With A Little Help from Dr. Angelou
Resources for teaching African American poetry.
BY The Editors
In partnership with Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University, Dr. Maya Angelou, and the Target Corporation, the Poetry Foundation has developed curriculum for teaching essential African American poetry to students of all ages.
The curriculum includes lesson plans, discussion guides, bibliographies, a glossary of poetic terms, and classroom activities designed to help students develop their own poetic voices.
The exercises in each unit serve as guidelines to interest students in African American poetry and poetry in general. The exercises are not sequenced, so teachers may use as many or as few as you like, and in any order. You may want to do one exercise per class period, or you may want to stretch an exercise over a few days.
African American Poetry Curricula
Elementary School (PDF)
Middle School (PDF)
High School (PDF)
Bibliography, Glossary, and African American Online Poetry Resources (PDF)
The editorial staff of the Poetry Foundation. See the Poetry Foundation staff list and editorial team masthead.