Picturing America: Images and Words of Hope from Romare Bearden and Langston Hughes

A carefully crafted three-day lesson integrates poetry and visual art. By analyzing and comparing Langston Hughes' poem "Mother and Son" and Romare Bearden's collage "The Dove," readers explore the theme of hope. The lesson activates prior knowledge about the Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, it incorporates journal writing, jigsaw work groups, art diaries, drafting a reading response, and peer editing with a rubric. Image and background information on the NEH website.