African American and Indigenous representation through poetry in Early America

This WebQuest will take you through a series of activities that will allow you to further investigate Early American Literature and the diverse perspectives that created the time period. In your first activity you will be asked to research the history of Early American Literature, while making connections based on races represented in the readings; second you will read poetry of African-Americans and Indigenous authors who were alive during the time period we are surveying; for your final task you will be asked to create a visual piece and write a three paragraph personal response allowing you to make an emotional connection to the lives of the African American and Indigenous authors during this time. Your goal is to have a comprehensive understanding of the time period with a visual aid and personal response to connect themes in poetry to today’s version of America.

Establishing the Period

1. Read a brief overview of the period here 

2. Fill out Points of worksheet here

Using the following reading material and worksheet, students will learn about how race had an impact on how people were treated. This had a direct impact on how these groups were displayed in literature in the Early American period (1800’s). 

Studying Poets

1. Choose one poet from the following list of authors to read about: Phillis Wheatley  George Moses Horton Jane Johnson Schoolcraft James Monroe Whitfield Lydia Huntley Sigourney

2. Read the bibliography and two pieces they wrote.

3. Fill out the Knowing My Poet document.

Using the following reading material and worksheet, students will learn about how literature from the poet they chose had on the nation during the time. They will use poetry to make connections to today in America vs in the 1800’s.

Creative Evaluation of Learning

1. Choose a medium to complete a collage (On paper or online) 

2. Choose an author that stood out to you.

3. Create a visual component that illustrates an aspect of their work, or the poet’s life, etc…

4. View the example project Here 

5. Complete a reflection statement (three paragraphs) where you discuss the choices you made in your collage by making connections to the poet’s life and works, as well as your knowledge of the time period.

By following through with the steps of this WebQuest, students will be able to have hands on experience with Early American Literature from the points of view of African Americans, Indigenous, and white populations. This quest provides an inclusive look at the time period by taking information and writings from the minorities at the time. This ensures that students are not taught the history from the white majority point of view. America is a country that was built from many different cultures. The acceptance and celebration of other cultures is imperative in order to create a place where students feel safe, represented, and celebrated. 

The Poetry Foundation

The Broadway Anthology of Early American Literature: Volume B (1820 to Reconstruction)

As an current undergraduate English major and an aspiring high school English teacher, I have learned that literature can teach us so much about historical periods of time. Using the concepts of African American and Indigenous points of view being the foundation of curriculum is something I learned in my Culture and Inclusion class. Teachers should not simply infuse their curriculum with diverse points of view but have those themes be the building blocks of the lesson.