Lesson 2: Exploring “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
Aim: What is the hidden meaning in “Follow the Drinking Gourd”? Summary: Students explore the hidden meaning of “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and create secret directions for finding their own school. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.2, MK-2GM.3, MK-2GM.5, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.9 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.5 Vocabulary: Underground Railroad, gourd |
Sing “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
- Listen to “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” Track 41
- Learn to sing the chorus using Track 42
Literacy Link
Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter tells the story of Captain Peg Leg Joe, who aids slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. You can visit followthedrinkinggourd.org to learn more about “Follow the Drinking Gourd.”
Explore the Hidden Message in “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
- Listen to “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” Track 41
- Besides the drinking gourd, what are some of the other clues hidden in the words of the song?
- Focus on any musical opposites (e.g., dynamics or pitch opposites) that you hear in the song, and sing along with the chorus, Track 42
Follow the Drinking Gourd |
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Chorus: Follow the drinking gourd Follow the drinking gourd For the old man1 For to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd. Verse 1: (Chorus) Verse 2: |
(Chorus)
Verse 3: (Chorus) Verse 4: (Chorus) |
1. “The old man” is code for the Captain of the Underground Railroad.? |
In Unit 1, we learned that the ring shout was sung by slaves in the United States. Slaves also often wrote songs that had hidden meanings. Many times these songs provided clues to help other slaves escape from captivity.
In the 19th century, the Underground Railroad helped slaves from the United States to escape to free states and Canada through a network of secret routes and safe houses. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” was a song used in the Underground Railroad to help give directions to the escaping slaves.
The “drinking gourd” was the name for a hollow gourd that the slaves would use to collect water. However, in this song, it is also a code name for the Big Dipper—a constellation of stars that helped escaping slaves figure out which direction to travel.
Creative Extension: Create Your Own Code Messages
If you wanted to use code words to help someone find your school, which clues would you use?
- On SG37, create an original verse for “Follow the Drinking Gourd” using these new secret directions for finding your school.
- What is a code name for the playground? (e.g., the green creature)
- What is a code name for your school building? (e.g., a giant fort)
- What is a code name for the street? (e.g., a long trail)
- What is a code name for the people inside? (e.g., laughing voices)
- On SG38, draw pictures of important landmarks around your school and use your code words to mark these places on the map.
Musical Word Wall
Add the words Underground Railroad and gourd to the Musical Word Wall.
PDF Downloads
SG37 ↓ Download File
SG38 ↓ Download File
Musical Explorers Audio Tracks