Derek Walcott’s poem, “A Far Cry from Africa” confronts us with layers of complexity in its context, language and subject. What better way to spur students’ curiosity, and hone their question-asking and research skills than to provide them with a compelling poem?

The Literacy Common Core Standards in the areas of Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening are aligned with these activities.  Feel free to break these activities up, use them as a self-contained unit, or differentiate them for your students’ specific needs.