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Unit Plan
Other

The Poetry Archive: "I, Too" by Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, by permission of David Higham Associates, a recording from The Dream Keeper and Other Poems and a written version of "I, Too", written by Langston Hughes are provided on this site. Multiple...
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Website
New York Times

New York Times: Helene Johnson, Poet of Harlem, 89, Dies

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An obituary for Helene Johnson, a famous Harlem Renaissance poet. Includes quotations from some of her poems.
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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
University at Buffalo

Phat African American Poetry Book: Arna Bontemps

For Students 9th - 10th
Three of Arna Bontemps' more famous poems are printed here.
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Rhythms in Poetry: Claude Mc Kay

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a succinct biography of Claude McKay, infamous Harlem Renaissance poet who expressed the need for the African American community in America to speak out against racism. See "Claude McKay Activities" for related materials.
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Primary
Poetry Foundation

Poetry Foundation: Harlem

For Students 9th - 10th
Poem entitled "Harlem" is shared on this site. This poem was originally found in Langston Hughes' Collected Poems. Click on 'Related Content' for a biography of Langston Hughes.
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Activity
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: On "The Weary Blues"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site features four different reviews of Langston Hughes' debut award winning volume of poems "Weary Blues". Compiled by the University of Illinois.
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: The Poetry and Prose of Langston Hughes [Pdf]

For Teachers 11th Standards
In this lesson, 11th graders explore how the poetry of Langston Hughes reflected political and social issues of the time and how literature can support social change.
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Activity
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Claude Mc Kay

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography and analysis of the life of the famous author, as well as literary criticism as well as online poems, letters and a bibliography. Includes many quotes and his poetry.
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Website
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Gwendolyn Brooks, Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed account of the writer's life. Contains references to contemporaries, influences and motivations in her career.
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eBook
Other

Poets' Corner: Harlem Shadows: The Poems of Claude Mc Kay

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of seventy four poems by Claude McKay. With an introduction by editor Nelson Miller highlighting his life and great works.
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a biography of Langston Hughes, followed by several of his poems (some complete with audio clips) and a bibliography of his more influential works.
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Truth" by Nikki Grimes

For Students 6th - 8th
This poem appeared in Grimes' book "One Last Word", a collection inspired by poems from The Harlem Renaissance that follow the "Golden Shovel" form. In this poetic form, the poet takes a "striking line" from an inspirational poem and...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Rhythms in Poetry: Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet laureate Langston Hughes is featured in this brief biography highlighting his vast collection of writings, particularly his poetry, which drew upon racial and self awareness in America. See "Langston Hughes Activities" for related...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Rhythms in Poetry: Jean Toomer

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief biography of Jean Toomer, an African American author of poetry and short stories, published in many magazines in the early twentieth century. Click on "Jean Toomer Activities" for related materials.
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Unit Plan
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Countee Cullen

For Students 9th - 10th
This quality site from the University of Illinois offers critical looks at Cullen's poetry as well as an excellent account of the author's life and the influences on his writing.
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Activity
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Jean Toomer

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site from Modern American Poetry comes from the English department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and proves to be a great resource for information about Jean Toomer (1894-1967 CE). The site contains links to a...
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Website
Other

Beltway Poetry Quarterly: Georgia Douglas Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed biography of Georgia Douglas Johnson. With selected works including the poem "YOUR WORLD" and a list of other suggested readings.
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Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Music From the Ashes

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a self-guided learning unit on the topic of poetry. Included are lessons, self-assessments, background information, learning activities, and related literature. Learn how to analyze poetry, appreciate figurative language, and...
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Activity
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: "Letter From Spain"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Modern American Poetry provides a review of the famous poem by Langston Hughes. The information that is provided is somewhat brief, but factual, and worth checking out.
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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.
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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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Activity
University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo: The Jean Toomer Pages

For Students 9th - 10th
The Jean Toomer Pages surveys the life and work of this Harlem Renaissance poet and novelist.
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Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Langston Hughes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan based around the use of metaphor in Langston Hughes's "Dreams" poem. A good reference for teachers looking for lesson ideas on the Harlem Renaissance.