SUMMARY
Entrepreneur and author Derrick Fennell has been a flight attendant for more than 14 years. Many of his passengers know him for his in-flight poems reflecting on his time in the skies. Fennell shares one of his poems and his Brief But Spectacular take on the miracle of flight.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who is Derrick Fennell, and what is his background?
- What is Fennell best known for?
- When did Fennell begin reciting poems during flights?
- Why does Fennell recite poetry on flights?
- How do passengers respond to Fennell's poems?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What other routine aspects of day-to-day life could be made more interesting or enjoyable with art? Where else might you be surprised and pleased to hear poems, music or visual art?
Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment chose to interview a flight attendant who writes poetry instead of a full-time poet?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
FOR MORE
What students can do: Building off the focus question of this piece, write a short poem to accompany some part of your day-to-day routine — this could be about your daily commute or other travel, shopping or errands or some other aspect of your life that is otherwise humdrum and tedious. Then discuss as a class — does reading or thinking about your poem make the routine less dull?
Poet Amanda Gorman recites her poem, "The Hill We Climb"
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