"Declaration (of a Kgomotso Girl)"
Print this Page- Subject(s): Language Arts & Literature, Social Studies & Geography, Cross-Cultural Understanding
- Region / Country: Africa / Republic of South Africa
- Grade Level(s): 6–8, 9–12
Overview
Students will read and discuss "Declaration," a poem written by a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in South Africa. Students will focus reading and discussion on issues of gender as they appear in the poem.
Objectives
- Students will deepen their knowledge about the lives of people in South Africa.
- Students will discuss how elements of poetry such as tone work to convey meaning.
- Students will discuss similarities and differences between their lives and the lives of the poem’s characters.
Vocabulary
- Kgomotso: a group of people in South Africa
Featured Reading(s)
- Declaration (of a Kgomotso Girl) by Katie Pepiot
Materials
Procedures
Assign students to read "Declaration" silently. Then select a student or a group of students to read the poem aloud. As a class or in small groups, use the following questions to guide discussion:
- Who are the narrators of this poem? What tone do they use?
- What do you imagine the lives of the speakers of this poem are like?
- What do they hope will be different in the future?
- How does your life compare to the characters in this poem?
Author: Katie Pepiot
About the Author:
Katie Pepiot served in South Africa from 2007 – 2009 as an elementary education Peace Corps Volunteer.
Additional Credits:
Education program assistant for Peace Corps/South Africa Nthabiseng Dulungana brought Katie Pepiot’s poetry to the attention of Coverdell World Wise Schools.
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