The Middle Passage
Author
Tom Feelings
Reading Level
Introduction – 7th grade
The story is told with illustrations
Suggested Grade Levels
5th grade assuming the proper context has been set
Related Books/Resources
Now is Your Time: The African-American Struggle for Freedom by Walter Dean Myers, pages 84-86.
“Telling the Truth of the Middle Passage,” an Interview with Tom Feelings in Rethinking Schools, Winter 1995. (PDF attached).
“African American Resistance,” by Bill Fletcher pp 24 – 27, in Rethinking Columbus.
The Captive, Joyce Hansen, (Scholastic, 1994) A fictionalized story inspired by the “The Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.” The book is written at a fifth grade level and is an excellent chapter book for either a class read aloud or for a guided reading group.
Thematic Connections
Colonialism, early U.S. history, enslavement of Africans, transatlantic slave trade, resistance
TCI Connection
5th grade , chapter 8 and chapter 12 (section on Jefferson and slavery, pp. 168-171.)
Student Objectives
Students will visualize the nature of the enslavement of African people and their resistance to the institution of slavery.
Students will see the power of art and drawings as a means to create a story and tell history.
Instructional Plan
- Resources
TCI fifth grade book chapter 8, other books, readings and information on the transatlantic slave trade. - Preparation
Preview the book and decide how to encourage students to take a mature view of some of the pictures. - Steps
After students have a basic understanding of the Middle Passage show the book page by page to students in whole group or in small group settings. If you have access to a Smartboard or LCD projector consider first showing images from the book that are available with commentary by the author Tom Feelings, at
Given the nature of the book and drawings, small groups are better. (Teachers can use this book in small reading groups when students are reading chapter books on the subject, or teachers can show the book to a small group while other students are engaged in other activities.) Later allow students to look at the book by themselves or in small groups or at a learning center.
Extensions
Use this to supplement not only social studies instruction but reading and art instruction as well.
During reading instruction with a historical fiction book that deals with slavery, such as The Captive by Joyce Hansen, use this to help deepen students’ understanding of the Middle Passage and African resistance.
Ask students questions to answer in small groups or individually at center.
What do you notice about the drawings that show the capture of African people that surprised you?
How did Tom Feelings show the resistance by the African people?
Look at the drawings again and list all the horrible aspects of the Middle Passage.
Have students do research on Cinque and the Amistad, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Nat Turner and/or Denmark Vesey to learn more about rebellions by enslaved Africans.
Web Resources
Juneteenth.com has a special section devoted to Tom Feeling’s book, The Middle Passage. There are images that can be viewed on a computer with LCD projector or Smartboard. Teachers can read the narration to the students and discuss it and the drawings.
Interactive Triangular Trade Map-
PBS Africans in Americas series
Assessment/Reflection
Student discussion and writing.