Teacher Resources

Curriculum materials have been developed to help school teachers in lesson planning. The goal of this curriculum is to help in the development and dissemination of materials about Sojourner Truth.

  • Thanks to two grants from Mass Humanities, the committee developed a curriculum that helps teachers and students, grades 5-12, understand Sojourner Truth's accomplishments in the context of 19th-century Florence, MA. An in-person walking tour for students and a self-guided mobile walking tour were also developed. Teachers may contact the committee for more information.
  • In 2009-10, a play about Sojourner Truth, "I Will Shake Every Place I Go To," was developed in collaboration with the Enchanted Circle Theater in Holyoke, MA. Enchanted Circle has produced a complete version of the play in book format along with a CD of the music and a CD of teaching ideas.  The book of the play and materials are appropriate for grades 5-12. Contact Enchanted Circle Theater for information about the book and CD. This teaching tool is also available at the Odyssey Bookshop, Broadside Bookshop, and Amherst Books.
  • A subcommittee developed sample lesson plans for grade 3-5 teachers based on the book Only Passing Through by Anne Rockwell. The sample lessons, along with a copy of the book and audio tape and CD reading of the book were donated to 10 local elementary schools.
  • In 2006-07 the subcommittee cooperated with the Deerfield Teachers' Center in developing a high school unit: "Sojourner’s Third Life Chapter: Finding Other Truths at the Northampton Association for Education and Industry." This workshop is not available at this time.
  • Touching History with Art: It is wonderful to see the different ways that people integrate Sojourner and her message into their work and lives. A Western Massachusetts  photographer and teacher developed this very interesting lesson plan using art to illuminate Sojourner’s message.

Download a curriculum packet, which includes three lesson plans for elementary students:

  1. Sojourner Truth (mini-unit)
  2. Slavery Unit from the Brooklyn Library featuring the book Only Passing Through by Anne Rockwell
  3. Famous Abolitionists/Famous People, which features 6 important people from Sojourner's era