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Elementary School Lesson Plan: Underground Railroad Songs
Grade Level: 2-6
National Music Education Standards:
Music: K-4—1c, 8b, 9a, 9d; 5-8—1c, 8b, 9b
Arizona Music Standards:
1AM-F1 PO1, 1AM-F4 PO2, 1AM-E4 PO1, PO2, 2AM-F1 PO2, 2AM-F2, 2AM-E3, 3AM-E2
Objective: Students will sing “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and will learn about the song’s significance to American history.
Materials: Follow the Drinking Gourd, by Jeanette Winter
Procedure:
*Read the story “Follow the Drinking Gourd” by Jeanette Winter.
*Discuss slavery, freedom, the underground railroad, and code songs as they relate to American history.
*Listen to a recording of Follow the Drinking Gourd, while looking at the lyrics. Many recordings are available online, for instance at: www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden-wp/?p=7026
*Sing Follow the Drinking Gourd as a class.
*Invite students to journal about their thoughts, feelings, and questions surrounding this topic
*Learn more about slavery and the underground railroad on this amazing site designed for kids by National Geographic: www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html
Extensions:
*Chart the big dipper and discuss how the stars have been used for navigation
Assessment:
*Research other code songs and write about the historical context surrounding them.
 
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