Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Walt Whitman to Langston Hughes: Poems for a Democracy Lesson PlanWalt Whitman to Langston Hughes: Poems for a Democracy Lesson Plan
Publisher
National Endowment for the Humanities
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Lesson Plan

Walt Whitman to Langston Hughes: Poems for a Democracy

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Walt Whitman to Langston Hughes: Poems for a Democracy lesson plan also includes:
  • Comparing Two American Poems : “I Hear America Singing” and “Let America Be America Again” (.pdf)
  • Recommended Reading for Walt Whitman Lessons (.pdf)
  • Activity
  • Join to access all included materials

Explore the idea of democratic poetry. Upper graders read Walt Whitman, examining daguerreotypes, and compare Whitman to Langston Hughes. They describe aspects of Whitman's I Hear America Singing to Langston Hughes' Let America Be America Again. Then discuss the democratizing effect of early photography and relate that to Whitman's poetry.

62 Views 64 Downloads
CCSS: Designed
Concepts
poetry analysis, poetry, langston hughes, poets, walt whitman, reading poetry, american literature, american democracy

Additional Tags

english language arts
Show More Show Less

Resource Details

Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
English Language Arts
6 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Instructional Strategies
Discussion
2 more...
Year
2019
Usage Permissions
Creative Commons
BY: 4.0
cc

Common Core

CCRA.R.1 CCRA.R.2 CCRA.R.3 CCRA.R.4 CCRA.R.5 CCRA.R.6 CCRA.R.7

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Picturing America: Images and Words of Hope from Romare Bearden and Langston Hughes

Curated OER
A carefully crafted three-day lesson integrates poetry and visual art. By analyzing and comparing Langston Hughes' poem "Mother and Son" and Romare Bearden's collage "The Dove," readers explore the theme of hope. The lesson activates...
9th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
Worksheet

Elegy for Lincoln: Walt Whitman’s Poem

K12 Reader
Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" is one of the most famous and emotional tributes to Abraham Lincoln. Guide readers through the evocative elegy with a reading comprehension worksheet, complete with the poem's text and a...
7th - 10th English Language Arts
CCSS: Designed
Worksheet

Every Atom: Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”

University of Iowa
Discussion questions for Walt Whitman's "Son of Myself" ask class members to reflect on the beauty that can be found in labor, the sense of identity that transcends divisions, and on the many riddles in Whitman's poem. ...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Worksheet

Whitman and the American ‘Romantic’ Nature

ELI Publishing
Pupils read a short biography of Walt Whitman and a portion of Whitman's epic poem "Song of Myself." Readers then respond to a series of comprehension questions.
9th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Langston Hughes- Mini Biography

Biography
When delving into such writings as "I Too Sing America" or "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by poet, novelist, and playwright Langston Hughes, don't forget to provide this important historical background information on the Harlem...
4 mins 8th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Teach This Poem: “As I Walk These Broad Majestic Days” by Walt Whitman

Academy of American Poets
Walt Whitman's poem "As I Walk These Broad Majestic Days" offers scholars an opportunity to practice their noticing skills. They first examine a postcard of the Newport News Shipyard listing things they notice about the image and how...
6th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Life, Death, Dirt, & Walt Whitman

Curated OER
Walt Whitman was a composter? Certainly the cycle of life and death he describes in "Leaves of Grass" parallels the processes going on in a compose pile. The interdisciplinary approach detailed here could be used to foster a deeper...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
Organizer

New American Poetry-Whitman & Dickinson

Curated OER
In this poetry unit activity packet, learners complete several activities designed to review key poetry concepts. All worksheets focus on a comparison of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. Students respond to poems, complete short answer...
8th - 11th English Language Arts
Website

National Portrait Gallery: One Life: Walt Whitman, a Kosmos

Smithsonian Institution
This multimedia site offers readings of Whitman's poetry, an introduction, a gallery of images and works through the years of his career, and a reflection of Whitman's significance.
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Website

Poets.org: Langston Hughes

Academy of American Poets
This site provides a biography of Langston Hughes, followed by several of his poems (some complete with audio clips) and a bibliography of his more influential works.
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use