Activity Overview
As an alternative assignment to a short answer essay or as a supplementary activity, have students answer a question or prompt about Flight to Freedom and illustrate their answer using evidence from the text. This will provide students with a visual way to show how well they're understanding what they are reading!
The example prompt is, "What sacrifices did people make in order to make the Underground Railroad a success?"
Possible answers to the prompt include:
- Runaways traveled through dangerous terrain in the middle of the night.
- People who helped runaways were fined.
- Agents had a ruse to avoid suspicion.
- Farms were seized by the government.
Other prompts might include: "What risks were slaves willing to make to reach the North?" and "How did the Underground Railroad influence people and the future of the United States?"
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that answers the prompt using at least three examples from Flight to Freedom. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Type the question into the central black box.
- Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
- Type text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support from Text | Examples chosen fully support the answer to the question. | Some of the examples answer the question correctly, but not all. | Most of the examples do not support the answer to the question. |
| Quote / Text | Evidence provided from the text is properly quoted or paraphrased. | There are some minor mistakes in the quote / description from text. | Quote or paraphrase is incomplete or confusing. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly illustrate the examples from the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the examples from the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
As an alternative assignment to a short answer essay or as a supplementary activity, have students answer a question or prompt about Flight to Freedom and illustrate their answer using evidence from the text. This will provide students with a visual way to show how well they're understanding what they are reading!
The example prompt is, "What sacrifices did people make in order to make the Underground Railroad a success?"
Possible answers to the prompt include:
- Runaways traveled through dangerous terrain in the middle of the night.
- People who helped runaways were fined.
- Agents had a ruse to avoid suspicion.
- Farms were seized by the government.
Other prompts might include: "What risks were slaves willing to make to reach the North?" and "How did the Underground Railroad influence people and the future of the United States?"
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that answers the prompt using at least three examples from Flight to Freedom. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Type the question into the central black box.
- Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
- Type text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support from Text | Examples chosen fully support the answer to the question. | Some of the examples answer the question correctly, but not all. | Most of the examples do not support the answer to the question. |
| Quote / Text | Evidence provided from the text is properly quoted or paraphrased. | There are some minor mistakes in the quote / description from text. | Quote or paraphrase is incomplete or confusing. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly illustrate the examples from the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the examples from the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Answer the Prompt Activity for Flight to Freedom
Organize a Collaborative Gallery Walk for Student Storyboards
Give students a chance to share their understanding by displaying finished storyboards around the classroom. A gallery walk lets everyone learn from each other's perspectives and text evidence.
Assign groups and set up display stations
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a space to present their storyboard. Use tables, desks, or wall space to create clear stations for easy viewing.
Give clear viewing instructions
Explain how students should rotate between stations, spend time observing, and read both the illustrations and text evidence. Encourage them to look for different examples and creative approaches.
Provide reflection sheets for feedback
Hand out simple feedback forms or sticky notes so students can jot down what they learned from each storyboard. Ask them to highlight strong evidence or note interesting insights.
Facilitate a class discussion to debrief
After the gallery walk, lead a discussion where students share what stood out, discuss new understandings, and connect their observations to key themes from Flight to Freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions about Answer the Prompt Activity for Flight to Freedom
What is the 'Answer the Prompt' activity for Flight to Freedom?
The 'Answer the Prompt' activity asks students to respond to a question about Flight to Freedom and support their answer with evidence from the text, creating a visual storyboard to show their understanding.
How can I help my students use text evidence in their Flight to Freedom assignments?
Encourage students to paraphrase or directly quote passages from Flight to Freedom when answering prompts, and to include these examples in their storyboard descriptions for clear support.
What are some sample prompts for teaching the Underground Railroad with Flight to Freedom?
Sample prompts include: "What sacrifices did people make for the Underground Railroad?", "What risks were slaves willing to take to reach the North?", and "How did the Underground Railroad impact the United States?"
How do students create a storyboard for the Flight to Freedom activity?
Students click "Start Assignment", enter the prompt, then add at least three text-based examples in the description boxes and illustrate each with scenes, characters, or items from Flight to Freedom.
What skills does the Flight to Freedom prompt activity build for grade 4-5 students?
This activity reinforces reading comprehension, text evidence analysis, and visual literacy, helping students connect historical content to critical thinking.
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