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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life, Death, Dirt, & Walt Whitman

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Walt Whitman was a composter? Certainly the cycle of life and death he describes in "Leaves of Grass" parallels the processes going on in a compose pile. The interdisciplinary approach detailed here could be used to foster a deeper...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 12 multiple choice questions about Whitman's Leaves of Grass. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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Unit Plan
Other

University of Virginia: Walt Whitman Archive

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive archive of works by and about Walt Whitman, from the University of Virginia. Includes his manuscripts (transcriptions and page images), published works, biography, criticism, images, teaching materials, and much more.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: One Life: Walt Whitman, a Kosmos

For Students 9th - 10th
This multimedia site offers readings of Whitman's poetry, an introduction, a gallery of images and works through the years of his career, and a reflection of Whitman's significance.
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Unit Plan
Other

University of South Carolina: Walt Whitman Exhibit

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive site studies the life and work of Walt Whitman. Provides a detailed biography and an analysis of Whitman's literary contributions. Includes detailed information about the development of "Leaves of Grass" and photographs of...
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Primary
Other

University of South Carolina: Leaves of Grass

For Students 9th - 10th
This University of South Carolina site, presented by the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, chronicles the publication history of Whitman's many revisions of "Leaves of Grass." Includes photographs of rare copies of early...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Masculine Heroes: Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
American Passages presents a concise biography of nineteenth century progressive American poet, Walt Whitman. See "Walt Whitman Activities" for artifacts and activities.
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Walt Whitman, Triumph of Nationalism: America, 1815 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
Whitman's poem celebrating the integrity and industry of the masses within a democratic culture.
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Handout
Bibliomania

Bibliomania: Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Bibliomania houses a transcription of the full and complete text of Walt Whitman's classic "Leaves of Grass."
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Handout
Bibliomania

Bibliomania: Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical note on Walt Whitman that discusses his verse form, his life, and the influence of his poetry. Includes link to Leaves of Grass.
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Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Revising Himself: Walt Whitman and "Leaves of Grass"

For Students 9th - 10th
This multimedia exhibition examines Whitman's life and writing career, as he continually revised his masterwork, "Leaves of Grass."
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Handout
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Walt Whitman: "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer"

For Students 9th - 10th
Walt Whitman's poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" from Leaves of Grass.
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Handout
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: Free Verse

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This page provides a good working definition of free verse, along with some examples, information about its development, and mention of the poets who have made it popular.
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Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Lincoln and Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An essay on Lincoln and Whitman and their shared admiration and kinship of spirit.
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Activity
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Walt Whitman Classroom Activity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan/activity designed for students to see and appreciate the work of a great poet on the birthday of Walt Whitman. Provides web links and a bibliography, as well as other lesson plans. From May 31, 2007.
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Website
The Washington Post

Robert Hass on Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet laureate Robert Hass writes about Walt Whitman and the controversies that have often surrounded his writing and life.
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Primary
Lumen Learning

Lumen: American Romanticism: "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
Use the text and video excerpt of "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman to identify and understand the characteristics of American Romanticism. "Song of Myself" is a poem by Walt Whitman that is included in his work Leaves of Grass. It has...
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
Poets.org provides a brief biographical overview of Walt Whitman including information on his life and links to selected poems. A column of links to additional reading information on Whitman is also provided.