Favorite Biography- When Marian Sang Part 3

If you're new here, welcome!! Today I'm wrapping up some writings on my favorite biography, When Marian Sang.

Part 1 was an introduction and brief summary of the book.
Part 2 included a few lesson ideas.

Today I'll finish up by discussing a few more ideas you could use with this book.


Classroom Ideas for "When Marian Sang" Part 2


Extend into Eleanor Roosevelt

While this book is primarily written about Marian Anderson, you learn a little bit about Eleanor Roosevelt, too. This article from PBS has more information about Marian Anderson and Mrs. Roosevelt. The Daughters of the American Revolution owned Constitution Hall, where Marian was set to perform. When the DAR would not allow her to perform, Roosevelt resigned from the group and helped make the arrangements for her to perform at the Lincoln Memorial.

This could transition right in to extending learning about first ladies.

(Also, you could read the PBS article and compare the structure and style to the book!)

The Lincoln Memorial

If this book extends right into Eleanor Roosevelt, it also extends right into learning a bit about the Lincoln Memorial. You can learn about it's significance, symbolism, etc.  The beautiful words inscribed at this memorial are worth taking time to discuss.

I know that it would be completely impossible for anyone to use all the ideas I'm listing, but this one is easy! Just showing them a few pictures would help them form that deeper connection to the place. I visited the Lincoln Memorial after a couple years of using this book in my class. So, when I went I had to stand on the spot and take pictures!!!

My view from the memorial! I loved asking kids to imagine themselves standing right there looking over the crowd.

When Marian Sang and the Common Core

I'm a Texas girl, but I've been learning more about the core...If you've been reading these posts already, then you will easily see the connections between these common core standards and "When Marian Sang." I'll be brief with these...

1) Relationships and Interactions:

These standards could be used to discuss how the events took place, how Roosevelt and Anderson's lives crossed paths, etc

Common Core:
Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. 

Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text. 

2) Stucture:

The author included "specifics" when she used lyrics. How did the lyrics relate to the text/events that were occurring?

Common Core:

Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

3) Author's Viewpoint and Purpose

This works with the TEKS, too. Ask students the author's point of view on Anderson's life. How did it shape her writing?

Common Core:
Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. 

Potential Vocabulary Words

This totally depends on your own teaching situation, so I encourage you to look through the book with the vocabulary lens for your class. Here were just a few that I liked discussing, and using as context clue examples:

Utter
Resounding
Commotion
Distinct
Arranged
Refused


Thanks for joining me! I hope this inspires you to look into this book for the students in your life!