Activity Overview
History posters are a great way to highlight the important accomplishments of influential people and the important aspects of historic events by using vivid graphics and concise text. Researching real people and delving into the details of important events helps students to get a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of people who were enslaved in America or who worked to end slavery. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to gain a more substantial, empathetic, and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a poster highlighting a key event or person from the time of American slavery.
Teachers can assign students specific people or events or give students a choice of which they'd like to research. Teachers may wish to provide resources such as books or the online encyclopedia Britannica for students to read about their person or event. Once they're completed, the posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of what students have learned. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person. Thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Important People
- Crispus Attucks (1723-1770)
- Elizabeth Freeman (1742–1829)
- Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)
- Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
- Richard Allen (1760-1831)
- Ona Judge (1773-1848)
- Mary Prince (1788‐1833)
- John Rankin (1793 – 1886)
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
- John Brown (1800-1859)
- Maria W. Stewart (1803–1879)
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 – 1879)
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
- Henry “Box” Brown (1815-1897)
- Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
- Harriet Tubman (1820(?) - 1913)
- Sarah Parker Remond (1824–1894)
- Ellen Craft (1826–1891)
- Robert Smalls (1839-1915)
- Susie King Taylor (1848-1912)
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
Important Events
- 1676 - Bacon’s Rebellion
- 1688 - Pennsylvania Quakers adopt the first formal anti-slavery resolution.
- 1712 - Slave Revolt in New York City
- 1775 - The American Revolution begins.
- 1775 - Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery founded.
- 1800 - Gabriel’s Rebellion
- 1820 - Missouri Compromise approved by Congress.
- 1831 - Nat Turner’s Rebellion
- 1839 - Amistad Rebellion
- Compromise of 1850
- 1852 - Publishing and Impact of Uncle Tom’s Cabin
- 1854 - Kansas Nebraska Act
- 1857 - Dred Scott Supreme Court Case
- 1863 - 54th Regiment attack on Fort Wagner
- 1863 Emancipation Proclamation
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous or notable person that relates to the period of Slavery in America such as an enslaved person or an abolitionist OR explain, in detail, an important event that relates to the time period. Create a History Poster that highlights the important details and impact of the person or the event.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person or an event to research.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about your chosen person or event.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person. Add words and images to describe your person’s accomplishments. If you chose to do an event, include a title for the event, the date(s), important people involved and important details about the event and its impact on history..
Requirements: If a person: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, 3-5 important events and/or accomplishments as well as images to represent your person. If an event: Event’s name, dates, 3-5 important details and its impact on history as well as images or scenes to illustrate it.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
History posters are a great way to highlight the important accomplishments of influential people and the important aspects of historic events by using vivid graphics and concise text. Researching real people and delving into the details of important events helps students to get a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of people who were enslaved in America or who worked to end slavery. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to gain a more substantial, empathetic, and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a poster highlighting a key event or person from the time of American slavery.
Teachers can assign students specific people or events or give students a choice of which they'd like to research. Teachers may wish to provide resources such as books or the online encyclopedia Britannica for students to read about their person or event. Once they're completed, the posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of what students have learned. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person. Thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Important People
- Crispus Attucks (1723-1770)
- Elizabeth Freeman (1742–1829)
- Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)
- Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
- Richard Allen (1760-1831)
- Ona Judge (1773-1848)
- Mary Prince (1788‐1833)
- John Rankin (1793 – 1886)
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
- John Brown (1800-1859)
- Maria W. Stewart (1803–1879)
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 – 1879)
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
- Henry “Box” Brown (1815-1897)
- Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
- Harriet Tubman (1820(?) - 1913)
- Sarah Parker Remond (1824–1894)
- Ellen Craft (1826–1891)
- Robert Smalls (1839-1915)
- Susie King Taylor (1848-1912)
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
Important Events
- 1676 - Bacon’s Rebellion
- 1688 - Pennsylvania Quakers adopt the first formal anti-slavery resolution.
- 1712 - Slave Revolt in New York City
- 1775 - The American Revolution begins.
- 1775 - Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery founded.
- 1800 - Gabriel’s Rebellion
- 1820 - Missouri Compromise approved by Congress.
- 1831 - Nat Turner’s Rebellion
- 1839 - Amistad Rebellion
- Compromise of 1850
- 1852 - Publishing and Impact of Uncle Tom’s Cabin
- 1854 - Kansas Nebraska Act
- 1857 - Dred Scott Supreme Court Case
- 1863 - 54th Regiment attack on Fort Wagner
- 1863 Emancipation Proclamation
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous or notable person that relates to the period of Slavery in America such as an enslaved person or an abolitionist OR explain, in detail, an important event that relates to the time period. Create a History Poster that highlights the important details and impact of the person or the event.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person or an event to research.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about your chosen person or event.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person. Add words and images to describe your person’s accomplishments. If you chose to do an event, include a title for the event, the date(s), important people involved and important details about the event and its impact on history..
Requirements: If a person: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, 3-5 important events and/or accomplishments as well as images to represent your person. If an event: Event’s name, dates, 3-5 important details and its impact on history as well as images or scenes to illustrate it.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Slavery in America Poster
How to facilitate meaningful class discussions using student slavery in America posters
Encourage students to present and explain their posters to the class. This promotes confidence and allows peers to hear diverse perspectives and facts.
Set clear expectations for respectful listening and questions
Remind students to listen actively and ask thoughtful questions after each presentation. This builds a safe, respectful environment for sharing sensitive topics.
Model asking open-ended, critical-thinking questions
Demonstrate by asking questions like, “Why do you think this person’s actions were important?” or “How might people have felt during this event?” This helps students look deeper and make connections.
Guide students to connect historic events to modern issues
Prompt students to discuss similarities and differences between past and present. This encourages empathy and awareness of ongoing social justice topics.
Wrap up with a reflection activity or exit ticket
Ask students to share one thing they learned or a question they still have. This reinforces learning and helps you gauge understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions about Slavery in America Poster
What is a Slavery in America poster activity for students?
A Slavery in America poster activity is a classroom project where students research a historical figure or event related to American slavery and create a visual poster highlighting key facts, dates, and accomplishments. This helps students build empathy and deepen their understanding of history.
How do I choose a person or event for a slavery poster project?
To choose a person or event, review a list of notable individuals and important events from the slavery era, considering who or what interests you most. Teachers may assign topics or let students pick based on curiosity or classroom resources.
What should be included on a history poster about American slavery?
Include the name, dates, key achievements, and images for a person, or the event name, date, major details, people involved, and impact for an event. Use clear visuals and concise text to help classmates quickly grasp the significance.
Why use biography posters in teaching about slavery in America?
Biography posters make history more relatable by letting students explore the stories of real people, encouraging empathy, critical thinking, and deeper understanding beyond memorizing dates or names.
Where can I find templates for slavery in America poster assignments?
You can find biography poster templates online, in educational resource libraries, or through your school’s learning management system. These templates guide students in organizing their information and visuals.
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Slavery in America
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