Before reading the book have students complete the what i think i know section of the slavery and underground railroad thinking chart printable. This word document contains six higher level questions based on the blooms taxonomy of learning to go with the picture book henrys freedom box by ellen levine. Henry s bravery and ingenuity were inspiring to read about. Henrys freedom box story map multileveled lesson with these multileveled lessons, students are encouraged to explore the important elements of any fiction text to support comprehension. Drawing from an actual historical account, ellen levine details some of the hardships and heartbreaks of slavery, and the creative resiliency of henry box brown, a man who mailed himself to freedom.
Henrys freedom box teaches to pursue justice and freedom. Henry does not know his birthday, he is torn apart from his family, and in desperation, he sets out on a brave quest for freedom. A book like this should be on the shelf of any child studying issues of slavery and freedom in the context. Reading to kids is a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading, thereby enriching their lives and opportunities for future success. Oct 23, 2015 linguistic and cultural diversity analysis. Henry s freedom box by ellen levine and kadir nelson. Henry didnt say thank you when he was given to his masters son because. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading henrys freedom box.
Tell the student to pay close attention to the struggles of henry and what the causes and effect of the struggles. Drawing from an actual historical account, ellen levine details some of the hardships. And above all, it should make any reasonable, any compassionate human being indignant at the inhumanity of slavery and strive for liberty, justice and equality for all. Henrys freedom box is based on the true story of henry browns creative and courageous journey to freedom. Henry box brown a true story from the underground railroad illustrated by kadir nelson, written by ellen levine. When his family is sold during the era of slavery, a determined young boy who dreams of freedom ships himself in a wooden box to a place up north in the hopes of living the life he always wanted, in an inspiring story about one of the underground railroad s most amazing escapes. Henry has always been a slave but got to stay with his family until one day he was given to another master. Henrys freedom box is a tale based upon a true story of a slaves escape to freedom. A fictionalized account of how in 1849 a virginia slave, henry box brown, escapes to freedom by shipping himself in a wooden crate from richmond to philadelphia. Interest level, reading level, reading az, atos, word count. After henrys wife and children are sold away from him, henrys sadness fuels his imagination and he finds a very creative way to freedom. This is a comprehension quiz designed for 3rd and 4th graders based on the book by ellen levine and kadir nelson. Henrys freedom box is the emotional story of a boy born into slavery and his unconventional escape to freedom. Henry doesnt know how old he is because nobody keeps records of slaves birthdays.
All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Jan 01, 2007 i was pleased to find henrys freedom box. I needed to show kids that sometimes these answers are hidden in the text and do not jump out at you, but rather you as a reader have to read. Booksource is the premier trade book distributor to k12 school classrooms across the country. Henry box brown became one of the most famous runaway slaves on the underground railroad. Henrys freedom box takes place in the mid 1800s when slavery existed in america and the underground railroad was coming into existence. Will smiths just the two of us won an naacp image award, and his new book, we are the ship continues to garner major awards. These 18 task cards can be used individually or with partners. Black history month activitiesupdated with vocabulary, word search, problem and solution graphic organizer. This interactive website guides you though the journey of a slave traveling through the underground railroad to freedom.
After the six discussion questions, there is a blooms level 6 reading response log question for students to answer during independent. Henrys freedom box study guide by bookit repertory. It also poignantly presents the heartwrenching sorrow of families torn apart, and the powerlessness of the enslaved. When his family is sold during the era of slavery, a determined young boy who dreams of freedom ships himself in a wooden box to a place up north in the hopes of living the life he always wanted, in an inspiring story about one of the underground railroads most amazing escapes. What was henrys nickname once he made it to philadelphia. Ellington was not a street by ntozake shange won the coretta scott king award.
Henry box brown event video and gives background and provides a reenactment of henrys experience. Henrys freedom box by ellen levine and kadir nelson. Teachingbooks multileveled lesson henrys freedom box. A true story from the underground railroad illustrated by kadir nelson, written by ellen levine scholastic press, an imprint of scholastic. Henrys freedom box by ellen levine hardcover book the. It is the true story of henry box brown who mailed himself to freedom.
Reading and writing connection write a play script. Henrys bravery and ingenuity were inspiring to read about. A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a jane addams peace awardwinning author and a coretta scott king awardwinning artist. Your job is to be thinking how should we chunk the details of the story together, making sure we capture the most important events to summarize across the entire story so that we can plot 56 events on a chronological time line. Initially i was going to demonstrate this strategy using the picture book henrys freedom box, but i decided to use a harder level picture book with more words per page, denser plot, and a longer story. Start reading henrys freedom box on your kindle in under a minute.
Henrys freedom box is the poignant, harrowing and true story of henry brown, an african american slave, who in the midnineteenth century escaped slavery by mailing himself to freedom. This books tells a story of the underground railroad about henry, a man who grows up in slavery but escapes slaver by mailing himself in a box to freedom. He couldnt be a slave any longer, so with the help of a box and a few trustworthy friends, henry mailed himself to freedom. Henrys freedom box kindle edition by levine, ellen. For readers who have some knowledge of this time in history. For readers who have some knowledge of this time in history, this is an excellent selection for. Henrys freedom box kindle edition by levine, ellen, nelson, kadir. A true story from the underground railroad hardcover january 1, 2007.
Henrys freedom box higher level thinking task cards will have your students responding at the analysis level or higher after reading the book, henrys freedom box by ellen levine. Pdf henry s freedom box download full pdf book download. He dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do.
After an arduous journey in the crate, henry finally has a birthday his first day of freedom. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A true story from the underground railroad ellen levine, kadir nelson on. After the introduction, each student should receive a copy of henrys freedom box so the students can follow along during shared reading. Kadir nelson henry brown wasnt sure how old he was. Inspirational in its simplicity, henrys freedom box tells a moving story of one individuals strength of spirit. The modern inventions of benjamin franklin by gene barretta author, illustrator duration. This is a comprehension quiz designed for 3rd and 4th graders based on the book. Henry s freedom box is a wonderful storybook for teaching younger children about slavery and the underground railroad. Challenge students to turn the story of henry s freedom box into a short play. Children will be able to have a better understanding of slavery by the emotion the author displays in words and pictures throughout the text. Explain that henrys freedom box is based on a true story. Henrys freedom box by ellen levine and illustrated by kadir nelson is the true story of henry brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom through the underground railroad. Henry s freedom box available for download and read online in other formats.
Smith, mother, passenger 1, passenger 2, william still, railroad workers all. Jan 07, 2011 henrys freedom box by ellen levine and illustrated by kadir nelson is the true story of henry brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom through the underground railroad. In fact, i think that henrys freedom box should be required reading in every elementary. Before reading the book have students complete the what i think i know section of the slavery and underground railroad.
Use these teaching resources to introduce students to the underground railroad, a covert network of former slaves, free black men and women, northern abolitionists, and church leaders who helped fugitive slaves escape to freedom. Today we will create a time line of the main events, first i will reread the book to you. Henrys freedom box is a great book about a boys struggle with slavery. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream. Henrys master had been good to henry and his family. The book, by the same author as henry s freedom box, is a nonfiction text written in an engaging questionandanswer format. Give small postit notes to each student to write their thinking on so later they can move their thinking to another. This book is based on the amazing true story of a slave named henry box brown. Jan 01, 2007 kadir nelson illustrated two caldecott honor books. Henrys freedom box is a wonderful storybook for teaching younger children about slavery and the underground railroad. There are several grade levels for which this story could be used to teach students about slavery in america. Henrys freedom box kindle edition by ellen levine, kadir nelson. This book was written by ellen levine and was beautifully illustrated by kadir nelson.
This book would be perfect for a unit on the undergroun. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Henrys freedom box by ellen levine hardcover book the parent store. Henrys freedom box kindle edition by levine, ellen, nelson. Read the book aloud and discuss the following questions. Ellen levines henrys freedom box is a book that tugs at all of ones emotions. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public.
Read the story aloud, stopping when appropriate to explore illustrations, address student comments, clarify, predict, and guide their understanding of the story and the values to pursue justice and freedom. A true story from the underground railroad while i was still reading the good lord bird. Our booksource team is working remotely and available to answer questions, create price quotes and place book. Feb 07, 2017 henrys freedom box is based on the true story of henry browns creative and courageous journey to freedom. Encourage students to read the book and compare how information is presented in the two books. Henry and his brothers and sisters worked in the big house where themaster lived. Henry box browns ingenious design to ship himself in a box from slavery to freedom is portrayed in luminous illustrations. Henrys freedom box is the emotional story of a boy born into slavery. Henry traveled 350 miles in a large box, sometimes upside down and. He dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. The book, by the same author as henrys freedom box, is a nonfiction text written in an engaging questionandanswer format. Students consider the beginning, middle, and end of the story by writing or drawing.
295 703 1214 1300 320 689 868 1396 1648 1197 1602 102 1547 539 1319 1483 1662 42 1598 1408 55 153 139 938 892 1290 365 11 987 757 1281 1000 1039 884 81 654 458 450 740