Legacy of Maya

This biographical reading worksheet helps students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 develop strong comprehension and summary writing skills while learning about the life and influence of Maya Angelou. After reading an informational passage, students identify key ideas, distinguish important details from minor ones, and write a clear 3-5 sentence summary that captures Angelou’s accomplishments, themes, resilience, and lasting cultural impact through concise, well-organized writing.

Learning Goals

• Summarizing Biographical Texts (Grades 6-8)
  Students condense information into a focused summary that reflects the most important ideas.
• Determining Key Ideas & Details
  Learners practice separating central contributions and themes from supporting facts.
• Informative Writing Skills
  Students write coherent summaries using their own words and logical organization.
• Historical & Cultural Understanding
  The activity builds awareness of Maya Angelou’s role in literature, civil rights, and social change.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA reading and writing standards.
• Clear Writing Expectations
  Structured guidance supports concise, paragraph-length summaries.
• Content-Rich Nonfiction
  Introduces an influential literary figure while reinforcing literacy skills.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for biography units, Black history studies, writing practice, or assessment.

This printable worksheet gives students meaningful practice with reading nonfiction, identifying key ideas, and writing effective summaries. By synthesizing information about Maya Angelou’s life and legacy, learners strengthen critical reading, informative writing, and cultural literacy skills. Suitable for classroom instruction or homeschool use, this no-prep resource supports confident summary writing while honoring the impact of a powerful literary voice.

This worksheet is part of our Grade 8 Reading Comprehension collection.