PBS
Hidden Messages in Spirituals
Slaves laboring in the cotton fields of the old South singing joyously may have convinced overseers that their workforce was happy and content, but in truth, these spirituals contained secret codes. After viewing a short video about...
Curated OER
Gandhi's "Good Life": The Spiritual Dimension
Students investigate awareness and spiritual transformation by researching the life of Gandhi. In this philosophy lesson, students discuss living in an aware state by practicing yoga, eating vegetarian, and becoming immersed in poetry....
Curated OER
Sing Out Loud: The Slave Spirituals Historical and Cultural Implications during Reconstruction
Students identify, summarize and present facts about cultural, educational and political inequalities of Reconstruction, explain hidden codes of slave spirituals and their importance in slaves' communication, and create poetry based on...
National Park Service
Lesson 5: Coded Spirituals, Metaphor in African Spirituals
If a picture is worth a thousand words, song lyrics also can communicate many meanings. Using the lyrics of spirituals, young historians analyze them for coded messages about freedom. Resources include a chart to help individuals track...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Music of African American History
High schoolers examine role spirituals have played in African American history and religion, examine Harriet Tubman's use of spirituals in her work, explore power of spirituals in Civil Rights Movement, and work with oral tradition,...
Curated OER
President Report
Can you name all of our past United States presidents? Explore some of the lesser known presidents with this beginner-level research project. Learners choose a president (or draw one from a hat) and find out some basic information...
Curated OER
Spiritual Health: Serving the Whole Person
Students investigate a web-course designed to help them develop an understanding of their spiritual lives, find resources for spiritual emergencies and to consider the meaning of death. This course is Christian and Biblical-based.
Curated OER
Religion and Spirituality in Native Cultures
Fifth graders gain an appreciation for the central role that religion and spirituality holds in Native cultures. After researching Totems, 5th graders create their own Totems out of construction paper based on their lives and beliefs.
Curated OER
The Quest
High schoolers explore Canadian perspectives on culture and spirituality. The works of Robert Harris are utilized, as are many works of literature appropriate to the study. The four-lesson series culminates in the creation of a work of...
K12 Reader
Song of Freedom: Go Down, Moses
African American spirituals served as more than songs of religious praise during the years of slavery. "Go Down, Moses" is featured on a worksheet that asks readers to respond to a series of short-answer prompts about the spiritual.
Curated OER
Spiritual Power of Symbols
Young scholars examine how symbols are used in some societies to influence spirits and to protect rooms. They discuss and view examples of doors decorated with symbols, and create a door mural using African and American symbols.
Curated OER
Down By the Riverside
Students discuss the musical genre of spirituals and its influence on our musical history. They perform various songs, and read the student score for, Down By the Riverside.
John F. Kennedy Center
Harriet Tubman: Secret Messages Through Song
A lesson all about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad introduces scholars to African American spirituals. By way of reading, speaking, and listening, learners discover, analyze, and decode African American spirituals. They...
PBS
Sitting Bull: Spiritual Leader and Military Leader
Sitting Bull was not expected to be a great warrior. Yet, he led the Lakota people and other tribes to several pivotal victories against the United States government when federal troops threatened their land. Using primary sources, such...
Huntington Library
Religion & Spirituality - Exploring the California Missions
The California missions were built with the hope of converting the local Native Americans to Catholicism, but exactly how different were their beliefs to begin with? Through analysis of a series of primary source documents, young...
Curated OER
I Heard a Fly Buzz – When I Died – Themes of Spirituality
In this reading learning exercise, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions based on themes of spirituality in "I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –." Students may also complete their choice of 2 reading activities suggested.
Curated OER
People of the Plains- Spiritualism
Fourth graders study cultural characteristics regarding Native American beliefs. They discuss spiritualism as it relates to respect. (respect for all things, living and dead; connection with the land, etc.) They provide examples they...
Curated OER
Spirituals
Fourth graders realize the significance in the Negro spirituals concerning the Underground Railroad. They choose a position, either for helping slaves or ignoring the slaves. They describe, in a paragraph, their position.
Curated OER
Spirituals
Students review factors that contributed to the development of the spiritual, which reflects the influence of African religious and Christian traditions, and slavery. Students collect spirituals/songs of their heritage from family...
Curated OER
Writing Your Own Spiritual
For this slavery worksheet, students brainstorm words that describe slavery and then write their own spiritual about slavery. Students may write as many words as they would like.
Curated OER
Relationship Between God and Man
For those seeking a spiritual education this activity on God's plan for humanity may be highly beneficial. Each group will read a story then discuss the qualities of each story that show the manifestations of God. This activity includes...
Curated OER
Harriet Tubman Integrated Unit: Lesson 3
Students explore African spirituals. In this slavery instructional activity, students listen to and analyze the spiritual song "Wade in the Water" line by line. Students share their interpretations with their classmates.
Curated OER
Spirit and Nature
High schoolers examine sources of spirituality. In this religion lesson plan, students investigate ties between the spiritual and natural worlds. High schoolers design community and personal projects that feature relationships to the...
Curated OER
Where the Spirit Moves You
Learners explore the spiritual significance of locations throughout the world. After studying the historical and mystical importance of these places, students write about a spiritual place that is special to them.
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