Follow The Drinking Gourd
From Reading Rainbow · 1993
28 min2nd3rd4th5thReading & Writing (ELA)Social Studies
Summary
Jeanette Winter's picture book tells how enslaved people used a coded folk song — and the Big Dipper constellation — to navigate north to freedom along the Underground Railroad. LeVar Burton explores astronomy and the history of the freedom movement.
Viewer safety
All ages
Common Sense Media — not yet ratedIMDb Parents Guide — not yet rated
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
The folk song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" encoded directions north to freedom.
- What is the "drinking gourd" and how did people use it to navigate?
- What other clues in the song helped travelers find their way?
- Why did people have to use coded messages rather than written directions?
- What does this story reveal about the courage and creativity of enslaved people?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: Underground Railroad, constellation, Big Dipper, freedom, code.
Try it: Find the Big Dipper in a star chart and draw it. Write two sentences explaining how you could use it to find north at night.