Worksheets + activity printables for ages 9-12
Engage your students with this great book in creative, hands-on, meaningful ways!
Your resources saved me a lot of research, because they handed me just the right amount of information to interest kids but not overwhelm them (or the teacher!). The kids enjoyed the activities, which were overall easy and inexpensive. Thank you!
-A happy teacher
or scroll down for more info
ACTIVITY PRINTABLES
For activity instructions and more ideas, see our free Creative Teaching Resources for Freedom Train.
Printables: quote frame, "fabric" swatches
Note: A template is included for students to write the quote; we are awaiting permission from the copyright holder to include the written quote shown.
Printable: poster template
WORKSHEETS
Weave interactive worksheets between hands-on activities to help kids process ideas and information. For Freedom Train, your kids can use our six worksheets to:
take notes about the author while watching this video.
learn the important concept of the narrative arc and gain an overview of this story's structure. You might also find this worksheet helpful for sequencing your activities.
learn the writing technique of "showing vs telling"
figure out some complex vocabulary
write a letter for publication
learn the history of a key Black abolitionist
Worksheets stand alone, but if you'd like to integrate them with hands-on activities and valuable discussions, check out our free creative teaching ideas for Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman.
ACTIVITY PRINTABLES
For activity descriptions, supplies, and directions, see our creative teaching ideas for Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman.
"Set Harriet's star over Rit's Quilt" template - template for art project to aid comprehension, teach symbolism, and inspire
"Rethink what "wanted" means" - templates for art project to teach characterization and inspire activity
INTERACTIVE WORKSHEETS
StoryMakers - author note-taking (to support viewing this bio video), to aid comprehension of story, context, and history
StoryLines - narrative arc concept and this story's plot points, to aid literary analysis and writing skills
Brave New Words - vocabulary of persuasion, to aid in comprehension of new words, antiquated syntax, history, and story context
Write Angles - creative writing, to teach persuasive language, empathy
Write Angles - creative writing, to learn a narrative technique
Happenings - focucs on a historical figure from the story, to provide story context and aid in culltural awareness
TEACHER SUPPORT
Answer keys - answers for worksheets as needed
Common Core State Standards - alignment for grades 3-6
Terms of use - how to ethically and legally use our teaching materials
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
For activity descriptions, supplies, and directions, and more lesson-planning aids, see our Creative Teaching Resources for Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman.
Please reach out to us anytime for any reason—we're happy to help! —Becky & Jenny
Don't see your question? Email us!
Aw, you’re just the right age, whatever that might be! Just kidding—we know what you mean. We find that 8-12-year-olds are consistently “ready to LitWit.” Generally speaking, their reading level is high enough to take on the vocabulary and syntax of literature, and they’ve acquired enough knowledge to grasp new ideas. Yet they’re still full of wonder, and are highly responsive to the “check this out!” nature of sensory immersion.
However, we often have mature kids of 6-7 in our experiential workshops, and sometimes fun-loving kids of 13-14. As a teacher or parent, you know best what your kids are ready for and interested in.
They're on this book's web page of Creative Teaching Resources (linked above), along with Takeaway Topics, Learning Links, Prop Ideas, and other fun stuff to do!
We keep all that virtual so that we can include helpful links, update them regularly, and let you use our materials on a screen. We’re trying to save time (yours and ours) and trees!
Also, because that page is virtual, you can access it on a hand-held device you refer to as you teach, or you might want to show parts of it on a bigger screen for the kids.
You can certainly print a copy of that page, if you'd like a hard copy—(be sure to open all the drop-downs first, like "supplies" and "directions," so they'll print.)
Sure you can, for your noncommercial use in your family or classroom. As long as you’re not calling your fun time a “LitWits” event or charging a fee, you can use our ideas and printables to do lots of wonderful things!
Just please don’t forward your printables or make copies for people who haven’t paid for them, of course, out of courtesy and to honor our copyright and per our Terms of Service.
We have TONS of testimonials, some of which you can see right here. Our platform doesn't offer a "Reviews" feature, unfortunately, but we'd sure love to hear from you by email! f your kids see the pleasure in the story, and want to read more because of their LitWitty experience, oh my goodness that would make our day.
That’s our goal – to get kids to WANT to read more, for fun. Because of course the learning HAPPENS when they’re reading for fun! And it’s easier and more fun to teach happy readers, too, as you know.
You're off to share the best of this great book in thoughtful, hands-on ways!
