1. Happy Groundhog Day! Hand in “Thank You, M’am” Questions & Activity *Please make sure name is on EVERYTHING Have vocabulary out to be checked for participation We will go over these answers together

2. Do Now: Current Events Yesterday was the Iowa Caucus… What is the Iowa Caucus? Why is it so important? Who won for each party? http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/10 0000004178801/why-the-iowa-caucuses- matter.html http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/10 0000004178801/why-the-iowa-caucuses- matter.html How do you feel about these results?

3. “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” 1969 autobiography by Maya Angelou *We will also read a related poem that she wrote later (1983), just called “Caged Bird” Title taken from poem called “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

4. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) American author, poet, civil rights activist Most famous for her autobiographies Won dozens of awards/over 50 honorary degrees

5. Journal (answer in one well-developed paragraph) Maya Angelou uses a “caged bird” as a metaphor. What might it mean to be a person who feels like a “caged bird?” Write about a situation in which a person might feel like a caged bird. This could be a real life situation in your own life or somebody else’s life that you know. You can also pull the example from television/movies/books/etc. or make it up!

6. Activity In small groups of 3-4, think of a way that you are trapped like a caged bird Ideas: Your parents are very controlling over you Having to go to school every day/spend the evening doing homework eats up your time You are too shy/insecure to let yourself really be “free,” you hold back from being yourself for fear of embarrassment, failure, etc. Your image/reputation limits you, people only ever expect one thing from you (this could also relate to gender, race, religion, age, etc.) Or come up with an idea of your own!

7. Now, it’s time to sing! Write a song/rap (at least 16 lines / at least 30 seconds) that expresses your feelings about this situation How are you trapped? By whom? Why? How does it make you feel to be trapped like this? Do you try to escape or learn to make the best of it? What do you wish for? Where would you rather be? You will hand in the written lyrics and perform the song for your classmates All group members must be involved in the writing and performance somehow (singing, “keeping the beat,” etc.) Pay attention to RHYTHM. Don’t just get up there and read a poem in your regular voice. Remember that you are writing a song.