| While slave girls were taught how to construct
a quilt, they were also taught the code language of the quilts. Each
design had a specific meaning and often times maps of the plantation and
the surrounding area were sewn into the quilt. The placement of quilts
on fences, window sills, and clothes lines also had special meaning and
communicated valuable information to the slaves.
Using the websites provided below complete the following tasks. Don't forget the responsibilities assigned to your
duty. Click |
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After viewing some Underground Railroad
quilts, use the Vocabulary Quilt worksheet to identify the 10 different
quilt patterns and their meaning. Draw a picture of each quilt pattern
using draw/paint software or PowerPoint.
Create your own quilt patterns and decoder. Then design a quilt using your quilt patterns. |
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After viewing some Underground Railroad quilts,
look at modern day African American quilts. What similarities and differences
do you see in the modern day quilts and the Underground Railroad quilts?
Do think there are any connections between the two types of quilts?
Explain your answer. Word process your answer.
Create a quilt using Underground Railroad quilt patterns and modern day African American quilt patterns. |
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Based on the readings found on the 3 websites
provided [after this paragraph], explain why you do or do not believe that
the code language of the Underground Railroad quilts does exist. Why do
you think some people do not believe in the code langugage of the Underground
Railroad quilts? Word process your answers.
Unraveling the code in Quilts (USA Today story)
"The Underground Railroad and the Use of Quilts
as Messengers for Fleeing Slaves" by Kimberly Wulfert, PhD
Mr. Leahy's - Quilts Debate Create a PowerPoint presentation about the debate including your opinion about the debate. |
| Some
links on the web sites that you will access no longer work. Pick another
link.
To return to this page from any web site, click the Back Button until you are here. Mr. Leahy's Class – URR Quilts African American Quilts
African American Quilting Traditions
Abolition quilts and the URR
Underground Railroad Quilts – Secret Codes Threads of Freedom: The Underground Railroad Story
in Quilts
Follow the Drinking Gourd |
