1st+Web+Project+Revised+(18+July+2008)

="Long Live Langston" - Our Field Trip to Harlem=



This past week you have all read the book //Bronx Masquerade// by Nikki Grimes. Inspired by a Langston Hughes assignment, students in Mr. Ward's English class began to express themselves with their own poems. As they started speaking out, their classmates saw them for who they really were. The poetry revolution started when the class read Langston Hughes' poem "Dream Deferred." Hughes was also part of a revolution -- the Harlem Renaissance.

Today we're going on a field trip to Langston's Harlem, and we'll learn more about Langston, too. When we get back, everyone will take a few minutes on their own to read and reflect on the poem "Dream Deferred."

Finally, you'll get to write your own poem or create an artwork that represents what you've learned today. At the end of class, I will collect your poems and artworks, and tomorrow we will make a scrapbook of our field trip to Harlem. You'll need a **pencil** and a **piece of paper** for this trip.

Ready? **LET'S GO!**

1 //We've been on the bus a long time, and we're finally in New York City. Click on the link for [|Drop Me Off in Harlem] to get off and start exploring! Feel free to wander around for 5 minutes, but be sure to make the following stops as you navigate the site://
 * From the main page, go to "A Place Called Harlem," and explore the neighborhood by clicking on different buildings. See if you can find 1 or 2 whose descriptions mention Langston. Pick 5 that interest you and on your sheet of paper, write 1 sentence describing each.
 * From the main page, go to "Faces of the Renaissance," click on "writers," and click on "Langston Hughes." Read the short biography, and on your sheet of paper, answer the following questions:
 * What did people call Langston because of his talents as a poet?
 * Who were some of Langston's friends in Harlem?
 * How did Langston Hughes connect poetry and music?

2 Alright, now that you know more about Harlem and Langston Hughes, let's revisit "Dream Deferred," the poem we encountered when we read //Bronx Masquerade//. After you read it, you can click on the video to watch someone perform it.

= =

= A Dream Deferred = = //by Langston Hughes// =  What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

= = = A Dream Deferred = //Performed //

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3 We've talked about this poem a little in class. Now, I'd like you to share some of your thoughts on our class discussion page (5-10 sentences). (Something to keep in mind: These reflections are your starting point for the final part of this journey -- creating your own poem or work of art.)

4 We're nearing the end of an exciting trip, and it's time to go home. Spend the rest of class creating a poem or designing a work of art as a response to what you've learned today by exploring Harlem, reading about Langston Hughes, and further reflecting on "A Dream Deferred." Make something that will remind you of something important you learned today. All the poems and artwork will go into our Harlem Field Trip Scrapbook!

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