All 300 pairs of eyes are glued to one woman in the front of the room. Today, she takes on the role of Harriet Tubman, the famous abolitionist. Through story and song, she captivates the students. They sing together, clapping and chanting to songs they ve heard their whole lives. She sets up an Underground Railroad in the school cafeteria.
Some children act as stations on the Railroad.
Other students pretend they re slaves, trying to escape, making their way along the Underground Railroad, chanting and singing. For Sharon Ebbert, an ATPE member and the instructional specialist for Spring Branch ISD, this scenario is a fond memory. YA is a national organization with branches throughout Texas that offer programs that teach children math, visual arts, history and even social studies. Keeping students often short attention spans in mind, YA strives to make its programs both educational and entertaining. We might send in someone dressed in a costume to talk about the Oregon Trail, and the kids will write about what it would be like to travel across the country in a covered wagon, says Becky Clear, scheduling coordinator for YA s Houston branch.