My America: writing poems about our culture and identity #2
Here's another lesson that Ellen Hagan and I taught in the unit, "My America."
1. Ask students if they are familiar with the word inaugural or inauguration. Ask them if they saw President Obama's inauguration. If students watched it, ask them what they remember about the ceremony. If students are not familiar, give them the definition and ask them to write it in their journals.
2. Read the bios of Elizabeth Alexander and Richard Blanco. Ask students why they think these poets were chosen to give the inaugural poem. Ask them to think about what it means to have a black woman and a gay, Latino man share their poems at an event like this. Bring back points from the discussion in lesson one [who's America is this, how has America changed? etc.]
2. Students watch the inaugural poems by Elizabeth Alexander & Richard Blanco [you can also use Maya Angelou's].
3. Pass out the text of both poems. Ask students to note the themes and style of the poems. What do these poems have in common? Make a list on the board of the similarities [they mention everyday people, they reference the history of the U.S., the landscapes and places in the U.S., etc.]
4. Ask students what they notice about the literary devices the poets used [repetition, sensory details, etc.] Write them on the board.
5. Tell students, "You have just created the rubric for your inaugural poem." Their poem should include the elements listed on the board.
6. Assignment: What if you were invited to give the inaugural poem? What would you say? How would you deliver it? Use the elements on the board to help you draft your poem. *You might want to include a few line starters/phrases to use for repetition:
7. Later, at the end of the unit, once students have had time to revise their poems and practice them with a partner, record students saying their poems. Use the videos at the next school assembly, open mic, or post them on Facebook. Encourage your students to get their voices out into the world and not just in your classroom.
Students from Bronx Poetry Project recite their inaugural poems for the camera.
