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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Learning Through the Duke

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Describe the life of Duke Ellington and his contributions to the field of jazz, write an original poem using a variety of popular vocabulary from the 1920's and respond to Ellington's composition "Mood Indigo" by creating a painting.
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Article
Cengage Learning

Gale: Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion: Jessie Redmon Fauset [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the biographical notes, a review of Fauset's major works, a portrait, a reprint of a short essay by Fauset from "Some Notes on Color," a collection of essays on her life and work, and an extensive bibliography.
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Article
Other

African American Registry: Rose Mc Clendon: A Builder of the Black Stage

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography on the African American actress Rose McClendon (1884-1936 CE) who played a major role in the creation of a "Black Theater," in the United States.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: American Women: Jessie Fauset

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a brief biography of Jessie Fauset, who was a leader in the Harlem Renaissance. See a portrait of her painted by Laura Wheeler Waring.
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Handout
Other

E Notes: Short Story Criticism: Jean Toomer

For Students 9th - 10th
A review of Jean Toomer, an influential writer during the Harlem Renaissance. Presents a biography and a look at his contributions to short fiction.
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Website
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Zora Neale Hurston

For Students 9th - 10th
This Barnard-educated writer, anthropologist, and folklorist grew up in Eatonville, Florida; the first all-Black city in America. Read a short summary of her life and accomplishments.
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Sterling A. Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent biography citing influences on the famous author's work. Links to contemporaries of the era.
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Walking Tour: Langston Hughes's Harlem of 1926

For Students 9th - 10th
Walk in the footsteps of the Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes in this online guided tour. Contains specific directions to navigate through Harlem to places he lived and visited regularly. With quotes from various works mentioning...
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Countee Cullen

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a biography on the poet Countee Cullen (1903-1946 CE). Includes a photograph and a selected bibliography.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke Ellington

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site provides audio clips, photos, and biographical information of this legendary composer and performer. A match game teaches and tests your knowledge of Ellington.
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: American Culture in the 1920s

For Students 9th - 10th
The First World War had a crippling effect on any notions of positivity in the artists, writers, and intellectuals of that time and they became known as the Lost Generation. This page discusses this group of people, the emergence of jazz...
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Handout
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Reading Guide to Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
This guide discusses Langston Hughes's body of poetry, as well as briefly analyzing characteristics in several individual poems. The site also offers an interview with writer Afaa Weaver regarding Hughes's works, discussion questions, a...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Today in History: February 1: Victor Herbert and Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of Today in History tells about the lives of Victor Herbert and Langston Hughes and gives links to pertinent historical primary materials relating to them.
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Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Toni Cade Bambara

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Have your learners ever read any of Toni Cade Bambara's work? This site offers links to important resources about her life and work.
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Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Langston Hughes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource focuses on the works of famous African-American author, Langston Hughes.
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Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Zora Neale Hurston

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site provides information and activities focused around Zora Neale Hurston's life and work. Check out this site featuring links to several sites focused on Hurston's work.
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Unit Plan
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Crafting a Voice for Black Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
NPR's Vertamae Grosvenor interviews Alice Walker about her connection to Zora Neale Hurston. Walker talks about how Hurston inspired her writing, even though the two writers never met. The site also contains audio of Walker reading her...
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Handout
Other

E Notes: Twentieth Century Literary Criticism: Dorothy West Criticism

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete biography of Harlem Renaissance writer Dorothy West. Highlights her major works and critical reception.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: William H. Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
The Luce Foundation Center for American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum presents this short biography and photographic portrait of William H. Johnson, the influential African-American painter participant in the Harlem...
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Jacob Lawrence

For Students 9th - 10th
The Luce Foundation Center for American Art presents the African-American painter and Harlem Renaissance figure, Jacob Lawrence, with a short biography, image, and description of his work on view in the collection and a video interview...
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Beauford Delaney

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Beauford Delaney is described here along with information on his contributions to art through his association with the Harlem Renaissance and his portraits of African Americans.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Billie Holiday Was Born

For Students 9th - 10th
Billie Holiday is one of the most well-known blues singers of all time. Visit this Library of Congress site for more about her early years and some great photographs.
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eBook
Other

Blues Online: Langston Hughes' Weary Blues

For Students 9th - 10th
Langston Hughes' collection of "Weary Blues" is posted on this page by Blues Online. With eleven poems and a picture of the Harlem Renaissance poet.
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Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.