How do you explain slavery to a child?
Kids Definition of slave
- 1 : a person who is owned by another person.
- 2 : a person who is strongly influenced and controlled by something a slave to fashion.
- 3 : drudge.
How do you explain slavery to a 6 year old?
Some say the best approach is to start early, introducing children as young as 5 by using picture books about slavery that are not graphic but also don’t play down the experience. Some want to avoid the subject altogether. They worry about anger, fear, guilt. Some feel ill-equipped.
How do you teach students about slavery?
Examine historical arguments In order to better understand different perspectives on slavery, it pays to examine historical arguments about how slavery developed, expanded and ended. Students can read texts that were written by abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and pro-slavery advocates like George Fitzhugh.
How do you talk to a preschooler about slavery?
Be wary of your language and try to use the terms “enslaved people” or “people who were made slaves” instead of calling them “slaves.” This emphasizes the humanity of the people who suffered and is a subtle way to teach that slavery was created and cast on people.
What age do children learn about slavery?
By the early elementary years (1st or 2nd grade), children are more likely to be developmentally ready to talk about slavery. By middle school, youth can have in-depth discussions that examine the far-reaching role slavery played in the United States’ economy and society.
What was education like for slaves?
Many slaves did learn to read through Christian instruction, but only those whose owners allowed them to attend. Some slave owners would only encourage literacy for slaves because they needed someone to run errands for them and other small reasons. They did not encourage slaves to learn to write.