Unit: The Solar System

Lesson 9: Look into the Stars, and Follow the Drinking Gourd

Literature Integration

Grade: 3

MST State Standards:

Standard 4: Science- Physical Setting (intermediate)

1. The Earth and celestial phenomena can be described by principles of relative motion and perspective.

· 1.1c The Sun and other stars appear to move in a recognizable pattern both daily and seasonally.

Integrated Standards:

ELA Standard 1: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

The Arts Standard 1: Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Arts.

SS Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government

Unifying Idea(s) or Dimension(s):

• History and Nature of Science Standard
• Organization

Objectives: SWBA to…

• Explain what a constellation is.
• Identify and name various types of constellations.
• Explain how slaves were led to freedom by the “drinking gourd.”
• Identify Peg Leg Joe.
• Define the Underground Railroad.

Aim:

• Follow the drinking gourd!

Materials:

• Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
• Black construction paper
• White crayons
• Star stickers
• Smartboard/Chalk board
• Exit cards

Safety Procedures:

• No safety procedures necessary

Assessment:

• Students will be assessed based on their construction and development of their constellation, as well as during discussion periods.
• Assessment will also be based upon the students’ exit cards.

Procedure (5-E Cycle):

Engage and Explore:

1. The teacher will begin by asking students some key questions, and explain that a constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the sky. Have students ever heard of the constellation the Big Dipper?
2. Following some of these key questions, the teacher will begin to read Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter to the class.
3. While reading, the teacher will read everything to the students, however, when the refrain of the song appears in the story, students will be encouraged to participate as well by singing the line “Follow the drinking gourd” when it comes time to do so.

Explain:

4. After the story is finished, the class will discuss constellations, the history of, and various patterns that can be seen in the sky.
5. The teacher will explain how the drinking gourd was also known as the big dipper, which is what the slaves looked for and followed in the sky during the 1840’s in order to become free from slavery.

Expand:

6. Students will then be asked to make their own drinking gourd constellation. Students will be given a piece of black construction paper. On one half they will write the words “Follow the drinking gourd,” which is the refrain from the song. On the other half of the paper, students will be given 7 star stickers to make the constellation.

Evaluate:

7. If students finish early, they will be able to begin filling out an exit card for the lesson.
8. Once the art project is completed the teacher will post them on the bulletin board as part of a display.

Key Questions:

• What is a constellation?
• Can anyone give some examples/names of constellations?
• What is a drinking gourd?
• Why were people following the drinking gourd?
• What is underground railroad?

Adaptations for Special Need & enrichment differentiation:

• The words for the art project will be displayed on the board so that students will be able to copy them onto their paper.

Follow-up Assignments

• Culminating lesson and review for unit test.

Reflection and Revision:

• There are many integrated subjects in the lesson, perhaps I need to go more in depth with each. For instance, there should be more information about the stars and constellations. And then, more with history and slavery.