Inquiry Lesson Plans from the Great Books Foundation
“Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts
Contains the full text and activities for “Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts, a story in Junior Great Books® Series 1 that features a young Black child who yearns for a pair of name-brand shoes.
“At work with my father” by Eve L. Ewing
Contains “At work with my father” by Eve L. Ewing, a poem for grades 6 and up. In the poem, Ewing reflects upon time spent with her father on Chicago’s Navy Pier, a longtime city tourist attraction, as he makes a living drawing caricatures of tourists.
Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
These lesson plans feature Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address and the poem “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes. Both are suitable for discussion with students in grades 10–12.
“The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman produced a January lightning bolt in 2021 with “The Hill We Climb,” her poem for President Biden’s inauguration day. Use these lesson plans to discuss the meaning of the poem and all of the aspects of its incredible delivery with your students! For grades 6 and above.
“New Day’s Lyric by Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman followed “The Hill We Climb” with this evocative poem, released in early 2022, that she said “celebrates the new year and honors the hurt and the humanity of the last one.” Use these lesson plans to investigate its meaning with your students in grades 6 and above.
“Martin Luther King, Jr.” by David Dinkins
What did David Dinkins mean when he wrote, “Any eulogy must be for us, the living”? Read “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” his moving eulogy, and discuss its meaning, along with investigating King’s life and legacy. For grades 6 and above.
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