YAL Poetry Lesson: The hill we climb

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

3VWO 

Poetry lesson

The hill we climb

Amanda Gorman

In the news:
Where did Amanda Gorman recite this poem?

1. For Oprah Winfrey
2. During inauguration for president Trump
3. During inauguration for President Biden
4. For the Black Lives Matter meeting in Washington

Lesson objectives:

1. Reading can-do statement: 

I can understand the main message of a poem 

2. Writing can-do statement: 

I can write about my thoughts in full sentences

3. Speaking can-do statement: 

I can express my thoughts in simple English dialogue

Lesson aim:

Lesson aim:

The aim of this lesson is to create a safe environment where students can speak their minds and share their thoughts about equality in society.  

Activate prior knowledge:

Pre-writing activities

Student worksheet: Task 1

Watch the video and try to memorize as many US presidents as you can.

Write their names on the worksheet

Task 2:
Take a look at these images of all American presidents throughout history. Any thoughts that come to your mind? Write down 3 keywords about your thoughts:

Task 3:
Equality

Task 4: 

Let's discuss some statements in groups of four. 

With your group you need to share your thoughts in English why you agree or disagree with the following statements.

  

Statement A:
Equal Pay is just a women's issue.

Statement B:
If you have a rich family, you will have a better future

Statement C:
A white person should not translate the story of a black person.

Statement D:
Skin color is not important to get the job you like.

Getting to know the poem:

While-reading activities

We are going to watch the first two minutes of the recital of the poem.

Read along and listen how the writer presents the poem.

Vocabulary task

Task 1:

Fill in the Dutch translation. Can you guess the word in Dutch? 

Try to do it at first without using a source.

Let's dive into the poem: Group questions

Task 2: Group questions

Step 1: In groups of four:

Each group gets a question to look into.

Take 5 minutes to discuss your answer in the group.

Step 2: Per group we are going to talk about your chosen answers in class. 

Post-reading activity

Be creative: 

Post writing activity:

 -Writing a diary entry -

Objectives (Can do statements):

- Students can write about thoughts and opinions

-  Students can express their feelings

- Students can write in the first person

Materials:

- Post-reading activity worksheets

- Checklist Diary entry

- Statement list

Checklist:

• minimum of 100-200 words about the statement, your thoughts and emotions                                                                                      3 points
  
  
• Write in the first person                         2 points
• Use 5x words from the poem, 
  underlined                                                     2 points
• Correct English                                          2 points
• General impression                                  1 point 

Total points: 10

Statement list:

1. Men should earn more money than women.    

2. If you have a rich upbringing you will have bigger opportunities.

 3. Women are better in communicating.

4. Skin color is important to get your dream job.

5. You are allowed to marry anyone you like.

6.  If you have a disability you can not work.

 7. Police is allowed to be violent. 

8. Men have better skills in sports than women.

9. A white person cannot translate the story of a black writer.

10. Not everyone can afford to go to university.

11. English is not important to learn at school.

12. Boys and girls should go to schools seperately. 

To get you started

Attachments:

1. Expressing your opinion

2. Expressing your emotions

3.Writing tips

2. Expressing your emotions

3. Writing tips

Write down in just 3x words what you will take from this lesson:

Any questions?

Homework for next lesson:

Finish diary entry worksheet