Contemplate the atrocities of slavery. Create a slave identity based on readings about the different faces of slavery in various times and places. Compose children's books based on interviews of classmates and their new slave identities. Countries of focus may include Brazil, the United States, Haiti, Greece, India, China, Russia and Sudan. Students share their answers.
Students read and discuss their materials in their groups.
After ten to fifteen minutes, ask students to imagine what it would have been like to be a slave in their assigned countries. Have each student create a slave or runaway slave identity for him or herself and jot down the basic details of his or her life. Then, give students a few minutes to interview the other members of their groups to hear their slave stories. Students will need to conduct additional research to ensure that the books are historically accurate. Books should be simple and include illustrations.