Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom by Ann Petry

(teacher ́s version)

This selection tells about Harriet Tubman's effort to lead a group of eleven slaves to freedom
in Canada (At that time, slavery was illegal in Canada.) Harriet Tubman guided those groups
into freedom on Sundays when the local sheriffs were at church. For this group of eleven
Maryland slaves, she had been planning for a long time. They worked at a plantation, she
said to herself, “I ́m going to liberate these people from slavery. I am going to make them
taste the flavor of liberty!. They won't regret it!.” She chose the slaves she would take with
her.
On the chosen night, she approached the huts they lived in. Harriet alerted slaves by singing
a song about Moses, the ancient Bible character who led the Hebrews out of slavery. The
black people who agreed to go with her towards the north, packed some of their belongings
in a bundle and waited patiently for her signal to depart.
That time eleven people were going to set free, she had never managed such a big group,
but she was so determined that she would do it. She wanted black people to know what
freedom was like. Harriet led them to Canada. The route they took was so long from the
north through Philadelphia and New England. They would depend on the kindness of local
people to help them on their way. Because she had never been to Canada the track beyond
Philadelphia was strange to her. People were afraid and disappointed. Harriet told them
wonderful stories about freedom to keep their spirits high.
Their trip to freedom was so hard that most of them were disappointed and angry with her.
They didn't believe her amazing stories. That first night they arrived at the farm of a German
couple who let them in right after “A friend with friends”, code words were told by Harriet.
They ate and rest. The Germans offered food, bread, and milk. After a restful night, the
group
kept on, but things were tougher than before. One of them said, “Let me go back. It's better
to be a slave than to suffer like this to be free” another said, “Let me go back, let me go
back, I am going back, I am not going with you. I don ́t believe in your stories.” Harriet took
the rifle and said, “Go on with us or die.” She knew that if a slave went back, he would be
forced to tell about the places and people who helped them.

They persisted on their way to freedom, got to Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and finally
to St. Catharines, Canada in December 1851. In 1852, Harriet returned to Maryland to work
as a cook for the summer. She made two trips a year for six years. During her last trip, she
exclaimed “I ́ll never regret it!”.

Reading Comprehension
Answer these questions:
1. Who was Harried Tubman?
● She was fighter for the freedom of enslaved black people
2. What did she do?
● Led a group of eleven slaves to freedom in the Country of Canada
3. Where did she work and live?
● She worked on a plantation and lived in Maryland
4. Why is she important?
 ● It is important because she freed slaves, at the time it was illegal, she led black
people to the path of freeddom.
5. How did she help slaves escape?
● She chose 11 slaves and took them to Canada via Philadelphia, New England,
Germany

Grammar in Context

Active Voice
Harriet alerted slaves by singing a song about Moses.
Passive Voice:
Slaves were alerted by Harriet by singing a song about Moses.
Was or were + past participle

Active Voice
Harriet Tubman guided those groups into freedom on Sundays.
Change to Passive Voice
● Those groups were guided into freedom on Sundays by Harriet Tubman.
Active Voice
Harriet told them magnificent stories about freedom to keep their spirits high.
Change to Passive Voice
● Magnificents stories were told about freedom to keep their spirits high by Harriet.

Find two passive Voice sentences, write them down.

1. She was so determined that she would do it.

2. Them were disappointed and angry with her.

Build up four passive voice sentences based on the story of Harriet Tubman. Do not
copy. Write your sentences regarding the context of the story. jorge

1. The slaves was libered by Harriet Tubman

2. Each Sunday the church was visited by the sheriffs
3. A great route was traveled by the slaves
4. A slave was threatened by Harriet Tubman because he wanted to return and could
betray them.

Short Research: Look for the life of any iconic Ecuadorian character who worked for the
rights of Ecuadorian vulnerable groups such as indigenous, black, women or children write
about him or her. Use at least 4 passive voice sentences. Highlight them in yellow . Write an
average of 150 words. Edit several times. USE GRAMMARLY.

Transito Amaguaña

She was an Ecuadorian indigenous activist.

The first workers' strike in Olmedo was led by Tránsito Amaguaña.
The Ecuadorian Federation of Indians was founded in 1944.
Transito Amaguaña was named main activists of the indigenous movement.
The Bilingüe education was promoted by Transito Amaguaña