Starter quiz
- In the poem 'Checking Out Me History', who was Agard *not* taught about?
- Lord Nelson
- Robin Hood
- Mary Seacole ✓
- Florence Nightingale
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- What is appropriate contextual link for the poem 'Checking Out Me History'?
- Agard moved to Britain in the 1970s and received a Eurocentric education here.
- Agard was born and schooled in Guyana, where he received a Eurocentric education ✓
- Agard was schooled in Guyana and received a diverse and holistic education.
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- When describing black figures in 'Checking Out Me History', Agard uses...
- monosyllabic words
- plosives
- natural imagery ✓
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- The tone of 'Checking Out Me History' seems to be both...
- joyful
- indignant ✓
- proud ✓
- disgusted
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- The last stanza of 'Checking Out Me History' reveals that Agard...
- never learnt about his own history
- decided to research his own history ✓
- conformed to society's expectations
- found out more about who he truly is ✓
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- In 'Checking Out Me History' what does Agard reveal is one effect of colonialism?
- a fulfilling education for all
- violence between indigenous people and colonisers
- people who live in colonies not knowing about the history of their own ancestors ✓
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Exit quiz
- What type of structure is there in 'Checking Out Me History'?
- mono
- dual ✓
- tri
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- What is the effect of monosyllabic words in the poem 'Checking Out Me History'?
- adds an abrupt tone ✓
- shows the attention and care Agard wants to give
- suggests Agard is reclaiming his roots
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- What do the words "sunrise", "beacon" and "fire" from 'Checking Out Me History' have in common? What is the effect?
- use of plosives - to show Agard's indignation
- use of light imagery - to show Black figures as sources of inspiration ✓
- use of creole - to show he is proud of his heritage
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- In 'Checking Out Me History' what does Agard suggest is impossible?
- finding out who you truly are
- knowing who you truly are without knowing your history ✓
- breaking free from oppressive systems
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- How is the poem ‘Checking Out Me History’ didactic?
- Agard teaches us to shape our own identity ✓
- Agard teaches us to conform to society’s expectations
- Agard teaches us about Black history ✓
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- Which of the below best explains Agard's inclusion of nursery rhyme and folk tale in 'Checking Out Me History'?
- they reflect how his education was fun
- they reflect his great admiration for black figures
- they show that Eurocentric history is unimportant to Agard ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Dual structure, highlighted by the use of italics , shows the separation between taught history and Black history.
- Plosives and monosyllabic words convey an indignant tone, showing the harm that is caused by colonial control.
- The poem is didactic, teaching the reader about Black history, encouraging them to find out about their own identity.
- Natural imagery and light imagery is used to portray figures from Agard’s heritage, celebrating their power.
- The final stanza shows Agard’s move from passively learning history to actively researching culture and identity.
Common misconception
Students may have not heard of the folk tales and nursery rhymes in the poem so may not be able to identify them as such.
The use of nursery rhymes and folk tale was a deliberate stylistic choice, perhaps Agard is indignant about the trivial nature of some of his education.
Keywords
Didactic - determined to teach, often a moral lesson
Colonialism - the act of settling and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area
Precedence - if something takes precedence, it is considered more important than something else
Dual - consisting of two parts
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