Look closely at this image of a father and daughter cooking.
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Warm-up: (free-write) What are some of the important moments in your life? Write them down and, if possible, record any vivid memories you have or stories you have heard about these moments. Think about what makes them special to you.
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Before Reading the Poem: Look closely at this image of a father and daughter cooking. What stands out in this photo? Why? Look again. What else do you see? What does this image make you think? Why?
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Reading the Poem: Silently read the poem “When the Burning Begins” by Patricia Smith. What do you notice about the poem? Note any words or phrases that stand out to you or any questions you might have.
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Listening to the Poem: Enlist two volunteers and listen as the poem is read aloud twice. Write down any additional words and phrases that stand out to you. You can watch a video of the poet reading the poem.
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Small Group Discussion: Share what you noticed about the poem with a small group of students. How does the poem compare to the resources from the beginning of class? How would you describe the relationship between the speaker and the father? Why? What repetition do you notice in the poem?
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Whole Class Discussion: In the video, Patricia Smith mentions the importance of a moment. Describe the moment in this poem. What in particular makes this moment so vivid and important? Why? How might this idea of a moment connect to these lines from the poem: “But remember that sometimes the burning / takes such a long time, / and in that time, / sometimes, / poems are born.” What is born in this poem and in this moment?
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Extension for Grades 7-8: In the video, Smith says to write a poem about a moment. What moments did you write about at the beginning of class? Try writing a poem about one of the moments that also explores your relationship with another person.
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Extension for Grades 9-12: What in your own life is born while waiting? What poems or ideas are yet to be born in you? Write your own response to these questions or explore a theme from the poem in your own work. Feel free to borrow the title “When the Burning Begins.” (Teachers, your students might enjoy reading some letters that students wrote in response to the poem.)
“When the Burning Begins” contains a recipe for making hot water cornbread. Try the recipe during your holiday celebrations, or follow a similar recipe with this video from Divas Can Cook.