Margaret Walker's Jubilee integrates the songs and hymns of the antebelum period throughout the book. My son's eigth grade class read the book, but never touched the music. They missed alot.

The kids especially liked using the the music from yazoo records for projects on later periods. The Roots of Rap was an eye opener and the concept of Rent Parties brought a whole era alive.

Searching for labor songs or immigration will give you multiple threads and sugestions. Good Luck.