Nikki Giovanni Author Study

January 24, 2011

Students began class with a short introduction to Nikki Giovanni, a famous contemporary poet who was a very influential figure in the 1960’s, helping to work toward equal rights for all citizens.  Her poetry is the inspiration for our next author study.

We read “Grand Mothers” in class, a nonfiction story about Nikki Giovanni’s grandmother and all of her quirks.  Students paid close attention to Giovanni’s voice as she described all of the fun and sometimes frustrating characteristics of her grandmother.

Students need to answer the questions on page 415 of their books, numbers 1-6 for tomorrow.  They also need to write a short, heartfelt description of one of their grandparents.  This description could be a funny anecdote, or a simple description of what the grandparent means to him or her.

If you were unable to finish the story in class, please come in early tomorrow to finish the story before school.

The questions are listed below:

1.  How did you feel when Giovanni described leaving her grandmother alone after her grandfather’s funeral?

2. Why is Giovanni amazed at Grandmother’s forgetfulness?

3.  What problems did Giovanni have with her grandmother? What does Giovanni miss about her grandmother?

4. Givoanni says that her grandmother was “the only person who I know for sure whose love I did not have to earn.” Why is it important for Giovanni that she did not have to earn her grandmother’s love?

5. Summarize this selection by presenting its main idea.

6.  What if Giovanni had refused to march as her grandmother had requested?  How do you think her grandmother would have reacted?

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