The Death of an Inspirational Leader

On December 5, a world leader passed away.  Nelson Mandela, the "founding father" of South Africa died at age 95.  Read this article to find out more about Mandela.  After you have read the article, click here and watch the video (red icon "Watch a Video"). 

Leave a comment with your answers to these two questions:

• What do you think was most inspirational about Nelson Mandela?
• Who is a leader that you think is inspirational?  What is so inspiring about them?  (This person could be living or dead.)

Who Was Langston Hughes?

Hey Scholars,

Check out this slideshow to learn about the life of Langston Hughes.  You will need to pause pretty frequently so that you don't miss anything. 

Listen to this dramatic reading of "Mother to Son," by Langston Hughes.  Notice the emotion with which the author reads - intense!  Leave a comment:

• describing what stands out to you about the life of Langston Hughes and why you think that matters
• describing something you noticed about the poem that you hadn't noticed when you read it yourself
• describing how you felt when you heard the poem being read and why you think you felt that way
• explaining why the reader might have been so dramatic when she read "Mother to Son"

Optional: If you want more information about Langston Hughes, check out this biography by Scholastic.