Follow The Drinking Gourd Lesson Plan

Submitted by Connie Herbon, Iowa

Idea posted March 17, 2003

This lesson plan was inspired by the Music K-8 recording of "Follow The Drinking Gourd" (from Music K-8, Vol. 13, No. 3).

• book: Follow The Drinking Gourd (story and pictures by Jeanette Winter)
• song handout: "Follow The Drinking Gourd" (from Music K-8, Vol. 13, No. 3)
• supplementary songs: "Let Us Break Bread Together" and "Read 'em John" (both from Music K-8, Vol. 2, No. 3). Kim Harris and Judith Cook Tucker have an article called "Music and the Underground Railroad" along with copies of these two songs. The tape has some basic narration about "code" songs and a recording of "Let Us Break Bread Together."
• supplementary visual handout showing constellations as well as information on the Underground Railroad
• U.S. map (for geographical references)

1. Follow on the lyric sheet and listen to "Follow The Drinking Gourd"
2. Show visual of dippers and gourd (p.77 from Music K-8, Vol. 13, No. 3)
3. Review and set up historical and geographical information using U.S. map, such as President Lincoln/Civil War time period, slave/free states, Union/Confederate states, Ohio River, Lake Erie, Canada
4. Read selected portions of "A Note About the Story" from front of book
5. Teacher read/sing story from picture book
6. Sing song from lyric sheets with recording from Music K-8
7. Distribute constellation visuals and supplementary songs "Let Us Break Bread Together" and "Read 'em John"
8. Listen to recording of first song and narration. Teacher sing "Read 'em John" for students to follow.

Wrap-Up: selected questions about book, student questions and comments. As a little "by-the-way tidbit," I taught students how to name and remember the 5 Great Lakes for future reference.