Freedom Quilt

All of the music classes have been learning about Black History month and how African Americans greatly influenced the music we listen to today. Slaves often used songs and quilts to send secret messages about the Underground Railroad. Quilts are also used to tell the story of someone's family history. Several of the classes created pictures portraying what they had learned. We put the pieces together to form a "Freedom Quilt."
Kindergarten and 1st Grade studied Harriet Tubman. She often used secret calls and songs to warn people of danger and also to let them know when the coast was clear. The Kindergarteners colored pictures that follow the story of her life.

Kindergarten

The 2nd graders learned the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and were amazed to find out that the lyrics were really a secret map, guiding the slaves to freedom in the North.

The 3rd graders studied the Underground Railroad. We read the book "Henry's Freedom Box" and learned the true story of how one man mailed himself to freedom. We also learned several songs about freedom trains. Their quilt represents pictures of Henry's journey and also what they think life as a slave may have been like.



3rd Grade

The 4th Graders read two books (we wanted to celebrate Reading Month as well!), "When Marian Sang" and "Duke Ellington." They learned about the many styles of music that African Americans have inspired and created such as jazz, blues, gospel, rag time, swing, marches, hip-hop, and rap.

4th Grade

Painting their quilt squares.

The 5th Graders studied Martin Luther King, Jr and how freedom songs were often sung to inspire people and lift their hopes during his speeches and marches. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is now considered the African American National Anthem.

The 6th Graders each researched a different African American musician. Their quilt pattern gives a short bio of their musician, any struggles that person may have overcome, and/or how they have changed music.

6th Grade

 The finished quilt takes up the entire wall outside of the music room. 6 "secret" facts about African American music have been hidden throughout the quilt.

Finished quilt

Secret fact