While originally created to accompany The Cay, this poetry lesson could be used on it's own, especially if you are working on dialect. Class members conduct a close reading of "When Malindy Sings" by Paul Laurence Dunbar and listen to an audio recording to get a better idea of what the dialects sounds like. After determining the main idea, partners translate stanzas and summarize the poem. Once pupils are clear on the meaning, pose the provided questions and hold a discussion.