thousands of readers. He served as United States Marshal and Recorder
of Deeds for the U.S. government and as Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti. Douglass
continued lecturing and writing up until his death in 1895.” (Mapping the African American
Past. M.A.A.P.).
Find, here below, a collection of lesson plans on how to teach about this self-made African-
American, who rose from being a slave to one of the most respected men of his time.
1. Teaching about Frederick Douglass English. Grade 3, 4, 5 & 6.
A reading comprehension lesson on Frederick Douglass. Includes printable
teaching lesson worksheet.
Lesson Excerpt:
“In 1818, Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Maryland. When he
was just a baby, he was taken from his mother. He was never sure who his
father was. When he was born, he was owned by a man named Aaron
Anthony. He was later given to a woman name Lucretia Auld who sent him
to Baltimore to serve her brother-in-law, Hugh Auld. Hugh Auld’s wife broke
the law by teaching twelve-year-old Frederick some letters of the alphabet.
After that, Frederick learned to read from some of the white children in the
neighborhood. His owner was very angry about this, believing that if slaves
learned to read, they would become unhappy with their condition and would
want to be free! …”
http://www.instructorweb.com/les/frederickdouglass.asp

2. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass :
ENGLISH, GRADE 9
This lesson plan is designed to encourage the student to read purposefully, learn
reading strategies, and develop the student’s Expository Reading strategies for
improving his critical thinking skills.
The goal of the lesson plan is to introduce and develop Expository Reading strategies,
expand technologies in academics, and implement the CSTP and OUSD (ELA/ELD)
standards including:
Writing Strategies
Literary Response
Critical Thinking
http://urbandreams.ousd.k12.ca.us/lessonplans/frederickdouglass/index.
3. Teacher Resource File [Bibliography] [Lesson Plans] [Other
Resources] [Essays & Criticism]
HISTORY, LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND ARTS. GRADE K-12
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/douglass.htm
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=594
In this website is an array of lesson plans for various subjects suitably designed to cater for the
special and specific needs of learners in each grade K-12
4. Background: Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey.
ENGLISH / HISTORY GRADE 5-9
In approximately 7-10 class periods, students will be able to demonstrate their personal
beliefs by creating a class newspaper, identify their personal qualities and the contributions
for which they would like to be remembered for and identify at least two contributions
made by Frederick Douglass and write them in their reflective journals among others.
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes-famous/douglass.html
5. From Courage to Freedom: Frederick Douglass's 1845
Autobiography
The Narrative in itself is remarkable for the views on slavery and slaveholders that
Douglass bravely presents.

HISTORY GRADES 9 – 12
Frederick Douglass's 1845 narrative of his life is a profile in both moral and
physical courage. In the narrative Douglass openly illustrates and attacks the
misuse of Christianity as a defense of slavery. He also reveals the turning point of
his life: his spirited physical defense of himself against the blows of a white
"slave-breaker."
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=594
6. What Will the Teacher / Students Do?
Get a 3 week (Daily) Pdf materials for teaching Narrative of the Life of Frederick
Douglass.
Also included are evaluation and testing methods, video clips and class projects.
http://urbandreams.ousd.k12.ca.us/lessonplans/frederickdouglass/activities.html
ENGLISH LEVEL 9
7. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,
Written by Himself | Lesson Plan Materials
eNotes offers a number of lesson plans from various hand-picked providers.
A purchase of any one or more of the items below includes access to the eNotes and
Salem on Literature for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,
Written by Himself.
http://www.enotes.com/narrative-life-lesson/
8. Frederick Douglass.
ENGLISH
Lesson plans and teaching resources: Biography and
Background:
A thorough unit plan, including activities, quizzes, and tests as well as the
complete eNotes.
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/douglass.html

9. American Writers: Frederick Douglass Video Lesson Plan:
Use the themes, questions and video clips in this website to teach and learn with
portions of C-SPAN's American Writers program featuring Frederick Douglass and
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
http://www.americanwriters.org/classroom/videolesson/vlp11_douglass.asp
10. Frederick Douglass: The Reality of Slavery:
ENGLISH
Click this link to access a lesson plan on how to teach about literary devices like
imagery, repetition and rhetoric appeals in a grammar class using Frederick Douglass’
Narrative.
http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson_images/lesson598/Essays-Douglass.pdf
11. Teaching Materials For, Narrative of Frederick Douglass by
Frederick Douglass:
Online books and movies on the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass
http://www.tpet.com/categories.asp?cid=168&c=35741
12. Frederick Douglass: If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress
HISTORY
The aim of this lesson is to explore the relevance of Frederick Douglass’ method of
resistance in today’s society.
http://maap.columbia.edu/lesson/2.html
13. Frederick Douglass: If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress -
4th Grade Adaptation
Aim:
In analyzing the relevance of Frederick Douglass’ method of resistance in the current society, the
fourth grade students will be able to also explore the natural, political and moral grounds for
resistance to evil.
http://maap.columbia.edu/lesson/20.html
14. Frederick Douglass Lesson study: A Man and His Times
HISTORY GRADE 8
This Frederick Douglass lesson study involves Douglass’ speech; “The Meaning of
July Fourth for the Negro” delivered at Rochester, New York, July 5th, 1852.
“…the rare qualities of an extraordinary man in extraordinary times…” are examined.
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.us/lesson_plans/group_5/index.html

15. National Park Service Teaching with Museum Collections Lesson
Plan. Frederick Douglass' Hat
HISTORY
Get a 45 minute middle school lesson plan that demonstrates how objects can serve
as primary sources for learning about an individual, his society and the cultural
values of the time.
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/tmc/docs/FRDO_hatLessonplan.pdf
16. Human Heritage: A World History
HISTORY
After the students have read about the civil war in America and the issue of slavery,
the life of Frederick Douglass would be their next best step. They will use information
from the American Visionaries: Frederick Douglass Web site to learn about Frederick Douglass.
Students will read about his early life, his role as an orator against slavery, his many public
offices, and his work for women's rights. Students will then answer questions and apply this
information by writing an imagined conversation that they would have with Frederick Douglass
if they could travel back to 1889.
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/worldhistory/hh2004/content.php4/1337/5
17. From Courage to Freedom: Frederick Douglass’s 1845
Autobiography.
In these lesson plans, you will be guided by the questions:
How does Frederick Douglass's skilled use of language paint a realistic portrait of
slavery?
How successful is Douglass in persuading the reader of the evils that slavery
inflicts on both slave and slaveholder alike?
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=594
18. Brooklyn in the Civil War:
These lesson plans can be adapted to suit students in 4th-12th grades. They are divided into the
four thematic units featured on the Web site: daily life, slavery, war and soldiers' lives, and
women. Each lesson focuses on one or more primary source documents including letters, news
articles and advertisements from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, photographs, sketches, and poems.
Students learn how to "read" original documents and differentiate between fact and opinion.
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/civilwar/cw_lessonplans.html
19. Frederick Douglass' Role in the Abolition of Slavery
HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE GRADE 11

This lesson examines sources on Frederick Douglass' role in the abolition of slavery, identifies
Douglass' personal traits, speeches, and associations in relation to his cause and hypothesizes
how these different aspects of Douglass' life contributed to the successful abolition of slavery.
One purpose of this lesson is to bring technology into the classroom while teaching part of one of
the SOLs. The other purpose of this lesson is to take a closer look at one of the key players in the
abolition movement.
http://www.knowledge.state.va.us/cgi-bin/lesview.cgi?idl=198
20. For Teachers: Douglass in the Classroom
Browse though a collection of lesson plans prepared by four Graduate students of the University
of Rochester’s Warner School of Education.
Topics covered include Abolitionism Divided, The Abolitionist Movement, The concepts of
Citizenship, Creating Change through a Newspaper, defending Slavery, and democratic Values
among others.
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=2885