Lesson Plan 1
Hidden Messages in Spirituals
Intermediate (grades 6-8)
1-2 class periods
Program Segments Coded Lyrics Worksheet
Freedom’s Land Coded Lyrics Worksheet - Teacher Notes
Student Spiritual Lyrics (teacher should pre-cut and put in box for
NYS Core Curriculum - Literacy in History/Social Studies, students to draw from)
Science and Technical Subjects, 6-12 “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” Song video (optional)
Reading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thz1zDAytzU
• Craft and Structure (meaning of words)
Writing Procedures
• Test Types and Purposes (organize ideas, develop topic with
1. Watch the Underground Railroad: The William Still Story segment
facts)
on spirituals.
• Production and Distribution of Writing (develop, organize
2. Explain how spirituals are different from hymns and psalms
appropriate to task)
because they were a way of sharing the hard condition of being a
• Research to Build and Present Knowledge (short research
slave. Be sure to discuss the significant dual meanings found in
project, using term effectively)
the lyrics and their purpose for fugitive slaves (codes, faith).
3. Play the song using an Internet site, mp3 file, or CD. (stopping
NCSS Themes periodically to explain parts of the song)
I. Culture and Cultural Diversity 4. Have students fill out the Coded Lyrics Worksheet while discussing
II. Time, Continuity and Change the meanings as a class.
III. People, Places, and Environments 5. Play the song again, uninterrupted.
IV. Individual Development and Identity
6. Ask each student to choose a unique line from a box of pre-cut
V. Individuals, Groups and Institutions
VIII. Science, Technology, and Society Student Spiritual Lyrics.
7. Allow the students at least twenty minutes to compose their own
Objectives spirituals offering the following instructions before students begin
Students will be able to: to write:
• understand the concept and historical context of spirituals • Spirituals should reflect the life of a slave and/or impending
• read and listen to spirituals travel on the Underground Railroad
• discover the meaning of the secret messages found in the lyrics • The students’ selected spiritual lyric must be included at least
of spirituals once in their songs
• compose a personal spiritual that includes a line from a known • Songs should be creative and engaging
spiritual • Students should use metaphors and can include their own
“code” with a key for the teacher
Focus Questions • Any historical facts need to be accurate
• How did spirituals help to preserve African culture during 8. Must meet length requirement (determined ahead of time by
slavery? teacher)
• What are some of the hidden messages in spirituals? 9. When the students are done with their poems/songs ask for a
• How can lyrics of spirituals reflect personal meanings? few to read or sing to the class.
Key Concepts
Metaphor, Spirituals, Poetry, Lyrics, Interpretation, Self-Reflection Assessment Tasks
The students will identify the hidden meanings in spirituals based on class
Instructional Resources discussion and Coded Lyrics Worksheets. The students will also compose
Underground Railroad: The William Still Story DVD their own spiritual.
Computer, mp3 player or CD to play the song “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
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Coded Lyrics Worksheet
Name
LYRICS LITERAL MEANING “CODED” - SECRET MEANING
Refrain:
Swing low,
Sweet chariot,
Comin’ for to carry me
home..
Verses:
I looked over Jordan,
and what did I see?
A band of angels
coming after me
If you get there before
I do, tell all my friends
I’m coming too
I’m sometimes up,
I’m sometimes down
But still my soul feels
heavenly bound
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Coded Lyrics Worksheet
TEACHER NOTES
LYRICS LITERAL MEANING “CODED” - SECRET MEANING
Refrain:
Swing low, Come down Come into slaveholding states
Sweet chariot, Heavenly vehicle The Underground Railroad
Comin’ for to carry me Taking me to heaven Take me to freedom in the Northern states or
home.. Canada
Verses:
I looked over Jordan, I looked over the River Jordan, I looked over the Mississippi or Ohio River,
and what did I see? and what did I see? and what did I see?
A band of angels A group of angels coming after me Workers on the Underground Railroad coming to
coming after me help me
If you get there before If you get there before I do, tell all If I have escaped friends or family, please tell
I do, tell all my friends my friends I’m coming too them my escape plan
I’m coming too
I’m sometimes up, I’m sometimes up, I’m sometimes I have good days and bad days
I’m sometimes down down
But still my soul feels But still my soul feels But I know I will soon escape North on the
heavenly bound heavenly bound Underground Railroad
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Student Spiritual Lyrics
Swing low, sweet chariot Steal away, steal away
Coming for to carry me home I ain’t got long to stay here
A band of angels coming after me The trumpet sounds within my soul
I’m sometimes up, I’m sometimes down Wade in the water
Follow the drinking gourd (It) chills the body, but not the soul
The old man is awaiting for to carry you There is a balm in (Gilead)
to freedom
Go down, Moses (students name) Sometimes I feel discouraged
...let My people go Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
No more shall they in bondage toil I once was lost but now am found
Oh, let us all from bondage flee Through many dangers, toils and snares
You need not always weep and mourn A life of joy and peace
Oh lordy, trouble so hard Bright shining as the sun
My soul got happy and stayed all day
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