The Underground Railroad

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

ACTIVITY 1: “A Hidden Message”

A major challenge to the Underground Railroad was communication. Slaves were kept on plantations and far from visitors or visits to town. News of the Underground Railroad traveled in whispers and through songs slaves would sing while at work on the plantation. Plantation owners and managers didn’t suspect the real messages behind these “slave songs” or “spirituals,” thus music became a valuable way to send messages between slaves and the Underground Railroad.

Part A: Listen to "Wade in the Water" twice. In your first listen, focus on the feelings evoked by the song. What moods, tone, and feelings do you experience while listening? In your second listen, focus on the words. What is the coded message in “Wade in the Water,” and how is this coded message brought to life in The Underground Railroad?

Part B: Choose a scene from The Underground Railroad in which Cora or another character are using or constructing the Underground Railroad. Imagine you must deliver a secret message to someone whose life depends on finding the setting and context of this scene.