Things Fall Apart
Day 16: African poetry day #1
Lesson Title: African Poetry Day #1 - Annotations
Date: 4/24/14
Overview: This day will be dedicated to the reading of African Poetry from three different authors and
the analyzation of those poems.
Goal: Students will be able to discuss African Poetry within small group and large group in order to get
at the heart of the texts and will derive meaning from them.
Objectives:
After this lesson my students…
● will have a better understanding of Africa through the reading of some of its poetry
● will hone their annotation skills and will have their second chance to annotate poetry this year
● will gain a deeper understanding of the roots of African culture through poetry
Standards Achieved:
● CC.1.2.9-10.A: Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course
of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an
objective summary of the text.
● CC.1.2.9-10.C: Apply appropriate strategies to analyze, interpret, and evaluate how an author
unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made,
how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.
● CC.1.2.9-10.D: Determine an author’s particular point of view and analyze how rhetoric
advances the point of view. Materials/Resources/Setup:
Pre-Made:
● African Poetry Activity Powerpoint - Day #1
■ https://docs.google.com/a/scasd.org/presentation/d/1YRNobCDefSayepnJy_JF
m7rQRxQ5fxLUgL4zs9eO_Ro/edit#slide=id.p
To Hand Out:
● Poem worksheets
■ https://docs.google.com/a/scasd.org/document/d/1Nj-69XoNbdXpXCGtGfBfa
qB27AsDTmfo-MSn7V4OTWk/edit#
Set-Up
● Chromebooks
Prior Knowledge Assessment Questions:
● Have my students had enough practice annotating poetry?
● What kinds of African Literature have they been exposed to already?
● Will they need to know they authors’ backgrounds in order to understand the poetry?
Things Fall Apart
Day 16: African poetry day #1
Guiding/Essential Questions:
● How does our understanding of the world affect the way we read and view text outside
of that cultural perspective?
● How do we understand others at deeper levels?
● Why are traditions important?
● Is it possible to have empathy for others who have an experience outside of your own? Activities:
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Have lights down
Introduce African poetry using the powerpoint
Play Botlhale’s Performance from SA’s Got Talent
Review what students will be doing in class today [annotating poems/researching poems]
Ask students to find partners
a. If students will be absent Friday or Monday have them complete this assignment alone
b. Count students present
c. If odd number ask if anyone would like to work alone
Hand out poems to student pairs
Leave directions on projector for the class period
Allow students to work for the rest of the class period
When students finish they may read the text
Homework:
● Chapters 20-21 Due Friday
● Annotations due tomorrow
Assessment:
○
Reflection:
Annotated Poems