The Uses of Poetry in the Classroom

Lesson Plans II: Relating to the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance in Retrospect: Connecting Art, Music, Dance, and Poetry

Overview:

The Harlem Renaissance was a vibrant time that was characterized by innovations in art, literature, music, poetry and dance. In this lesson, students conduct Internet research, work with an interactive Venn diagram tool, and create a museum exhibit that highlights the work of selected artists, musicians, and poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary connections are emphasized.

Objectives:

Student will:

1. Research, evaluate, and synthesize information about the Harlem Renaissance from varied resources
2. Highlight their understanding of the Harlem Renaissance through the creation of an exhibit
3. Highlight the connections across varied disciplines (art, music and poetry) using a Venn diagram
4. Orally present their work to the class.
5. Respond in writing to reflective / assessment questions

Teacher Preparation:

1. Preview the Harlem Renaissance website preview listed on the handout.
2. Navigate through the varied websites to foresee any difficulty your students might have.
3. Visit PBS Biographies: Duke Ellington and listen to the following songs:
1. "East St. Louis Toodle –oo"
2. "The Mooche"
3. "Mood Indigo"

Make sure all computers have RealAudio player or other software downloaded for listening to the audio files.

Purpose:

To provide students with a brief introduction to the Harlem Renaissance. Although this lesson discusses music and art as well as poetry, we will be looking at the poetry in the other forms of expression.

Procedure:

1. Open PBS Biographies: Duke Ellington, and tell students that they are going to hear three jazz tunes by Duke Ellington, a famed jazz musician of the Harlem Renaissance.
2. Ask students to listen for connections as you read the fourth paragraph of Lindy Hop in Harlem: The Role of Social Dancing. Have students brainstorm examples from today's popular culture that show connections across music, dance, and art.
3. Share the following paintings with the class:
1. "Dust to Dust" by Jacob Lawrence
2. "Blues 1929" by Archibald J. Motley Jr.

Ask students to share their responses to the paintings. These might include such things as the color, mood, composition, and feelings the paintings express.

4. Listen to Langston Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". Ask students to share their responses to this poem.
5. As a class, visit the "Websites Related to the Harlem Renaissance" that are listed on the handout to explore different aspects of this time period. Ask students to respond to the following questions: What were you able to learn about the Harlem Renaissance: by listening to Jazz music, listening to an Essay, by looking at paintings, listening to a poem, and browsing a website? I will ask for student volunteers to share thoughts with the entire class. Focus the discussion on how different disciplines can enrich our understanding of a topic in different ways. Also encourage the students to examine what elements of poetry they saw or heard in all the forms of expression.

Lesson adapted from ReadWriteThink: Lesson Plan - A Harlem Renaissance Retrospective: Connecting Art, Music, Dance and Poetry http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesso