Henry's Freedom Box is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
"Henry's Freedom Box" by Ellen Levine is the true story of Henry "Box" Brown, an enslaved man who escapes to freedom. Henry endures the harsh realities of slavery and the heartbreaking separation from his family. Determined to gain his freedom, he devises a plan to mail himself to the North in a wooden crate. With courage and resilience, Henry endures a treacherous journey, cramped inside the box for hours. Finally reaching Philadelphia, Henry emerges from the box as a free man. The story highlights the indomitable spirit of a man who refuses to accept the injustice of slavery and takes extraordinary risks to gain his freedom. It serves as a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the pursuit of liberty.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Discuss the books plot and examine the problem and solution.
- Analyze the illustrations in the story. Discuss how they provide meaning that the words might not.
- Practice identifying figurative language in the story.
- Introduce pronouns and practice using them.
- Introduce and act out action verbs.
- Discuss what it means to persevere and why it is important.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- Before She Was Harriet by Lesa cline-Ransome
- Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
- Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
- Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport
- Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue
- Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan
- The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- The Undefeated by Kwane Alexander
- The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert coles
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
