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TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT LITERATURE

(EL 110)

‘Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou

(Lesson Plan)

Eric John T. Chavez

Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English-2

Ms. Jennifer Apelo

Instructor

(2nd Semester- Semi-Final Period)

SY: 2021-2022
 April 13, 2022

A DETAILED LESSON PLAN for Grade 7

I. OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

a. Determine the tone, mood, technique, and purpose of the author in the poem “Life Doesn’t
Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou.
b. Integrate a positive outlook upon overcoming problems in life; and
c. act and perform a skit about life experience in being a teenager.

II. SUBJECT MATERIAL/MATERIALS

Topic: Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou

Reference (s): Baldwin, E. (2021, May 24). Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou. Poem Analysis.

https://poemanalysis.com/maya-angelou/life-doesnt-frighten-me/#

Materials: Laptop, PowerPoint Presentation, Cartolina, and Speaker

III. PROCEDURE/METHODOLOGIES

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES STUDENTS ACTIVITIES

A. ROUTINE ACTIVITIES
1. Prayer

Please, stand. Let us pray first before we start our

class. John Carlo, please lead the opening prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is
in heaven. Give us the day our daily bread. And
forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who trespass
against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver
us from evil. Amen.

Amen!
Good morning class!
Good morning, Sir!
2. Attendance/ Assignments
How are you today, class?
Doing great, Sir!

Okay, that’s good to know.

On a ¼ sheet of paper, please write your name

section, and the date today. Also, I want you to
write the best word that describes your feelings or
mood today as it is somewhat connected to our
lesson for today. Pass it forward because that will
serve as your attendance for our class today.
(The student will write their name, section, and the
date today, including the word that best describes their
feeling or mood)

Are all the papers here?

Yes, Sir!

3. Clean-up minute
Let us now have some stretching. Everybody, look
upward, now look at your left side, then look at your
right side, and look downward. As you can see you
there’s so many pieces of paper under your chair, I
will count 10 seconds for you to pick up those
pieces of paper and arrange your chairs properly.

(The teacher will count 1-10) (The students will pick up the pieces of paper and
arrange their chairs properly)

4. Review
Before we proceed to our new lesson, let us first
review our last topic. Please, tell us what was our
last topic all about, Jonathan? Our last topic was all about the narrative text.

Correct!
Please, state what a narrative text is, Maxine. The narrative text includes any type of writing that
relates a series of events and includes both fiction like
short stories, and poems, and nonfiction like memoirs,
and biographies. It also uses imaginative language and
expresses emotion, often with imagery, metaphors, and
symbols.

Right! Impressive!

What are the different parts of a narrative text,

Based on our discussion yesterday, Sir, the different
Andrea?
parts of a narrative story are the character, setting,
problem, events, and resolution.

Very good!

What do you think is the importance of

understanding the different parts of a narrative story,
Michael?
Sir, I think understanding the different parts of a
narrative story can help us to have a better
interpretation and response to a text that can support
our understanding of the message of the story.

Very good!

Do you have any questions or clarifications about

None, Sir!
our last topic?

It seems like you understood our last topic. Now,

let’s move on to our new lesson.

B. MOTIVATION
Before we delve into our new lesson, I will play a
short, animated video from YouTube, and I want
you to observe and look at the message of the video
as it is connected to our new topic, and afterward,
you will be given a chance to share and write your
idea about the video.

(Teacher will play the 3-minute video)

Source: Never give up on your dreams short movie-

on YouTube. (2017, December 23).

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Sv4KKykRHjI (The student will watch and listen to the video

attentively)

Describe your observation about the video, Mabelle. I have observed that the little girl was having a
difficult moment doing the things that she really
wants.

Very good, observation!

What emotions or feelings did you have after you

watched the entire story of from video, Vianne?
Know I feel motivated to do what I really want to do.

Very good!

Then what do you think is the message of the video,

Erick? I think the message of the video is to never give up on
achieving our dreams.

Very good!

If you were the character on that video, what would

If I were the character in that video, I think my
be your purpose in doing that story, Darius?
purpose is to encourage everyone and entertain about
my story.
Thank you!

Finally, what do you think is our lesson for today,

Kenneth? I think it’s related to tone, mood, technique, and
purpose of the author.

Well said, Kenneth!

C. DISCUSSION
Our topic for today is the tone, mood, technique,
and purpose of the author in a literary text, but
before we define that, let us first understand one of
the most influential kinds of literature that have ever
been created, and that’s a poem written by Maya
Angelou entitled "Life Doesn’t Frighten Me."
No, Sir!
Are you all familiar with this poem?

What comes to your mind when you hear the title of

the poem that we are going to discuss "Life Doesn’t
I think the poem is all about encouraging us, the
Frighten Me", Feidan?
learners, to never be afraid of doing something.

Okay, thank you!

Before we dig deeper and formally discuss the

poem, let us first have a short background about the
author of this piece of literature, Maya Angelou.

The author of the poem ‘Life Doesn’t Frighten Me’ is

Please, read the first paragraph, Grasia.
Maya Angelou who was born on April 4, 1928. She
was not only a poet, but she was also a civil rights
activist because of the dark moment that she had when

Thank you!
For the second paragraph, please, read, Ramon.
Thank you!
Please, read the last paragraph, Ariane.
Thank you!
Now, why do you think Maya Angelou entitled her
poem ‘Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”, Shein?
Class, there are a set of unfamiliar words in the
poem that you should understand first. I will present
a picture, and rumbled letters, the point is, you
should determine, and explain the world based on
the pictures that I will be going to present.
she was a child.
Maya was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend
when she was 8 years old. She was traumatized that
she didn’t talk for five years, because of the pain she
had in her life. However, in the 1960s Maya became
the Northern Christian Leadership Conference. And
she won several awards in her life.
In 2010, she was given the Presidential Medal of
Freedom. But, on top of all her other
accomplishments, Maya was also the first black
woman director in the famous Hollywood now. Some
of her well-known poems/poetry books are “I Still
Rise”, “Caged Bird”, “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”, and
many more. Maya Angelou dies at the age of 86 on
May 28, 2014.
Maya Angelou entitled her poem Life Doesn’t
Frighten Me because she wanted to say that he is
brave, and fearless despite the pain that she had in her
life.
The first picture is this,

NFIGHTEHRD

Based on this picture, what do you think is the

emotion of this child, Jasper? I think the child was frightened.

Correct! Please, define the word frightened.

It is a person who is afraid or terrified about
something.

That’s right! Thank you!

This photo is connected to the first photo, what do

you is the hidden word based on this picture, Marry?

I think the scream.

REC ASM
Scream is defined as a long, and loud shout of a person
Very good!
because of the excitement or terrible she/he has.

Please, define the word scream, Marry.

That’s right!

Guess the word here

based on this picture,
Markian.
 That’s alone, Sir.

This word defined as no one else present expect you,

yourself.
NLOAE

Very good!

Define the word alone, Markian.

Correct!

Guess the hidden word here, Alexander.

I think that’s tough, Sir!

A person who is strong and not easy to break.

G H OUT

All right! define the word tough.

Very good!

How about this, Genny?

I think that’s counterpane, Sir.

I think is a decorative cover of the bed like a

bedspread, Sir.
ENAPR ETNUOC

Correct! Then, what is a counterpane?

Okay, thank you!

Please, determine the hidden word based on this

That is barking, Sir!
photo, Darius.

It is the loud sound of a dog when they are angry.

KIN BARG

Very good! Then, what is barking?

Well said, Darius!

How about this picture, what do you think is the

hidden word here, Shien? I think that’s loose, Sir.

Based on this photo, we can say that it is all about

freeness or related to the word release, since the lions
is in the highway, that lions should not be there in that
SOOEL place.

That’s right! What do you think is the meaning of

the word loose based on this photo, Marianne?

Very good!
Again, loose
means to set
free.
That’s an image of ocean floor, Sir
Guess the
 It is the bottom part of the ocean, Sir.
words in this photo, Marius.

EANCO OOLRP

Correct! Then, what is an ocean floor? I think that’s charm, Sir.

Charm is believed that is something that gives power

to a person.
That’s right!

What do you think is the hidden word in this

picture, Erick?

RMHA C

The hidden word here is stranger.

Very good! Then, what is a charm?

It is a person who is not familiar with something.

Well said! Thank you!

Lastly, guess the hidden word here based on the

picture, Andrei.

REGNA RTS
That’s right! Again, define what is stranger?

Yes, Sir.

Correct! Now, let us formally start our main lesson

for today.

Class, I will group you into 6 groups with 7

members. Each group will be given two (2) stanzas,
and you have to brainstorm and explain what it is all
about. I will give you 4 minutes to brainstorm, and
each group will be given 2 minutes to explain their
understanding of the stanza. You have to choose 1
representative in your group who will explain your
understanding and interpretation of the stanzas.

Is that clear?
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
By Maya Angelou
Group 1, you are assigned to brainstorm and
Shadows on the wall
understand what is the first and second stanzas all Noises down the hall
about. Group 2, you have the third and fourth Life doesn't frighten me at all
stanzas. Group 3, only the fifth stanza including the Bad dogs barking loud
refrain. Group 4, you are assigned to do the sixth Big ghosts in a cloud
Life doesn't frighten me at all
and seventh stanzas. Group 5, you are in the eighth
and ninth stanzas. Lastly, in group 6, do the tenth Mean old Mother Goose
Lions on the loose
and eleventh stanzas. They don't frighten me at all

Let us read first read the poem. Dragons breathing flame

On my counterpane
That doesn't frighten me at all.
(Teacher and students will read the poem)
I go boo
You have now your time to do your task. Make them shoo
I make fun
Way they run
I won't cry
So they fly
I just smile
They go wild

Life doesn't frighten me at all.

 Tough guys fight
All alone at night
Life doesn't frighten me at all.

Panthers in the park

Strangers in the dark
No, they don't frighten me at all.

That new classroom where

Boys all pull my hair
(Kissy little girls
With their hair in curls)
They don't frighten me at all.

Don't show me frogs and snakes

And listen for my scream,
If I'm afraid at all
It's only in my dreams.

I've got a magic charm

That I keep up my sleeve
I can walk the ocean floor
And never have to breathe.

Life doesn't frighten me at all

Not at all
Not at all.

Life doesn't frighten me at all.

Yes, Sir!

The first two stanzas highlight the fears and the

unknown things that a child create in their
imagination. The unknown is connected to the
“shadows” and “noises” that a child can see and hear
everywhere. These “shadows” which refers to the
“ghost in a cloud” and “noises” which refers to the
“dogs barking loud” that they can’t identify are scary
that may appear in the normal life of a child and might
scare other children, indicating that some imagination
of them might scare themselves. But the narrator
Are you all done?
wanted to tell that the sounds and images she sees

Now, let us hear the interpretation of group 1 to the
first two stanzas of the poem.
Very good, group 1! Nice interpretation!
Next is group 2, please, present your interpretation
and understanding.
Very good! nice understanding and interpretation.
Now, let’s move on to the third group, please,
present your task.
don’t scare her since she repeated the line, “Life
Doesn’t Me at all” twice.
The third and fourth stanzas is also about fears. The
imagery of the mother goose, lions running on the
loose and the image of dragon breathing fire connects
to a child’s bedtime stories that might scare a child and
become fearful due to their imagination. We can tell
that these images are in the bedtime stories of because
the narrator uses the word “counterpane” which means
a bedspread as we discussed earlier.
The narrator tells us in the fifth stanza what she does
when someone attempts to frighten her, particularly
the things she stated in the first two stanzas. Line 12
uses the word "boo" to link back to the "ghosts"
introduced in the opening verse. Saying "boo" to the
ghosts causes them to "shoo," illustrating the narrator's
strength and intimidating nature in this phrase since
the ghost leaves only by saying a single "boo." We can
state in this stanza that the narrator is fearless of the
lines “I make fun” which she refers to the lions on the
loose to make it run, and “I won’t cry” so that the
mean goose will fly. A statement of being brave, and
fearless.

Very nice understanding and interpretation.
Let’s now hear the understanding and interpretation part is different from other stanzas because the narrator
of group 4 on their given stanzas.
Very well, group 4!
Now let’s move on to the other group. Group 5
please present your work.
Specific and on point, very good, group 5!
Lastly, let’s hear the understanding and the
interpretation of their stanzas, please present your
work, group 6.
We can tell that the narrators’ attitude in this poem is
all about bravery, and fearlessness because he/she
presented images that can scare not only the children
but also the adults. Those images are common things
that many people are frightened of such as tough guys
fighting, being alone at night, panthers, and strangers
in the park. As we have observed, the refrain in this
emphasizes the word “No” that can depict that she is
not afraid of those things that are common to others.
We can confirm that the narrator of this poem is a girl
because boys don’t pull each other’s hair. The refrain
also disappears. These stanzas represent how the
narrator's confident attitude begins to identify because
she is saying that whenever she is afraid of something,
she will think that as only a dream.
The narrator now explains to us about the magical
charm that enables her the capacity to overcome her
fears in the same manner that walking on the ocean
floor would be impossible. The narrator repeats in the
poem's last line that she is not afraid of life. The first
stanza opens with the usual refrain, but by repeating
"Not at all" in the second and third lines, the narrator is
attempting to describe to the reader that life does not
frighten her.
 I would feel proud because I’ve taken control of the
things that might scare other children.

Nice understanding and interpretation, group 6!

Very good, all group!

If you were the narrator of this poem, how would

you feel about writing the entire message of this
literary piece? Christian.

No, Sir!
Very good!

Since you have now understood the poem “Life

Doesn’t Frighten Me”, let us now determine the
tone, mood, techniques used in this poem, as well as
the author’s purpose.

Class, do you have any idea about the meanings of Tone is how the author feels about the subject or
the tone, mood, techniques, and the author’s viewpoint of character toward story events and other
purpose? characters. It influences the adjectives used to describe
attitudes, for example cheerful, joyful, naive,
Now, let us define and understand what the tone,
desperate, and many more.
mood, techniques, and the author’s purpose in the
poem are.

Please, read the meaning and examples of the tone,

I think the tone of the poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten
Ramon.
Me” are focused, determined, and confident.
 Mood is what the reader feels while reading a scene or
story. All the choices for the setting, images, objects,
Thank you! Based on the poem we interpret, what and details contribute to creating the mood, for
do you think is the tone of the entire text, Miranda? example intense, happy, angry, tense, optimistic,
scared, and many more.

That’s right!

How about the mood, please, read the meanings and I think the mood of the poem is all about uplifting, and
examples of mood, Divine. optimistic.

Technique is a style of writing in poem that includes

What do you think is the mood of the poem we rhyming, repetition, and alliteration.
studied, JR?

Correct, very good!

Next is the technique, please, read the meanings and The repetition of syllables, usually towards the end of
examples of the techniques used in a poem, Gabriel. a poetry line, is known as rhyme. Rhymed words often
share all sounds after the word's last stressed syllable.

Thank you!

Based on the meaning and examples, there are three

main common techniques used in creating a poem,
and that’s rhyming, repetition, and alliteration.
 In alternate rhyme, the first and third lines of a
stanza rhyme, and the second- and fourth-lines
First is the rhyming, please, read the definition,
 rhyme, ABAB.
Babby.
 Triplet uses a rhyme scheme of AAA in sets of
three.
 Couplet uses a rhyme scheme of AA in sets of
Thank you! two.

There are three common rhyme schemes in making

a poem, first is the alternate rhyme, triplet, and
couplet.

Please, read the meaning of the alternate rhyme,

triplet rhyme, and couplet rhyme, Gabi. I think the author uses couplet rhyming scheme since
majority in the first two lines rhyme together.

Repetition refers to the use of the same word or phrase

multiple times and is a fundamental poetic technique.

The phrase, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, Sir!

Based on the poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”
what do you think is the rhyming scheme used by
the author in making this poem, Annabelle?

Alliteration is a literary device that repeats a speech

Very good!
sound in a sequence of words that are close to each
Okay, now let’s define what is repetition, Danny? other.

An example of alliteration that we can see in the pome

Thank you! What do you think is the most repeated
are “Bad,” “barking,” and “Big” in lines one and two
words or phrase in the poem, Solomon?
of the second stanza and “Mean” and “Mother” in line
one of the third stanza.

That’s right!
Last, in the technique is the use of alliteration.
Please, read the definition of alliteration, Burk.

Thank you! Please give an example of alliteration

that we can see in the poem, Maybelline.

Very good! To persuade means to try to convince someone to

think the same way you do. Examples: advertisements,
Now, let’s move on to the definition of the author’s
newspaper, posters, ect.
purpose.

An author's purpose or reason for or intent in

writing. An author's purpose may be to persuade,
inform, or entertain.
To inform means to give someone information about

Let us first understand the three main author’s something. Examples: research papers, encyclopedias,
purposes in writing. school newsletters, charts, graphs, etc.

Please, read the meaning of “to persuade” as one of

the author’s purposes in writing, Darius.
To entertain means to amuse someone or to tell a story
that you will enjoy. Examples: fictional/short stories,
comics, jokes, riddles, etc.

Thank you!

Next is “to inform”, please, read the second I think to entertain, because the narrator is telling a
purpose, Vianne. story that are enjoyable to read not just for the children
but also for adults.

Thank you!
Lastly, please, read the definition of “to entertain”,
Marianne.
None, Sir!

Based on these three authors’ purposes, what do you

think is the main purpose of the author of “Life
Yes, Sir.
Doesn’t Frighten Me” is, Erick?

Correct! Thank you, Erick!

Very good!

Do you have any questions or clarifications, class?

Rubrics 5 3 2
Content It presents Lack of Not related
strong, and supporting to the
knowledgeab ideas. topic.
D. APPLICATION
le ideas.
Organizati SophisticatedInconsiste Minimal
So, did you really understand the poem? on arrangement nt control of
of content. arrangeme content
Okay, to check if you really understand our topic for nt of arrangeme
content. nt.
today, bring out ½ sheet of paper, write your name,
Grammar Free from There are Many
your section, and the date today. Answer the grammatical few grammatic
errors. grammatic al errors.
following question in at least 3-5 sentences for only
al errors.
5 minutes. You will be graded based on the given
rubrics.

Please, read the rubrics, Andrea.

 1. Since you already interpreted the poem “Life
Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou, are
your perspectives and feelings are still the
same as you heard the title of the poem “Life
Doesn’t Frighten Me” at the beginning of the It is all about a child who is not frightened of her life.
class, and after understanding the entire text
of the poem, or not? Explain.
2. As a student, why do you think
To entertain, Sir.
understanding the tone, mood, technique,
and author’s purpose is important? Explain
Because it is a poem that talks about life a person that
3. What is the impact of the poem on your
are entertaining to both children and adults.
perspectives in life?

Okay, class, please, pass your papers forward, and

don’t make any unnecessary noise.
The tone of the poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” is
E. GENERALIZATION focused, determined, and confident.

So, if you really understand our topic for today,

again what is the poem all about?
The mood of the poem is confident and uplifting.
Very good!

What is the purpose of the author in the poem “Life

Doesn’t Frighten Me”, Miranda?

The three techniques used in the poem are rhyming,

Why?
repetition, and alliteration.
Correct, thank you!
I learned that being optimistic and motivated is very
Again, what is the tone of the poem, Felicity?
important because that gives us the strength to fight for
our own weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Very good!

How about the mood of the poem, Harold? None, Sir!

That’s right!

What are three common techniques used in a poem,

Jay?

Correct!

What did you learn from our lesson for today, Ian?

Very good!

Do you have any questions or clarification?

F. EVALUATION
For our last activity, this is good for 7 minutes
only, I will give each group a 5-minute time to
prepare, and the remaining 2 minutes is for
performing the skit in front of the class. I will
group you into 4 and each group will be composed
of 8 members.

Direction: You are a group of actors and actresses. Your

Please read the direction first, Toni. goal is to act out life experiences on how you overcome
your problems as a teenager, relating them to the story of
the child in the poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”. After
that, you’ll have to perform it in front of the class. You
will be graded based on your performance, creativity,
and group work.

Thank you, Toni

Please, read the rubrics, Florence.

RUBRICS: Excellent Good Fair

(15 points) (10 points) (5 points)
Performance Emotions/feelings There is a Students’
G. ASSIGN and the overall minor problem performance
MENT acting are well in the student’s is not
expressed, and performance organized
For your
free from any but still and
assignment, in an errors. Most connected to connected to
essay form, make importantly, it is the lesson. the lesson.
a list of the things connected to the
lesson.
that frighten you a Creativity The idea is There is a slight Lack of idea
lot, that includes unique, and it problem in the and
your weaknesses Yes, Sir! uses different interpretation interpretation
props, and it is not
that hinder you to
presents a clear appropriate
do want you really Goodbye, Sir! interpretation.
want, and after Group All members Some of the Only a few
Work cooperate to members are members are
that, write down
finish the given not cooperating. cooperating.
the solutions you task.
think is the best to
overcome it, and
at the end of your
essay, I want you
to write, “Life
Doesn’t Frighten
Me at all”.

Is that clear,
 class?

And that’s all for today’s lesson. Goodbye, class!

Prepared by:
Mr. Eric John T. Chavez

(2nd Year Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English)

Checked by:
Ms. Jennifer Apelo
(Instructor)