Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 6

4th Grade

Lesson 3 of 25

Objective


Explain how the author uses details and illustrations to build a deeper understanding of slavery. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson  pp. 15 – 21 — Chapter 2

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does the author use details and illustrations to help the reader understand slavery? Give two to three examples from the text. 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Key Questions

  • Why did Pap not want any of his kin to eat black-eyed peas? What memories do they trigger?

  • What happened to Pap when he was a child? How does the quote from Pap (p. 15, 18) help the reader better understand Pap’s experience?

  • How does the illustration on pages 16–17 help the reader better understand a slave ship?

  • Compare and contrast the illustration on page 19 with the illustration on page 20. 

Exit Ticket

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Vocabulary


kin

n.

(p. 15)

a person's relatives

vowed

v.

(p. 15)

to seriously promise to do something or to behave in a certain way

slavery

n.

(p. 18)

a condition in which individuals are owned by others who control where they live and what they work on

import

v.

(p. 15)

to bring something into a country to be sold

ease

v.

(p. 18)

to make something less painful or troubling 

overseer

n.

(p. 18)

a person who watched to make sure enslaved people were doing their work, often using violence 

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.4.7 — Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
  • RI.4.8 — Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.

Supporting Standards

L.4.4
RF.4.3
RF.4.4
RI.4.1
RI.4.4
RI.4.10
SL.4.1
W.4.10

Next

Analyze what evidence the author includes to support the statement that abolitionists "lit a fire inside many a slave to take their freedom."

Lesson 4
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Lesson Map

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