Amos Fortune, Free Man Principle Approach Notebooking Study Lesson # 32 Leading idea to be taught: With God's help, Amos fulfills his life's work. Summary of lesson: Read page 174, "As the days " thru end of book. As Amos' physical strength began to fade, what did he yearn for? Why did he not tell Violet? What did Amos continue to pray about? Why did it mean that Amos desired "to free the white man"? Review the Bondage page and discuss the fact that prejudice is bondage for both blacks (physically), and whites (mentally). Even though Amos was still somewhat strong in the eyes of others, why did he desire to write a will? Again, we see the selfless character and sense of responsibility in Amos to prepare for the future of his loved ones. What character qualities did Deacon Spofford possess that show us why Amos chose him to execute the will? What character qualitites in Amos did the Deacon admire? What did Amos leave to Violet and Celyndia? What was the only physical request Amos made for himself? Whom did he want to write his epitaph? What does this show? (humility, a good reputation) What was the designation of the special fund he had been collecting? Why did he choose to leave money to these two? Read Matthew 5:43-45 and discuss Amos' motive. Although to Deacon Spofford it was a luxury, what was the meaning of the silver communion service to Amos? (the unity and fellowship of all Christians, regardless of skin color) Why did Amos leave money to the school? What his prayer for the boys and girls? How did Amos feel after the will was completed? What was inscribed on Amos' headstone? How does this beautifully summarize his life? What was inscribed on Violet's headstone? How long did she live after Amos? Why such a short time? How could the fund designated for the school still be in use? Student notebooking page: On the Amos Fortune Timeline, record 1801 on the last line. On the Church and School page, reason from the book to record the gifts Amos left to the church and the school, and the meanings behind each. File under Theme. On the A Life Well Lived page, record the epitaphs for both Amos and Violet. File under Characterization.
Index of Notebooking Pages for Amos Fortune, Free Man Good Literature Chapter 5: Journey to Keene 1779 Student Notebook Cover The Mountain and the Meeting House Amos' New Family Author Study Bible Parallels Elizabeth Yates Biography Elizabeth Yates Biography Page Chapter 6: The Arrival at Jaffrey Elizabeth Yates Map Moving to Jaffrey God's Providence & Christian Care Chapter 1: Africa 1725 Amos Fortune Timeline Chapter 7: Hard Work Fills the Iron Kettle 1781-1789 At-mun Map God's Provision Africa 1725 Amos' Dream At-mun-shi Chart The Tanning Process The Prince Becomes a Slave Sacred Sundays Bondage Amos & Violet Disagree Chapter 2: The Middle Passage Chapter 8: Amos on the Mountain At-mun Still Leads His Captive People Shiftlessness vs. Industry Middle Passage Slave Trade Map Land for Amos' Family The Middle Passage Rescued by Compassion Chapter 9: Auctioned for Freedom Reaping the Benefits of Hard Work Chapter 3: Boston 1725-1740 Vendues Amos Fortune Map The Chariot Copeland Family Chart A King Unto God Chapter 10: Evergreen Years 1794-1801 Comforted by the Bible Apprenticeship Responsibilities Christianity Brings Liberty Making the Way Better Life Among the Slaves Hatred is a Fire Amos' Search Church and School A Life Well Lived Chapter 4: Woburn 1740-1779 Richardson Family Chart Vocabulary Living Every Day to the Lord Suggested Vocabulary List "Mine eye affecteth mine heart" Vocabulary Page Amos Fortune, Free Man Fighting for Freedom Blank Notebooking Pages
Good literature should teach us what is: Philippians 4:8
Amos Fortune: Free Man by Elizabeth Yates A Literature Study by:
Elizabeth Yates Biography Elizabeth Yates was born on December 6, 1905, in Buffalo, New York to Henry and Mary Duffy Yates. She was the sixth of seven children. Each summer was spent on their family farm south of the city. Her love of animals and the land came from her childhood experiences on the farm where "there were horses, cows, chickens and pigs, dogs always. When we were very small each one of us had some plot of ground that was ours to plant and crop." Books were an important part of her life. Yates credited her mother for instilling in her a love for books by reading aloud to the family. At the age of 12, at the request of her father, Yates read through the whole Bible. This was to become one of her favorite books. Her sister also encouraged her to read, and made a list of recommended books for Elizabeth. From an early age, Yates enjoyed writing. In her childhood, she transformed an unused pigeon loft on the family farm into a secret writing place. She also enjoyed composing stories in her mind while riding her horse, Bluemouse, through the countryside. Elizabeth graduated from high school in 1924, then spent a year at Oaksmere, a private school near New York City. Yates looked back on her school days with fondness, saying, "I know how much I look back on my teachers now, with a heart almost aching with gratitude for all they gave me, and not a little remorse for all the trouble I gave them...the teachers I think of with most gratitude are the teachers who made books real to me." In 1926, she moved to Manhattan to launch her writing career. She undertook a variety of assignments: reviewing books, writing short stories, doing research, and writing travel articles for publications such as The New York Times. When she married William McGreal in 1929, they moved to England where her first book, High Holiday, based on travels in Switzerland with three English children, was published. The couple returned to the United States in 1939, and settled in Peterborough, New Hampshire. They bought an old farm where Elizabeth enjoyed her hobbies of gardening and walking. She also continued to write books, working in a little loft from 8:30 each morning until lunch. In 1946, Elizabeth invited her friend, English artist Nora Unwin, to move to the United States. She eventually settled in a house in the McGreals orchard, and they collaborated on many projects. Personal experience formed the basis of many of Yate's novels. Her husband once said, Usefulness seems to be the yardstick of her philosophy. Her passion for the land led her to write The Road Through Sandwich Notch, a book which was influential in preserving that portion of New Hampshire for inclusion in the White Mountain National Forest. Mrs. Yates credited the Bible and the works of William Blake and George Eliot for giving her inspiration. She spent her retirement years helping budding writers on her farm and conducting writer's workshops at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University. Yates was widowed in 1963. She died July 29, 2001, at a hospice in Concord, New Hampshire. Mrs. Yates was the author of over forty books for children and is best known for her 1951 Newberry Medal winning novel Amos Fortune, Free Man. References for this article: Authors and Illustrators Archive http://www.theweeweb.co.uk Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/elizabeth_yates_(author) Progeny Press
Name: Dates Lived: Location Born: Biography
Elizabeth Yates 1905-2001
Amos Fortune Timeline Born free in Africa as At-Mun, prince of the At-mun-shi tribe Taken captive by slave traders to Boston, Massachusetts at age 15 Purchased by kind Quaker Caleb Copeland Caleb Copeland dies Amos sold to Ichabod Richardson of Woburn, Massachusetts, at age 30 Purchases his freedom and receives his paper of manumission at age 59 Sets up his own shop as a tanner and builds a home 1773 Boston Tea Party 1776 Purchases Lily s freedom and marries her Lily dies Declaration of Independence signed Purchases Lydia s freedom and marries her Lydia dies Amos purchases Violet and Celyndia s freedom and marries Violet Amos and his family move to Jaffrey, New Hampshire when Amos is 71 1787 United States Constitution written Amos purchases his own land and builds a house at age 79 United States Constitution ratified Amos purchases the care of Polly Burdoo, who dies within the year Amos takes in Charles Toothaker, age 13, as apprentice 1794 U.S. dollar becomes the national currency, replacing the British pound Amos dies on November 17 at age 91, leaving funds to the school and the church
At-mun 1710-1725
Africa 1725
Character External Characteristics Internal Characteristics At-mun-shi tribe Chief At-mun Ath-mun