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Year 8

Exploring Maya Angelou’s ‘Phenomenal Woman’

I can explore Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman', including an appreciation of its contexts.

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New
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Year 8

Exploring Maya Angelou’s ‘Phenomenal Woman’

I can explore Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman', including an appreciation of its contexts.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'Phenomenal Woman' was first published in 1978.
  2. The poem sees a confident speaker tell us how and why she is "phenomenal".
  3. The poem is perhaps a response to the sexist and racist discrimination Angelou faced in her life.
  4. Angelou performed 'Phenomenal Woman' many times in her lifetime.
  5. The poem remains very popular because of its powerful and uplifting message.

Keywords

  • Civil rights activist - a person who advocates for social and political equality for those who have been denied equal treatment

  • Phenomenal - extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations or understanding

  • Discrimination - treating someone unfairly because of certain characteristics like age, ethnicity or gender

  • Belittle - dismiss someone as unimportant

Common misconception

Poems are meant to be read in your head.

When poets write poems, they play close attention to their sounds and rhythm. As such, it's often important and desirable to hear poems aloud.

Consider how you want to read the poem with your pupils in LC1. How will you make the poem come alive? Will you read the poem, or will pupils? Would watching Angelou perform it aid pupil enjoyment? Are there further words you need to define for your pupils, or further CfU questions needed?
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of 'Phenomenal Woman' by Maya Angelou published by Penguin Random House in 2011.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content
  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: One of Maya Angelou’s poems is called ' Doesn’t Frighten Me'. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Correct Answer: Life
Q2.
Match each of these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer:assertive,confident, self-assured

confident, self-assured

Correct Answer:uplifting,inspiring happiness or hope

inspiring happiness or hope

Correct Answer:phenomenal,extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations

extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations

Correct Answer:belittle,to dismiss someone as unimportant

to dismiss someone as unimportant

Q3.
The word 'phenomenal' is an , a describing word, which means extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations or understanding ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer: adjective
Q4.
Which sentences use the word 'phenomenal' correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Correct answer: She did a phenomenal amount of work even though she only had 30 minutes.
The show was pretty average, with phenomenal things happening in every scene.
Correct answer: She is so inspiring, with a phenomenal intellect.
I really hate it when phenomenal things happen. They are so boring.
Q5.
When and where was Maya Angelou born? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
South America, 19th century
United Kingdom, 21st century
Correct answer: North America, 20th century
Europe, 20th century
Q6.
Maya Angelou was a person who advocated for social and political equality for those who have been denied equal treatment. This is called being a rights activist.
Correct Answer: civil

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each stanza from 'Phenomenal Woman' to its focus. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Correct Answer:Stanza 1,the speaker says she is not "cute" but rather "phenomenal"

the speaker says she is not "cute" but rather "phenomenal"

Correct Answer:Stanza 2,the speaker explains how people react when she walks in a room

the speaker explains how people react when she walks in a room

Correct Answer:Stanza 3,refrain

refrain

Correct Answer:Stanza 4,the speaker describes how confused men are about her power

the speaker describes how confused men are about her power

Correct Answer:Stanza 5,the speaker explains why we should be "proud" when we see her

the speaker explains why we should be "proud" when we see her

Q2.
In 'Phenomenal Woman', which of these is the refrain? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
the speaker
Correct answer: the title
the stanzas
the rhythm
the performance
Q3.
In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says she has " " in her eyes. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer: fire
Q4.
In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says she walks with " ". ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer: joy
Q5.
When was 'Phenomenal Woman' first published? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
1928
1954
Correct answer: 1978
2014
Q6.
Which of these sentences use the word 'belittle' (or its forms) correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
She was really motivating, always belittling me and supporting my work.
Correct answer: I cried after I saw her – her insults were so belittling and cruel.
I am more belittle than my sister.
Correct answer: She talked to me like a child and I felt really belittled.