Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou
I can plan a poem inspired by the ideas and methods in Angelou's poetry.
Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou
I can plan a poem inspired by the ideas and methods in Angelou's poetry.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- When writing a poem inspired by a particular writer, their ideas and / or methods might inspire you.
- You could use Angelou's writing routine to spark your creativity e.g. generating ideas about a particular theme.
- When selecting which methods you want to use in a poem, consider how each method will help you convey your ideas.
Keywords
Direct address - when the text speaks directly to the reader / audience, often using the pronoun 'you'
Methods - the tools a writer uses to create their work
Defiant - boldly disobedient
Common misconception
You can't plan a poem. Poems are inspired, and just flow from the heart.
Poems, just like paragraphs, can be planned. You can consider ideas and methods. Indeed, because poems are often shorter than other texts, planning each idea and method is even more important - no word can be wasted.
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the Single poet study: Maya Angelou unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need access to 'Phenomenal Woman', 'Woman Work', 'Still I Rise', 'On Aging', 'Caged Bird', 'Equality', 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me', and 'On the Pulse of the Morning' (Penguin Random House).
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
an older speaker demands respect, not pity
a speaker reflects on America's past and future
a confident speaker explains why she is extraordinary
an extended metaphor explores the effects of segregation
speaker lists scary things but says she's not frightened
forthright speaker explains why she will overcome any adversity
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a repeated line or lines throughout a poem
orders
placing two things side by side to emphasise their differences
doing something after being filled with ideas from something/someone
boldly disobedient
extraordinary, remarkable
able to keep going despite hardship