Lesson Plan Honoring Poets Maya Angelou, Walt Whitman and Dylan Thomas

Learn about Maya Angelou's life by reading the story and watching the short film. Then analyze the portrait by Sergio Benenson. 

Read the poem Still I Rise before watching the film illustrating the poem and analyzing the poster depicting the message of the poem.  How do the images/text used in this film and poster strengthen the meaning of the poem? How have the filmmakers emphasized the story of the poem? How did the artist depict the poems message?

This film about Maya Angelou was created by a middle school student filmmaker. 

Learn about Walt Whitman's life by reading the story. Then analyze the artwork by Robert Shetterly. How does the quote Shetterly included in his portrait relate to the poetry of Walt Whitman? 

Text of Quote: "This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone who asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown."

Then watch the film illustrating Whitman's poem The World Is Too Much With Us produced by Taft High School.  How do the images used in this film strengthen the meaning of the poem? How have the filmmakers emphasized the story of the poem?

Learn about Dylan Thomas's life by reading the story, which includes the text of the poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.

After reading the poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, analyze the artwork by Yajat Dayal from New Delhi in India.

Listen to Emily Barasch read Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas.

Extend this lesson by having students read about other poets, submit a story about their favorite poet or an original poem to share with MY HERO's global audience.