Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan

I have decided to create my five day lesson plan on the book Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan. Munoz Ryan writes a phenomenal story about Charlotte Parkhurst and her struggle to follow her dreams. This story takes place during the 1800’s women’s suffrage movement. With strength and resilience, Charlotte’s dreams are never broken down. Being trapped her whole live in an orphanage gives her courage to live her life in a free spirited way. She breaks a civil rights barrier, and even owns her own piece of land.

Charlotte, later known as Charley Parker, was stagecoach driver and the first woman to vote in the United States. It all began when she was twelve years old, where she lived in an all boy orphanage, where she lost her best friend, her favorite horse, and her special job working in the stable. She was left with nothing but a job in the kitchen at the orphanage, where she was treated as a slave. Ten years later, Charlotte was tough and strong and determined to make her own way in life so she dressed up as a boy and escaped the orphanage.

Girls couldn’t travel alone in the 1860s, but boys could. She borrowed some boys’ clothes and enough money for a stagecoach ticket, cut her hair, and left. From then on her name was Charley Parker. Charley’s life then began in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Charley then became a “man” who was famous all over California as a one-eyed stagecoach driver. She grew up to be a landowner and the first woman to vote. In the 1860s, women didn’t drive six-horse stagecoach teams, get kicked in the face by horses, or vote in presidential elections, but Charlotte did — as Charley (Bodart, 1996).

Below is an overview of a five day lesson plan that coincides with literacy and the novel.

Day 1 

Author Pam Muñoz Ryan built a story around the facts known about "Six-Horse Charlie," from her early life in an orphanage to driving stagecoaches in the gold rush era. Based on a true story, Riding Freedom takes place during the 1860’s women’s suffrage movement. The main character, Charlotte Parkhurst, was a top-notch horse rider and the first woman to vote in the state of California, where women were not allowed to drive six-horse stagecoach teams, get kicked in the face by horses, or vote in presidential elections, but Charlotte did — as Charley.

Students are introduced to the book with a brief history of the 1800’s women’s suffrage movement. Students will then discuss this issue, and then compare women rights in the nineteenth to twenty-first century. Students will complete women rights, compare and contrast, worksheet. For example, back in the 1800’s women were not allowed to attend school, today they are entitled to a full and equal education. Another example is how women were not allowed to run for president. Today, women are elected for office with the choice to run for president. Following this assignment, students will become aware of nineteenth century women rights, compared to the roles women play in our society today.   

Day 2

Students will be introduced to a story map, which will be worked on throughout the novel. There will be a story map worksheet in which students will fill out after each daily reading session. The worksheet pertains to the setting, characters, problem(s), solution, and ending of the story. Students will fill out the worksheet with the information they have attained for the day. For instance, if a new character is introduced in the story, students are to list that character, or if a new problem arises, students are to jot down the problem. Students will try to find solutions to problems, and for the ending category, students will have to wait and see.

Day 3

Frustrated by the rules restricting her from horses and the domestic labor she is expected to perform at a nineteenth-century New Hampshire all boys orphanage, Charlotte aspires to run away from controlling authority figures that treat her as an orphanage slave. With the help of Vern, she cuts her hair, dresses in boy's clothes and catches the stagecoach to Concord, Massachusetts.

After Charlotte escapes the orphanage, students are to write a letter to her where she reads either in the stagecoach or in the hayloft. They are to give her some advice about what to do now that she's started her journey. For example, students can give her advice on how to survive, escape the orphanage for good, what she can do to find safe lodging and food, or tips to improve her disguise.

Day 4

Charlotte feels free when she is surrounded by horses, especially when she is stage coaching. Students will create a quilt. On a diamond shaped quilt piece, each student will draw and color a picture of where they feel most free. Under the picture, students will write a caption of their illustration. Following the illustration and caption, students are to write a paragraph about their illustration, where they feel most free. Students will then go into groups, share their quilt piece, and then tape it together. The teacher will then tape all pieces together, creating a big class quilt.

Day 5

Students will read aloud in small groups. Each group will be handed a different set of vocabulary words. Each group is to define vocabulary words to their best ability. After students read the chapter and define their vocabulary words as a group, they share them with their classmates. The teacher will assist students if their words need to be revised. The teacher will redefine vocabulary words, while students print them on paper. After all vocabulary words are shared and correctly defined, students are to independently write a sentence for each vocabulary word.



Assessment: Students will gain knowledge of the time periods (women's suffrage movement, Gold Rush), and different settings around the United States, the novel takes place in. They will also learn the true definition of the title of the book, Riding Freedom.