Exploring Maya Angelou’s ‘On the Pulse of the Morning’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore Maya Angelou’s ‘On the Pulse of the Morning’, including understanding why and how it was written.
Key learning points
- In 1993, President Bill Clinton asked Angelou to write, and perform, a poem at his inauguration.
- Perhaps President Clinton asked Angelou because of her importance as an American poet and civil rights activist.
- Angelou wrote on 'On the Pulse of the Morning', a poem focusing on America's past, and its future.
- 'On the Pulse of the Morning' emphasises the idea that Americans should see each other as equals, and practice kindness.
- Angelou followed a strict writing routine: rising early and working with minimal distractions for a full morning.
Keywords
Inauguration - in politics, when a new leader and government is sworn in
Civil rights activist - a person who advocates for social and political equality for those who have been denied equal treatment
Renew - to make new again, to restore
Jim Crow laws - laws enforced by American states which separated people based on the colour of their skin (late 19th century to 1965)
Common misconception
Every American president has a poem read at their inauguration.
Presidents have choice over some elements of their inauguration. President Clinton was only the second president to have a poem read at his ceremony, and he specifically asked for Angelou to write and perform it.
Teacher tip
Consider how you will read the poem in LC1. You could consider watching the whole performance (just under 7 minutes) and then focusing on the final four stanzas when reading. Consider which words you will need to define for pupils: mastodon, Midas and mendicant are three examples to consider.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the final four stanzas of 'On the Pulse of the Morning' by Maya Angelou published in 1993 by Penguin Random House.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In the United Kingdom, the country's leader is called the Prime Minister. In America, the country's leader is called the ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q2.Which of these are examples of commands? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q3.Match each word to its meaning ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
the beat you feel as your blood is pumped through your veins
a group of animals or plants
events that will happen to a person or thing in the future
the state of not knowing something
Q4.Maya Angelou was a poet and a civil activist ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q5.Select the dates which indicate when Maya Angelou was born, and when she passed away ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q6.The laws were laws enforced by American states which separated people based on the colour of their skin (late 19th century to 1965) ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Maya Angelou wrote a poem called 'On the Pulse of the '. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q2.Which president asked Maya Angelou to write and perform a poem at their inauguration? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q3.What is true of Maya Angelou's writing routine? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q4.What words did Angelou use to describe her writing routine? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q5.What is the final word of 'On the Pulse of the Morning'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q6.Which sentence uses the word 'renewal' correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Exploring Maya Angelou’s ‘On the Pulse of the Morning’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Exploring Maya Angelou’s ‘On the Pulse of the Morning’, 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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