Abiyoyo

In this video segment from Between the Lions stars Theo the Lion reading aloud the story of Abiyoyo, a South African tale packed with suspense, heroic characters, and new words.

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After Love, by Maxime Kumin

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Maxine Kumin reads her poem, “After Love”, which describes a quiet moment after love-making shared by two people in a long marriage.

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After Making Love We Hear Footsteps, by Galway Kinnell

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Galway Kinnell reads his poem, “After Making Love We Hear Footsteps”, which depicts the magic of love and family connection.

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American Smooth, by Rita Dove

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Rita Dove reads her poem, “American Smooth”, which describes the effort a couple makes to complete a ballroom dance, and the lyrical state of being they achieve.

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American Wedding, by Joseph Millar

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Joseph Millar reads his poem, “American Wedding”, in which he feels the significance of embarking on a marriage as he heads to his daughter’s wedding reception.

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Aunties, by Kevin Young

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Kevin Young reads his poem, "Aunties", in which he gives life to memories steeped in the Deep South.

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Axle the Freeway Cat

In this online book from the International Children's Digital Library, a lonely cat meets a new friend in a traffic jam.

Belle Isle, 1949, by Philip Levine

In Philip Levine's post-war poem, "Belle Isle, 1949," two strangers meet, swim, and part, exploring themes of connection, boundaries, and where we come from. This video segment comes from Poetry Breaks.

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Blackbottom, by Toi Derricotte

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Toi Derricotte reads her poem, “Blackbottom”, which describes a black American family’s drive through their old, segregated neighborhood, left behind when they moved to the suburbs.

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Black Ear, Blond Ear

In this online book from the International Children's Digital Library, relations between the blonde cats and the black cats, who live on different sides of the river, learn about each other when they exchange ears.

The Blue Sky

In this online book from the International Children's Digital Library, a sad and lonely little girl dreams of seeing her mother again as she watches the clouds in the sky.

Brian, Age 7, by Mark Doty

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Mark Doty reads his poem, "Brian, Age 7", which was inspired by a drawing taped to a drugstore window.

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Calling him back from layoff, by Bob Hicok

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Bob Hicok reads his poem “Calling him back from layoff,” which describes the emotionally fraught phone conversation between a manager and a laid-off worker.

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A Character's Perspective - Colonial House

Students watch a video segment that shows the reactions of colonists and native people when they encounter one another for the first time during a colony settlement reenactment. Students then select a character and write a letter from that character’s point of view that describes the meeting.

Character Development: Cancer - A New Treatment

Students will answer questions about what motivated chemical engineer Mark Davis to search for a better treatment for his wife's cancer. They then complete a journal entry in which they compare his motivations and goals to those they’ve established for themselves.

Daddy Long Legs, by Ted Kooser

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Ted Kooser reads his poem, "Daddy Long Legs", in which he contemplates a spider he sees scurrying across the basement floor.

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The Dancing, by Gerald Stern

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Gerald Stern reads his poem, "The Dancing", which moves from pleasant memories of the poet’s childhood to the horror of World War II.

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Dust, by Dorianne Laux

In this video segment from Poetry Everywhere, Dorianne Laux reads her poem, “Dust”, which explores the classic conundrum of “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

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Exploring Contrasts in "The Lanyard," by Billy Collins

In "The Lanyard," by Billy Collins, the speaker remembers a gift he made for his mother. This media-rich lesson helps students explore how contrasting images in a poem can create meaning.

Exploring Selected Haiku by Issa

Discover the haiku of Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa. This media-rich lesson examines the format, humor, and nature of haiku by Issa. Students analyze various haiku and write their own.