Education Oasis
Creative Writing Unit: Analyzing, Interpreting, Discussing and Writing Various Genres of African-American Literature
A six-week unit takes high schoolers through various works of African-American literature, including poems, plays, and short stories. The lesson plan format includes a week-by-week description of activities, goals, materials, and...
Curated OER
Black History Lesson Plan: Gwendolyn Brooks
Learn more about the work of Gwendolyn Brooks with a language arts lesson. Young learners read an informational passage about the acclaimed poet before attempting a shape poem of their own.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Impact of a Poem's Line Breaks: Enjambment and Gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool"
Young scholars analyze the Gwendolyn Brooks use of enjambment in her poem "We Real Cool." In this poetry analysis activity, students define common poetic devices and the examples of enjambment in the poem. Young scholars discuss the poem...
Curated OER
Gwendolyn Brooks
Students examine the contributions of the author Gwendolyn Brooks. They create a journal, read and discuss poems by Brooks, write a poem about themselves, and create a timeline of their own lives.
Curated OER
The Bean Eaters Questions
In this reading comprehension learning exercise, students respond to 4 short answer and essay questions based on the poem "The Bean Eaters."
Curated OER
Poems with Tone and Mood
Learners examine the use of tone in poetry. In this literature lesson, students read "We Real Cool," by Gwendolyn Brooks and use the provided graphic organizer to chart the poem's tone and mood.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 2000)
A biography of Gwedolyn Brooks, the first African American woman author to win the Pulitzer prize. With career information and links to many of her poems, some with audio. Listen to podcasts about her work and read articles about the...
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Dream in Color: Resource Guide for Elem School Teachers [Pdf]
Explore a wealth of poems, lesson plans, and classroom activities to help elementary school students discover the diversity in African-American poets and create their own voice in poetry. PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Gwendolyn Brooks
This is a webpage devoted to the poet and author Gwendolyn Brooks. It provides biographic information, a list of all her works, and links to several of her poems.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Gwendolyn Brooks
The Academy recognizes this prolific writer and her works as part of the Harlem Renaissance. Content includes the full text of several of her poems, as well as a selected bibliography of her poetry, prose, and letters.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Gwendolyn Brooks, Biography
Detailed account of the writer's life. Contains references to contemporaries, influences and motivations in her career.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Gwendolyn Brooks
A rich resource, this site offers biographical, critical and historical information related to Brooks and her work.
Cengage Learning
Houghton Mifflin: Gwendolyn Brooks, Literary Analysis
Here you will find theme, perspective, form, style, and contrast comparison. Good research material!
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Impact of a Poem's Line Breaks:gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool"
In this lesson plan, students will consider The Impact of a Poem's Line Breaks: Enjambment and Gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool". Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab including a video of a young...
Utah State University
A Mini Unit of Gwendolyn Brooks
Nice lesson plan for grades 5-6 that explores poetry and personal expression through the work of Gwendolyn Brooks. Has lots of activities but could easily be modified for time. Has nearly everything you need to do the activity!
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet [Pdf]
"Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet" is a one page, biographical passage about Gwendolyn Brooks, an African-American poet from Chicago. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet [Pdf]
"An African American Poet" is a one page, biographical passage about Gwendolyn Brooks, a famous African American poet. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Responding to Gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool"
Contains plans for five lessons based off Gwendolyn Brooks? ?We Real Cool? where students imagine they are the characters in the poem fifty years later. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Illinois Poets
This overview for Illinois includes information on the poet laureate for the state. Other sections include featured poets (Gwendolyn Brooks and Carl Sandburg) and poems specifically about Illinois.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Becoming Visible: Gwendolyn Brooks
Writer Gwendolyn Brooks is presented in this biography for her contributions to African American literature. Click on "Gwendolyn Brooks Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: Gwendolyn Brooks
The National Women's Hall of Fame offers a biography of renowned black American poet Gwendolyn Brooks.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Sadie and Maud
A learning module that begins with the poem "Sadie and Maud" by Gwendolyn Brooks, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Black Past
Black Past: Brooks, Gwendolyn
A short biographical encyclopedia entry about Gwendolyn Brooks, prize-winning black poet.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Home
A learning module that begins with "Home" by Gwendolyn Brooks, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher and student...