Teach Langston Hughes’s powerful poem “I, Too” with this ready-to-use, 16-page poetry unit that blends literary analysis, historical context, and civil rights themes. Perfect for middle and high school English, this resource helps students connect Hughes’s voice to broader conversations about identity, equality, and American literature.

 

Why Teachers Love It

• Saves planning time with ready-to-go lessons and activities
• Builds poetry analysis skills (diction, symbolism, theme, structure)
• Connects literature to history and the civil rights movement
• Encourages students to explore themes of identity and belonging
• Flexible for distance learning and in-person classrooms
• Includes comprehension, analysis, comparison, and creative writing in one unit

What’s Inside

• Biography of Langston Hughes
• Poetry Terms & Historical Context Notes
• Comprehension Questions
• Guided Poem Analysis (diction, symbolism, theme)
• Comparison with Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing”
• Verbs & Verb Tense Activity
• Creative Writing: “Today/Tomorrow” Poem Assignment
• 10-Question Quiz (poem + poetry terms)
• Answer Key Included
• Printable & Digital Versions

Why It Works

This unit gives students the tools to not only analyze Hughes’s craft but also to understand his role in American literature and the fight for equality. By comparing “I, Too” with Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing” and guiding students to write their own “Today/Tomorrow” poem, students experience poetry as both art and activism, connecting the past to their own voices.

Please Note: Poem text not included.