Follow The Drinkin' Gourd (Free Music Download)
Follow The Drinkin' Gourd was a song sung by African American slaves escaping to freedom on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s.The code-word "drinkin' gourd" refers to the Big Dipper constellation which slaves followed to find their way north to freedom.
Teaching sequence
Introduce the song by singing one of the verses for you students.
Use call and response to teach the first verse
when the students have become familiar with the melody teach them the other verses or let them attempt to learn them on their own.
Once your students are familiar with the melody and can sing acapella or accompanied by a single instrument add the GrooveTrack.
Use lower volumes so the students can hear themselves and slightly louder volumes as they become confident in their singing