Read Aloud Program: Integrative Strategy Guide
Title: Follow the Drinking Gourd
Author/Illustrator: Jeanette Winters
Age Range: 7-9
Themes: Slavery
See video of this book read aloud here: Follow the Drinking Gourd
I.
II.
INTRODUCTION (PREP QUESTIONS)
a. Use the cover and title to predict what the story is about.
b. Model a think-aloud strategy for the students: I wonder what a ‘drinking gourd is? Who these people are on
the cover? What are they doing? Where are they going? Why is one of them looking up at the sky?
INTEGRATIVE STRATEGIES
a. Post Reading:
 Discuss the students’ concept of slavery—what they know about the lives of slaves, what they did, and
what they were not allowed to do.
 On pp. 5 and 7, it says that Peg Leg Joe would teach the slaves a song to freedom and would move on to
another farm and teach the song again to other slaves. Why do you think that Joe thought it was
important to teach the song rather than just tell the slaves where to go?
 Have students discuss the various people who were brave in this story, those that took great risks. Have
students support their ideas with reasons. (slaves; Peg Leg Joe; white farm boy; safe house owners; road
wagon drivers)
 Why is it important today for us to read and understand events such as those mentioned in this story?