Multicultural Mathematics : Multicultural Mathematics Celebrating Mathematical Inventions and Applications from Around the World Using Children’s Literature
Lynda Colgan
Associate Professor
Elementary Mathematics Education
February is Black History Month Underground Railroad … integrating the curriculum to achieve learning in language, social studies, the arts and mathematics : February is Black History Month Underground Railroad … integrating the curriculum to achieve learning in language, social studies, the arts and mathematics I'm on my way to Canada That cold and distant land The dire effects of slavery I can no longer stand - Farewell old master, Don't come after me. I'm on my way to Canada Where coloured men are free.
A version of the song "The Free Slave," by the American abolitionist George W. Clark
Celebrating Canada’s Role … Heaven or Promised land = Canada : Celebrating Canada’s Role … Heaven or Promised land = Canada
Here the slave found freedom. Before the United States Civil War 1861-65 Windsor was an important terminal of the Underground Railway. Escaping from bondage, thousands of fugitive slaves from the South, men women and children landing near this spot found in Canada friends, freedom, protection under the British flag.
Historical plaque, Windsor, Ontario
Quilt Codes : Quilt Codes Canada is not merely a neighbor of negroes. Deep in our history of struggle for freedom Canada was the North Star.
Martin Luther King, Jr., CBC Massey Lectures, 1967
The North Star, The Big Dipper & Gourds :
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Follow the drinking gourd! Follow the drinking gourd. For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd.
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls, Follow the drinking gourd, For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd.
The riverbank makes a very good road, The dead trees will show you the way, Left foot, peg foot traveling on, Following the drinking gourd.
The river ends between two hills, Follow the drinking gourd, There's another river on the other side, Follow the drinking gourd.
The North Star, The Big Dipper & Gourds
Literature Connections : Literature Connections Follow The Drinking Gourd - by Jeanette Winter ISBN 0-394-89694-7
Destination Points : Destination Points
Owen Sound, Ontario : Owen Sound, Ontario
Literature Connections : Literature Connections
Literature Connections : Literature Connections
The Monkey Wrench : The Monkey Wrench The quilt made of the monkey wrench symbol was the first quilt to be displayed. It was the signal for the slaves to be getting ready for their escape. It was a symbol that told them to gather their "tools". Tools could be anything that they needed to take with them to survive. Examples of these could be; compasses, weapons, shelter, food and possibly a few coins. A monkey wrench is used by blacksmiths to change metal. This symbol meant that it was time for the slaves to make a change. Getting their tools ready was also a reminder that they needed to have "mental" tools, such as being alert.
The Wagonwheel : The Wagonwheel The wagon wheel pattern was the second quilt to be displayed on the fence as a signal which alerted slaves to pack up the supplies they would need on their journey to survive as if they were packing up a wagon.
Bear’s Paw : Bear’s Paw Slaves on their journey to freedom were told to follow the bear's trails over the Appalachian mountain range. Bears knew routes through the mountains and bears knew where to find water and fish for food.
The Crossroads : The Crossroads
In the code, the crossroads was Cleveland, in the free state of Ohio. Cleveland was the place where many overland trails began, from here travelers could chose from 4 or 5 different paths to Canada. Special preparations may have been needed to be made before the next part of the journey to Canada began.
The Log Cabin : The Log Cabin This part of the code may be telling the traveler to draw a picture in the dirt for a 'Conductor' to see, or to look for a cabin displaying a quilt with this pattern.
Shoofly : Shoofly
This part of the code was telling people to look for free blacks who knew about the Underground Railroad. Shoofly may have been a special person who would help the travelers to get rid of their dirty, torn and tattered old clothes.
The Bow Ties : The Bow Ties Runaway slaves needed to wear new clean clothes so they would look like the free blacks who lived in the north. They may have been hidden in a church until it was time for the next part of their journey.
Flying Geese : Flying Geese Geese fly north in the springtime and their flight path could tell the travelers which direction they were heading.
Drunkard’s Path : Drunkard’s Path Slave catchers from the south hunted for runaways with tracking dogs. Drunkards walk in a crooked line, back and forth, never in a straight line. This pattern told the runaway slaves to zigzag on their journey to confuse the dogs.
The Star : The Star The North Star quilt was used as a navigation tool by the fugitives and sung about in Follow the Drinking Gourd. This pattern and "Flying Geese" are directional patterns and the runway slaves looked to the sky for guidance.
Making the Drunkard’s Path Quilt Block : Making the Drunkard’s Path Quilt Block
Step One : Step One You will need two colours of construction or wrapping paper. Cut 2 squares and 2 circles out of each colour. The diameter of the circles should be 2/3 the length of the sides of the squares.
Step Two : Step Two Fold the squares and circles in quarters. Mark the fold lines with a pen or pencil.
Step Three : Step Three Glue each circle onto the center of a square of the opposite colour. Use the lines to position the circles.
Step Four : Step Four Cut each square into quarters along the marked fold lines. You will now have 16 small squares.
Step Five : Step Five Each Drunkard’s Path block is made up of 4 smaller identical blocks. Assemble the first small block as shown.
Step Six : Step Six Assemble 3 more identical small blocks. To form the Drunkard’s Path block, the small blocks are rotated 90 degrees starting in the upper left corner. See diagram.
Step Seven : Step Seven Your finished Drunkard’s Path quilt block should look like this.
For more information … : For more information … OAME Gazette, December 2004
educ.queensu.ca/connectme (May 2004 Math@Home Calendar)
The Multicultural Math Classroom: Bringing in the World by Claudia Zaslavsky, Heinemann Publishers, 1996 (238p) A great source for teachers of elementary mathematics. Includes historical background information as well as suggested activities.
Multicultural Mathematics by David Nelson, George Gheverghese Joseph, and Julian Williams Oxford University Press, 1993 (228 p) Source for teachers. Provides a history of mathematics around the world.