Maya Angelou Lesson Plans

Learners investigate the life and works of Maya Angelou. They complete a Webquest, read poems, listen to a reading by Maya Angelou, answer discussion questions, and write a poem, short story, or essay based on a newspaper article.

Students study the concepts of autobiography, biography, and fiction as literary genres. They read, study, and analyze Maya Angelou's autobiographical writings in terms of what she intended to accomplish by her writings. They develop and enhance their literary competence by lessons which focus on figurative and symbolic language and on voice or points of view.

Students read the poem, Still I rise, by Maya Angelou. They examine how language, poetic devices, and format contribute to the poet's message. They identify poetic devices used in the poem.

Eighth graders read biographical information on Maya Angelou and her poem, "Still I Rise." students identify support and elaboration in poem, then respond by either writing a letter to the author or his/her own poem in response.

Students 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 in another country, and create a clay figure of their main character.

Students explore language arts by participating in poetry writing activities. In this conflict management lesson, students discuss the emotions that they feel when being teased and discussed. Students read a Maya Angelou poem titled "Still I Rise" and answer study questions about the content.

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 textual evidence to write about slavery, oppression, compassion, and nonviolence. Additionally, they perform African-American spirituals and write reflectively for the lesson.

Young scholars interpret figurative language.  In this language lesson, students are read the poem "I Love the Look of Words" by Maya Angelou and are to find examples of hyperbole and personification in the poem.  Young scholars then rotate among three small groups to complete activities that practice interpreting figurative language.

Students examine the experiences of African American women. In this poetry instructional activity, students use their literary analysis skills to compare the poetry of Maya Angelou to rap music performed by Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill.

Learners use Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as analysis on human rights. In this human rights lesson, students develop an awareness of human rights issues and explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights using the given websites and Angelou novel.