Poetry Break: People Equal

Introduction
I will display a large equal sign as well as several smaller equal signs in the room. I will ask the students what equal means.

People Equal
by James Berry

Some people shoot up tall.
Some hardly leave the ground at all.
yet—people equal. Equal.

One voice is a sweet mango.
Another is a nonsugar tomato.
yet—people equal. Equal.

Some people rush to the front.
Others hang back, feeling they can’t.
yet—people equal. Equal.

Hammer some people, you meet a wall.
Blow hard on others, they fall.
yet—people equal. Equal.

One person will aim at a star.
For another, a hilltop is too far.
yet—people equal. Equal.

Some people get on with their show.
Others never get on the go.
yet—people equal. Equal.

From HIP HOP SPEAKS TO CHILDREN: A CELEBRATION OF POETRY WITH A BEAT. Edited by Nikki Giovanni. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc. 2008.

Extension
I will ask the students if things have to look the same to be equal. Working in groups, I will let the students use the equal signs to illustrate what they think is equal but doesn’t look alike. They can explain to the class why their illustration is equal.