Teaching Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”: Inspiring Lessons for the Classroom

Amanda Gorman’s electrifying performance of “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration captivated audiences around the world with its powerful message of hope, unity, and resilience. As an educator, harnessing the impact of Gorman’s poem in the classroom offers an invaluable opportunity to engage students in discussions about social justice, civic responsibility, and the power of poetry to effect change. Here are some inspiring lessons and online resources to guide your exploration of “The Hill We Climb” with your students:

1. Contextual Understanding: Begin by providing students with context about the significance of Amanda Gorman’s inauguration as the youngest poet in U.S. history and the historical moment in which her poem was delivered. Discuss the themes of unity, healing, and democracy that Gorman addresses in her poem and how they resonate with current events.

2. Close Reading: Dive into a close reading of “The Hill We Climb,” examining Gorman’s use of imagery, metaphor, repetition, and rhythm to convey her message. Encourage students to annotate the text, identify key themes and literary devices, and discuss their interpretations of specific lines or stanzas.

3. Analyzing Structure and Form: Explore the structure and form of Gorman’s poem, including its use of free verse and the progression of ideas throughout the text. Discuss how Gorman’s intentional choices in line breaks, pacing, and syntax contribute to the overall impact and emotional resonance of her poem.

4. Exploring Themes: Engage students in discussions about the themes of resilience, justice, equality, and hope that permeate “The Hill We Climb.” Encourage them to reflect on how these themes relate to their own lives, communities, and the broader world around them.

5. Creative Response: Provide opportunities for students to respond creatively to Gorman’s poem through writing, art, or performance. Encourage them to compose their own poems inspired by themes from “The Hill We Climb” or create visual representations of key ideas and imagery from the poem.

Online Resources:

• Amanda Gorman’s Official Website: amandagorman.com – Explore resources and updates directly from Amanda Gorman herself, including interviews, articles, and upcoming events.
• “The Hill We Climb” Full Text: Read the full text of “The Hill We Climb” on the Poetry Foundation website – Access the complete text of Amanda Gorman’s poem along with additional background information and analysis.
• Teaching “The Hill We Climb” Lesson Plan: Teaching Tolerance – This lesson plan from Teaching Tolerance provides discussion questions, writing prompts, and extension activities for teaching “The Hill We Climb” in the classroom.
• Amanda Gorman’s TED Talk: Watch Amanda Gorman’s TED Talk on the Power of Poetry – In this inspiring TED Talk, Amanda Gorman shares insights into her creative process and the transformative power of poetry.

By incorporating Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” into your classroom curriculum, you can inspire students to engage with issues of social justice, civic responsibility, and the power of language to effect positive change. Let Gorman’s words be a catalyst for meaningful discussions, creative expression, and transformative learning experiences in your classroom.

Online Resources For Teaching Poetry in the Classroom:

• Poetry Foundation (poetryfoundation.org)
• Academy of American Poets (poets.org)
• Scholastic Poetry Resources (scholastic.com/teachers/genres/poetry)
• ReadWriteThink Poetry Resources (readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/grade/k-12/genre-115)

This is part of my National Poetry Month resources for the classroom. Be sure to check out some of my other resources here.