Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Toward the Winter Solstice" by Timothy Steele
Timothy Steele's poem, "Toward the Winter Solstice," offers scholars an opportunity to consider what poets and scientists could learn from each other's work. First, learners examine a NASA image of a star-forming region in the Orion...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Black Laws" by Roger Reeves
After investigating the Black Lives Matter movement, class members do a close read of Roger Reeves' "Black Laws." They write down words and phrases that rhyme, consider the kinds of rhymes used and their function in the poem. Scholars...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “In This Place (An American Lyric)” by Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman, the United States's first National Youth Poet Laureate, is featured in a resource from the Academy of American Poets. Class members first read Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech and note what King wanted...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Violin" by Nikki Wallschlaeger
Nikki Wallschlaeger's Violin is the featured poem in a lesson that uses music and multiple readings to delve deep into its analysis. After a writing warm-up, learners watch and listen to a video that showcases Regina Carter Quintet's...
Academy of American Poets
The Immigrant Experience
The Buttonhook by Mary Jo Salter is the focus of a unit that explores the immigration experience to Ellis Island. First, scholars bring in an artifact that represents their heritage. A group-exercise allows them to share and discuss...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “The Everglades” by Campbell McGrath
Florida's Everglades come alive for young environmental scientists as they watch a video taken in the park and read a poem about the watery paradise. After a careful study of the two resources, class members consider the function of the...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Tuesday 9/11/01" by Lucille Clifton
A photograph and a poem remind young people of the events of November 11, 2001. After examining Andrea Booher's photograph taken on September 13, 2001, and reading Lucille Clifton's poem "Tuesday 9/11/01", scholars compare their...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Election Day, November, 1884" by Walt Whitman
To begin a study of Walt Whitman's poem, "Election Day, November 1884," learners first call out a word or two that describes their reaction to the recent presidential election. They then read an encyclopedia entry about the Presidential...
Academy of American Poets
Teaching the Vietnam War with Poetry and Archives
The language of and the perspective of photographs, poems, and official reports differ. After a close reading of two photographs, two poems, and a military report about the Vietnam War, individuals adopt someone's voice or something from...
Academy of American Poets
Poems about Poetry
Learners of all ages hear the words “Today we’re going to start poetry” and begin their plans to drop out of school. It is not the teacher's fault! Use this resource to help young scholars understand the genre of poetry and why it is...
Academy of American Poets
We Sing America
Pair the famous poems "I Hear America Singing," by Walt Whitman, and "I, Too, Sing America," by Langston Hughes, with a more recent poem by Elizabeth Alexander called "Praise Song for the Day" to demonstrate a theme and introduce your...
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Stevie Smith
The biography is brief but covers the poet's life and themes. What makes the site valuable is its links to other Smith sites, including one RealAudio site that features the reading of her poem "Not Waving but Drowning."
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Archibald Mac Leish
Information about MacLeish's life and career, a bibliography of his work, and a photograph.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Robert Penn Warren
This site contains a complete biography and a selected bibliography along with a photo.
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: Shel Silverstein
This webpage focuses on Shel Silverstein, cartoonist, poet, playwrite. It provides biographical information about Silverstein, a list of his works, and links to two of his poems.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: David Wagoner
This website features poet and author David Wagoner. It includes biographical information about Wagoner, a list of his poetry collections, his awards, his novels; and links to three of his poems.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: National Poetry Month: 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
Explore this in-depth collection of ideas for celebrating National Poetry Month.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Stanley Kunitz
A brief biography of Stanley Kunitz, who was known not only for his poetry, but for his unfailing support of young poets. This site includes the texts of several of his poems, as well as transcripts of several interviews and critical...
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Sylvia Plath
This web page provides a brief biography on Sylvia Plath with a photograph included.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: E. E. Cummings
Maintained by the Academy of American Poets, this very nice website offers a decent, brief biography of Cummings (1894-1962 CE), along with links to many of his poems. Also includes a selected bibliography and links to several other...
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Edna St. Vincent Millay
This site provides a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay, followed by a list of her works, and the full text 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.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Richard Wilbur
Read a short biography of Richard Wilbur. Read his poem "The Prisoner of Zenda." Read two other poems: "Advice to a Prophet" and "The Writer." Two other web links are given.