Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Common Visions, Common Voices

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan gives students a chance to explore the art and literature of Indians, Africans, Mayans, and Native Americans. Provides plenty of links to photo examples, and lesson extension ideas.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Collections, Guides and Bibliographies: Web Guides

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This series of web guides serves as a collection of resources for research into a variety of areas including the performing arts, sports, government, law, art, American history, Women's history, African American history, literature and...
Website
African American Literature Book Club

African American Literature Book Club: Richard Wright

For Students 9th - 10th
This site focuses on Richard Wright including a short biography, the video [9:19] "The Life and Times of Richard Wright (1 of 2)" and links to 22 of his books.
Website
African American Literature Book Club

African American Literature Book Club: Arna Bontemps

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography and a list of the works written by Harlem Renaissance author, Arna Bontemps.
Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Sterling A. Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent biography citing influences on the famous author's work. Links to contemporaries of the era.
Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Zora Neale Hurston

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site provides information and activities focused around Zora Neale Hurston's life and work. Check out this site featuring links to several sites focused on Hurston's work.
Website
Cengage Learning

Houghton Mifflin: Gwendolyn Brooks, Literary Analysis

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you will find theme, perspective, form, style, and contrast comparison. Good research material!
Unit Plan
Cengage Learning

Houghton Mifflin: Gwendolyn B. Bennett

For Students 9th - 10th
Although this site is intended for teachers in class preparation, it is information packed and has thought provoking questions at the end.
eBook
University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo: Helene Johnson Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, which is provided for by the University at Buffalo, gives the text of three of the poems of this famous Harlem Renaissance author.
Website
PBS

Pbs.org: Sterling Brown, Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS offers a brief, but well-written, biography of the famous Harlem Renaissance author.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Web Guides: A Guide to Harlem Renaissance Materials

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents the Library's resources as well as links to external web sites on the Harlem Renaissance, and a bibliography.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Literature & Life: Choice of Weapons

For Students 9th - 10th
It is hard to categorize Gordon Park, Sr., because he excelled in so many areas. He was well known for his writing, his photojournalism and in film. He also composed music. Listen here to an interview with Gordon Parks, Sr., and to...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Poetry of Liberation: Amiri Baraka

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet and playwright Amiri Baraka is featured in this brief biography for his radical views and contributions during the Black Arts Movement in America. See "Amiri Baraka Activities" for related resources.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Abolition

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, which is provided for by the Library of Congress, is part of the African American Mosaic. It describes abolition and gives references to books about the topic.
Primary
PBS

Pbs's Africans in America: Equiano's Autobiography

For Students 9th - 10th
Chapter two of "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," the autobiography of a man abducted from Africa and forced into slavery before later obtaining his freedom. This chapter details his capture and eventual journey...
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Penguin Publishing

Penguin Random House: "Frederick Douglass American Slave" [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Teacher guide for Douglass's biography features 24 pages of chapter-by-chapter study questions, quotations, and activities. Valuable post-reading activities as well as methods for eliciting student responses also included. This is a .pdf...
Website
Books in the Classroom

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Virginia Hamilton

For Students 6th - 8th
This site contains a biographical description of Virginia Hamilton. There is also a list of her books with a brief description of each
Website
University at Buffalo

Circle Association: Harlem Renaissance History and Links

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource from the Circle Association at the University of Buffalo gives background on the origins of the Harlem Renaissance and highlights its most famous authors.
Unit Plan
Georgetown University

Georgetown University: Jean Toomer (1894 1967)

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent research site! Includes theme, perspective, form, style,audience, comparison, and contrast of the famous author's work.
Website
Other

Women in History: Zora Neale Hurston

For Students 9th - 10th
Superb site that outlines essential information about Zora Neale Hurston. Links are provided for additional information.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Phillis Wheatley, Poet

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief look at the fascinating life of African American poet, Phillis Wheatley. Provides two portraits, and a sample page from Wheatley's collection of poems.
Website
Digital History

Digital History:the Great Migration

For Students 9th - 10th
The Great Migration for African Americans began during World War I as blacks left the segregated south to find jobs in the north. Read about how segregation followed them into their northern neighborhoods. See also how the Harlem...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Walking Down Park by Nikki Giovanni

For Students 7th - 8th
Nikki Giovanni is one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement and has won numerous awards. Her work ranges from covering topics on race, gender, the African American experience and social issues to children's literature and...
Article
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: The First Black Female Poet?

For Students 9th - 10th
This article looks at a ballad, 'Bars Fight,' by 18th century African-American writer Lucy Terry. It considers the literary qualities of a ballad, and its historical role in society. It then goes on to consider why a Black slave might...