![Poet Nikki Giovanni was born in 1943.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1026_5.jpg?h=8dc5097d&itok=3Ilqg2vd)
![Gwendolyn Brooks published <em>Bronzeville Boys and Girls</em> in 1956.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1027_1.jpeg?h=23f19044&itok=OpB1iDOg)
After students have read and discussed several poems from Brooks' collection, they create a poetry anthology for their own family, neighborhood, or classroom.
![Celebrate the National Day on Writing!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1028_0.jpg?h=436b82d4&itok=hj9b3hQK)
Students examine the different ways that they write and think about the role writing plays in life.
![President Barack Obama was born today in 1961.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1029_1.jpg?h=cd2a4617&itok=QG5thKJ3)
![Google was formally incorporated this week in 1998.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1030_1.jpg?h=2404b1f3&itok=MZUPZQPW)
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Students imagine they have been asked to participate in a museum exhibit, take photos/videos of a significant location, and write or record reflections. Students can also create an exhibit from something they have read.
![Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is in May!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1032_0.jpg?h=73cca598&itok=SEjYo940)
Students consider the portrayal of Asians in popular culture by exploring images from classic and contemporary films and comparing them to historical and cultural reference materials.
![Oprah Winfrey launched her book club this week in 1996.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1033_0.jpg?h=fee4874d&itok=f7etXy6U)
![Poet and author Pat Mora was born on this day in 1942.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1034_0.jpg?h=a82907fc&itok=Z8HOhuup)
![In 1931, Toni Morrison was born.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1036_0.jpg?h=7e9abe27&itok=C-PBX5He)
![Celebrate El Día de Los Niños/El Día de Los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day)!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1037_0.png?h=e4c65b60&itok=KBhLwDA3)
Using the Book Cover Creator, students write and share their own multilingual stories.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/calendar_711_computer_1.jpg?itok=yCn-Mb21)
![Thomas Nast was born on this day in 1840.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1039_0.jpg?h=7537288a&itok=fn_2y_lM)
![Get ready for National Bullying Prevention Month!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1040_0.jpg?h=50c016eb&itok=1M-Spnw2)
![Seamus Heaney was born on this day in 1939.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1042_0.jpg?h=4fdd8d4a&itok=CDUHsPQk)
Students focus on the figurative language in Heaney's poem, "Digging," and discuss the speaker's attitude, and how metaphor, simile, and image contribute to the poem.
![Elie Wiesel was born on September 30, 1928.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1043.jpg?h=3ac079aa&itok=n3lOx1qx)
![Today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1044_0.jpg?h=9a47040b&itok=i0ycN2UR)
![Jonathan Swift was born on this day in 1667.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1045_0.jpg?h=ef25e2b5&itok=-MCkC5Ml)
![Kodak was issued a film patent on October 14, 1884.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1046_0.jpg?h=8b23b808&itok=sZTJwPxn)
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