Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winters
 The Review
Peg Leg Joe appears at the plantation one day, and a young girl is fascinated by him. He seems to know about her father who had run away. She discovers that her mother, too, knows how to leave the plantation by "following the drinking gourd," or North Star. When she and her mother run away, she learns the price of freedom—being chased, the fear of being caught and returned to the plantation, and being unable to trust anyone. She also learns the joy of freedom—being reunited with her father and having the ability to live with respect and dignity.

The Activities

1)Think about the Underground Railroad and how Peg Leg Joe, a free black man, was involved in helping the slaves. Why was he never caught and punished for his involvement?

2)Focus on the character education traits during the reading and discussion of the story. Which traits are shown in this story?

3)This is a song–story. After watching the video as a whole class, read the story again,individually, and feel free tol sing the story when it is appropriate.

4)Think about you & your family. Imagine what it might be like to be separated. How do you think you would feel?

5)During library or silent reading time, read about others who overcame slavery or were involved in the Civil Rights movement:
Frederick Douglass Fights For Freedom by Margaret Davidson
Addy books from the "American Girl" series by Connie Porter
George Washington Carver
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jesse Jackson
5)Then, using a Venn Diagram, (given by teacher), compare and contrast two main characters and their experiences.