Using poems to build rhythm skills is good for students of all ages! Last time, I shared a (fairly silly) poem I use with younger students and young-at-heart adults. For middle and high-school age students, I’ve used the first three stanzas of “Caged Bird” (aka “I know why the caged bird sings”) by Maya Angelou. This moving work has a strong pulse, was written by an important Black American author, poet, and civil rights activist, and powerfully conveys the despair and rage of the “caged bird.” If you’re working in an arts integration environment, it connects seamlessly with English/Language Arts (ELA), US history, and social justice topics. This entire activity works well in person and over Zoom.
Start by spending an entire class session (45-50 minutes) on the poem. Put it up on a smartboard or shared screen and have students take turns reading it aloud, stanza by stanza. Next, put students into small groups to discuss the meaning of the poem. (Hint: it’s not actually about birds. There are good resources online that dive into the meaning; Google is your friend if you’re not familiar with this work or need ideas for discussion questions.) After 5-10 minutes in small groups, bring everyone back together to share out.
In your next class, go into the music of the poem. First, read it aloud while tapping the pulse on your body. Next, have students say the poem aloud with you while tapping the pulse on their bodies. Do this several times until they have it. Finally, put them in groups of 2-3 to explore saying the poem while playing the pulse on body percussion, taiko, classroom instruments, or whatever they have access to. If time allows, have a few groups demonstrate their work.
You can do this in person or in a Zoom class using breakout rooms and bringing everyone back together for the share out. You will probably need to practice reading the poem aloud and emphasizing pulse without making it sound like a nursery rhyme. This is time well spent. I’d love to hear about it if you try this in your classes, and any adaptations you make! Until then, happy teaching.