Let My People Go: Coded Slave Messages In Music and Folk Art

Authors: Ceila Strebendt, Kathy Meyer, Marjorie Light

Grade Level: Grade 7

Overview:This is an interdisciplinary unit on slavery, incorporating music, mathematics and literature, which augments the Social Studies curriculum for seventh grade. It celebrates the contributions of African Americans tour culture. The unit focuses on the music of pre-Civil War era and how slaves used the songs for both communication and artistic expression, In addition, students will connect the coded quilts slaves created with the lyrics of the songs. The unit will include presentations by Dan and Vivian Papson about the Underground Railroad in our area, based on their recently published book, a presentation by the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir and other local experts.

Students will create digital video footage of their original music creations, which will be included in the compact disc compilation they design.

Connection to NYS Learning Standards: ELA Standard 1 Language for Information and Understanding, Standard 2 Language for Literary Response and Expression, Standard 4 Language for Social Interaction; Arts Standard 1 Creating, Performing and Participating in the Arts, Standard 2 Knowing and Using Materials and Resource, Standard 3 Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art and Standard 4 Understanding the Cultural Contributions of the Arts; MST Standard 3 Mathematics, Standard 5 Technology and Standard 7 Interdisciplinary Problem Solving; Social Studies Standard 1History of U.S. and New York and Standard 3 Geography

Connection to District Learning Standards: Critical Thinker, Life-long Learner, Effective Communicator, Responsible Citizen.