The Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman

Over the past few weeks, we have been reading and analyzing Freedom Bird by Jerdine Nolan. This powerful story follows siblings Millicent and John Wheeler, whose parents were sold away, leaving them alone as enslaved children on Simon Plenty’s North Carolina plantation. Their parents had once told them stories of how their people could fly away to freedom, and the children held onto the hope that one day, they too would escape.

As we journeyed alongside John and Millicent, we witnessed their daring flight to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Their story opened our eyes to the harsh realities of slavery during the American Civil War—where people were forced into relentless labor, brutally whipped, and treated as property.

We then turned our focus to the extraordinary Harriet Tubman—a woman born into slavery who courageously escaped and became a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Despite the immense danger, she risked her life repeatedly to lead others to freedom. Through our research, we learned that her bravery and determination helped over 700 enslaved individuals escape to free states.

Today, the children completed their own biographies on Harriet Tubman, and I must say, they have done an outstanding job! Each lesson, I challenge them to share something new they have learned about Harriet, slavery, plantations, or the American Civil War. Every day, they amaze me with their enthusiasm and depth of understanding.

Well done, Year 5! I wonder what exciting book we will explore next…

Tom