Performing Maya Angelou's ‘Caged Bird’

English

In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils study a body of work by a single poet, in order to explore what makes her style and voice unique, giving Angelou her identity as a writer. In the second  Power and Conflict Poetry unit, pupils study the identity cluster of poems, including works by Agard, Dharker and Rumens, all of which use poetic voice to explore questions about personal identity.

In 'Poetry about Place and Home', pupils use spoken word poetry to explore their relationship to the city that they live in. In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils explore how spoken word poetry can be used to express personal and political views. 

In this unit, pupils read and discover the work of Maya Angelou. They explore some of Angelou's most famous poems, such as 'Caged Bird' and 'Still I Rise', and practise writing and performing poems inspired by her work. As the unit develops, pupils find their own distinctive poetic voice.

Single poet study: Maya Angelou

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Risk assessment required - physical activity

movements made with the head or hand to signal an idea

Match each word to its definition. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

to read it in your head in a lively manner

to read it aloud making decisions about how to engage an audience

What does it meant to perform a poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird' relies on an extended {{}}? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

In 'Caged Bird', Maya Angelou describes the bird’s cage as "{{ }}" in Stanza two. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

When I was young, I experimented with a range of hair colours.

I want to experiment with different ways to revise for my exams.

I always go to the same shop after school; I'm experimental in that way.

I experimented with netball, football and tennis before deciding which to do.

Which of the sentences below use the word 'experiment' (or its forms) correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Many of Angelou's poems present triumphant, powerful speakers.

The dinner was a triumph: everyone said the food was delicious!

They looked triumphant as they faced their first loss.

Which of the sentences below use the word 'triumphant' (or its forms) correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Maya Angelou wrote a poem called 'Caged {{ }}'. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

the emotion or attitude in your voice – written or verbal

Match each word to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

In Stanza six of 'Caged Bird', Angelou says that the bird in the cage sings a song about "{{ }}". ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

The ship was very resilient, coping with even the most violent storms.

Those flowers are resilient – they haven't been watered and they’re still alive.

"Don’t stop!" said my coach. "Be resilient and work through the pain!"

All the fish died because they are very resilient to infection.

Many of Angelou's poems explore the idea of resilience. Which of the sentences below use the word resilient (or its forms) correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

It was published in between 'Phenomenal Woman' and 'Still I Rise'.

It was published in between 'Phenomenal Woman' and 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me'.

When was 'Caged Bird' published? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

the bird that is free moves freely e.g. "leaps"

the bird in the cage can't move freely – he "stalks"

we hear for the first time the bird in the cage sings about "freedom"

the bird that is free thinks about "worms" and "owns" the sky

the bird in the cage "shouts" and experiences "nightmares"

a repetition of Stanza 3; ends on the word "freedom"

Match each stanza of 'Caged Bird' to its focus. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Risk assessment required - physical activity

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Performing Maya Angelou's ‘Caged Bird’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.