Core Knowledge Foundation
Unit 4: Listen, My Children - Poems for Fourth Graders
Over three weeks, fourth graders explore the world of poetry. They listen to authors such as Shel Silverstein and Maya Angelou, complete word work activities, and practice spelling skills. Budding poets take pen to paper with daily...
C3 Teachers
Black Women Writers: What Gets Black Women Heard?
Zora Neal Hurston, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou are featured in a guided inquiry unit. High schoolers research the lives and works of these and other Black women writers and craft an argument, using evidence from their research, to...
Scholastic
Using Poetry to Explore Change and Belonging
Change, growth, and a sense of belonging are the focus of a unit that uses poetry to explore these themes and the distinguishing features of poetry as well.
Penguin Books
Teacher's Guide: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelous
Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is controversial. Like many other Angelou books, it is frequently challenged or banned from schools. In fact, Angelou is one of the most frequently banned authors in the United States. An...
Learning for Justice
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise", offers young scholars an opportunity to consider how poets use literary devices to create powerful messages. After a close reading and discussion of the poem, class members reflect on how they can...
Digital Public Library of America
The Poetry of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou's work reflects her passion for life, civil rights, and justice for all. A collection of 12 primary sources provide scholars with insight into this amazing woman. The set includes photographs, articles, recordings of...
Helena-West Helena School District
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Instructional Unit Plan
Maya Angelou's first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, demonstrates both the author's exemplary writing and the themes of gender and racial injustice that perpetuate beyond the limits of the 20th century. Use a thorough...
Perfection Learning
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
A revolutionary work of literature requires a revolutionary assessment project. A series of activities on Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings includes discussion questions, a plot synopsis, and a selection of both short and...
BPE
Teacher Guide for Faster Passage: "Sympathy" and "Caged Bird" Poetry
Prepare class members for formative assessments of student thinking in reading (FAST-R) with a resource that compares Paul Laurence Dunbar's "Sympathy" and Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird." Readers respond to 10 multiple choice questions and...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Sixth Grade Poetry
Study some of the most prominent poets and works of poetry in history with a language arts poetry unit. From Virgil to Shakespeare to Dickinson to Angelou, the resources present biographies and examples of poetic elements to the sixth...
Curated OER
"Champion of the World"
“Champion of the World,” a chapter from Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, is the subject of a study guide that asks readers to consider the author’s purpose, the function of the chapter in the entire narrative, and...
Curated OER
Reading Study Guide: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Meant for use with Maya Angelou's first autobiographical volume I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the materials here are designed for a homeschool setting, but they'd suit any classroom or text. Graphic organizers, chapter summary guides,...
Curated OER
Around-The-World Storytellers
Young scholars examine what daily life is like for children living in other countries around the world. They read different books in the "Maya's World" series of books by Maya Angelou, write and illustrate an original story about a child...
Curated OER
The Effects of Slavery
The emotional and spiritual oppression of slavery in the African-American experience is the focus of this lesson. Middle schoolers analyze various texts by Frederick Douglass and Maya Angelou related to freedom and oppression. They use...
Curated OER
Fearless Fish Lanterns
Students read about courageous characters who face and positively deal with new situations. They connect what they've read with their own experiences. Students construct fish lanterns to represent their courage in the face of new...
World of Teaching
Black History Month 2008
A list of prominent African-Americans and their accomplishments makes up this presentation on Black History Month. Leaders in sports, the arts, science, and entertaining will help viewers connect with the voluminous contributions of the...
Curated OER
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings Quiz
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 12 multiple choice questions about Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Essay Questions
In this literature activity, students respond to 15 short answer and essay questions about Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the novel at the bottom of the page.
Curated OER
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, learners respond to 25 multiple choice questions about Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Making Connections: I Know Why Caged Birds Sing
Students discuss equality and fairness by reading a Maya Angelo poem. In this U.S. history lesson plan, students read the poem I Know Why Caged Birds Sing, and discuss how the era it was written in affected the words. Students identify...
Curated OER
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Dou
Ninth graders explore the concept that education is related to freedom. In this human rights lesson, 9th graders read The Narrative of Frederick Douglass. Students dialogue about their readings and education as it relates to human...
Curated OER
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: Fun Trivia Quiz
This Fun Trivia interactive, online quiz may be engaging for readers who want to self-assess their basic understanding of Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; however, I do not recommend it as a class assignment given the lack of...
Curated OER
African Questions
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 4 short answer and essay questions based on "Africa," by Maya Angelou.
Curated OER
Alone Questions
In this reading comprehension worksheet, learners respond to 4 short answer and essay questions based on the poem "Alone," by Maya Angelou.