EngageNY
How to Read a Poem: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”
Learners listen as a teacher models how to read a poem using The Negro Speaks of
Rivers. They use the How to Read a Poem anchor chart to help guide their thought process on how a poem requires different reading than other text. While...
Curated OER
The Negro Speaks of Rivers Theme of Race
In this poetry analysis worksheet, students explore the theme of race in the Langston Hughes "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," as they read an excerpt about the perspectives that black people throughout history have taken with regards to...
Curated OER
The Negro Speaks of Rivers Theme of Memory and the Past
In this poetry analysis activity, students read a paragraph regarding Langston Hughe’s use of collective voice in the poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers Theme of Memory and the Past.” Students then answer 4 discussion questions about the...
Curated OER
Use of Symbolism to Convey the Author's Message - The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Students identify the literary devices, symbolism, and first-person narration in the poem A Negro Speaks of Rivers. In this poem analysis lesson, students discuss African Americans and the Harlem Renaissance. Students watch a video about...
Curated OER
The Negro Speaks of Rivers Themes
For this poetry analysis worksheet, students respond to 5 discussion questions that require them to investigate the symbolism of rivers in the Langston Hughes poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
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"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" Theme of Freedom and Confinement
In this "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" instructional activity, students discuss the journey of the speaker in the poem. The speaker experiences times of freedom and times of confinement and consider the speaker's feelings and how the...
Curated OER
Negro Leagues Baseball: Its Rise and Demise
Students research various Negro Leagues from 1920-1948. They identify inception dates, elements contributing to failure, and date league ceased to exist, and create interactive multimedia timelines.
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Colors and Fruit
Review colors in Spanish by presenting different photographs and asking your charges to identify the colors in each picture. Consider bringing in pictures from Spain, Mexico, or another Spanish-speaking country to make the activity more...
Curated OER
Poetry as Social Commentary
Students read poems with social commentaries. In this poetry analysis instructional activity, students read poems selected by their instructors and complete the provided social commentary chart to determine how the poems speak out...
Annenberg Foundation
Rhythms in Poetry
Rhyme, rhythm, free verse, imagery: Do these words describe poetry, or jazz music? The answer is both! A resource explores these similarities as scholars watch a video, engage in discussion, read author biographies, write poetry and...
Curated OER
Creating an Author Brochure
Students, while in the computer lab, visit a variety of web sites and read about the life and work of Langston Hughes. They create an author's brochure on Mr. Hughes from the data they collect from the various web sites. Each student...
Prestwick House
Invisible Man
A crossword puzzle based on Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man provides readers with an opportunity to test their knowledge of the novel's events.
Penguin Books
Core Curriculum Lesson Plans for The Lions of Little Rock
Schools in the 1950s and 60s looked very different from the schools we know today. An educator's guide explores the civil rights movement and, specifically, the process of integrating schools. Questions cover key themes in the novel and...
Voices of a People's History
Voices in The Classroom
Everyone's perspective of the past is different. A thought-provoking unit gives young academics the opportunity to explore their perspectives on history and their neighborhoods. Based on the work of Howard Zinn, each lesson explores...
Curated OER
The Importance of Rivers in the Development of Early Civilizations Importance of Rivers in the Development of Early Civilizations
Sixth graders explore the role of rivers in the construction of early civilizations. In this importance of rivers lesson, 6th graders listen to a poem written by Langston Hughes and work cooperatively to develop a graphic organizer to...
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African Americans in Oregon
High schoolers interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this African American history lesson, students examine the African American experience in Oregon.
Curated OER
Heroes of Harlem
Young scholars explore the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Their research culminates in a Harlem Renaissance Fair celebrating the movement's cultural and artistic contributions to society.
Curated OER
Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 14 multiple choice questions based on various Shakespearean sonnets. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Martin Luther King Day
Students examine the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They conduct research, participate in a discrimination simulation, write a poem, and create a collage.
Curated OER
Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable: Haitian Frontier Fur Trapper and Explorer
Eighth graders investigate the life and contributions of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. They read and discuss an informational handout, define five words from the passage, conduct Internet research, and write a journal entry from the...
Curated OER
Holding Out for a Hero: Roberto Clemente
Students brainstorm lists of heroes, heroic qualities, and ways to pay tribute to heroes. In this Holding Out for a Hero lesson, students record Clemente's heroic attributes as athlete ad humanitarian. After visiting the Beyond Baseball...
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...