When Marian Sang
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
M
arian Anderson’s voice still
inspires music lovers all over the
world. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s,
despite the “white performers only”
policies in America, Marian pursues
her talent, performing all across the
country and throughout Europe. Denied
a performance at Constitution Hall in
1939, Marian is invited to sing on the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Almost
sixteen years later, Marian becomes the
first African American to sing at the
Metropolitan Opera.
Reading Level (Lexile) 780L
Format/Length Picture book; 32 pages
Picture Support Substantial
Language Register Biographical narration
Selected Awards
Content Load Biographical, historical
ALA and NCTE Notable Book
Related Skills
• Vocabulary
Context Clues
• Comprehension and Critical Thinking
Main Idea and Details
Sequence
• Reading and Learning Strategies
Paraphrase
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding
Nonfiction for Children
About the Author
A California native, Pam Muñoz Ryan became hooked on books at an early age. She was
a teacher and an administrator, but discovered that her true passion was writing. When
Marian Sang is just one of over twenty-five books she has written for young people.
About the Illustrator
To help him create the acrylic paintings for When Marian Sang, Brian Selznick
photographed Marian Anderson’s house, the city of Philadelphia, and museum
archives. He is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.
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When Marian Sang
Think About What You Know
Biographies To support students’ understanding of the genre
and its purpose:
• Ask students to tell you what they know about biographies.
Have them work through the following true/false checklist.
True
False
A biography is usually a list of facts about
a person.
A biography is about the events in a real
person’s life.
In a biography, you can find out what
someone accomplished.
Every biography tells what happens in
the present.
Often, a biography can show how one person
influences others.
A biography is an account of somebody’s life
written by that person.
• Confirm and/or correct responses. Then have students
use Student Journal, page 3 to tell why they would read
a biography.
Student Journal, page 3
Prepare to Read
Think About What You Know
Preview and Predict
What could you find out about someone by reading a biography about them?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Have students look at the front cover, read the title, and
then read the summary on the back cover. Say:
• How do you know this is a biography? What kind of
person do you think Marian Anderson was? Why?
Then point out The Exchange question on the title
page: How can the actions of one person affect the next
generation? Explain that when they finish reading,
they’ll share their ideas about this and other questions
with a group.
Preview and Predict
• Look at the front cover.
• Read the book summary on the back cover.
• Read The Exchange question on the title page.
1. Is this biography like others you’ve read? How is it the same? How is
it different?
2. Page through the book and look at the illustrations. What do they show
you about Marian Anderson’s life?
Next, have students complete Student Journal, page 3
to preview the book and make predictions about Marian
Anderson’s life.
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When Marian Sang
Use a Reading Strategy
Sequence Chain Preview the graphic organizer on Student Journal,
page 4 with students. Explain that as they read When Marian Sang, they
can complete the Chain to show what Marian accomplished in her life.
Have students add to their Sequence Chains after they finish reading
each section.
Student Journal, page 4
Use a Reading Strategy
Use a Sequence Chain
As you read When Marian Sang, use a Sequence Chain to record how Marian
became a famous singer.
1.
3.
5.
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Marian performed
at churches and took
voice lessons in the
neighborhood.
2.
Marian’s family and
community members
gave her support
and encouragement.
4.
Marian went to
Europe to learn
new languages and
perform to mixed
audiences.
6.
Marian performed
for 16 years and then
finally sang at the
Metropolitan Opera.
Marian learned
from Giuseppe
Boghetti.
Marian overcame
obstacles in the United
States and performed on
the steps of Constitution
Hall.
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When Marian Sang
Read the Book
Form the group that will read When Marian Sang. Plan how the
group will read and respond. Some options are:
• Read with a Partner Have partners read the book aloud.
Students can alternate reading the pages and talking about
the illustrations. Have students complete the Student Journal
page after each section. Encourage them to plan their reading
sessions, using the planner on Student Journal, page 2 to
establish meeting times.
• Read Independently Group members read the book on their
own and then meet for The Exchange. The group can use the
planner on Student Journal, page 2 to establish the meeting time.
• Guided Reading Read aloud the summary at the beginning
of each section to give students an overview of the section. Use
the Before You Move On questions to check comprehension
as students read. Use Look Ahead to set a focus for reading
the next set of pages. At the end of each section, assign the
appropriate Student Journal page. Discuss the page before
starting the next section. Establish a date for The Exchange and
record it on the planner.
Whichever option you choose, use pages 5–6 for an at-a-glance
view of Student Journal pages, as well as answers to the
Before You Move On questions.
Student Journal, page 2
Plan Your Schedule
My group members are: ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
We plan to read When Marian Sang and meet on these dates:
Sections
Date We Will Finish Reading
Date We Will Discuss
1: Pages 4–13
2: Pages 14–23
3: Pages 24–32
Our Exchange meeting will be on this date:
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When Marian Sang
Pages 4–13
Student Journal, page 5
Section 1
#(!04%20AGESn
Section
1: Pages 4–13
2ESPONDTOh!MERICAN.AMESv
Respond
to Pages 4–13
ANSWERS TO “BEFORE YOU MOVE ON”
#HARACTER-AP
Sequence
Chain
2EVIEWWHATHAPPENEDINTHECHAPTER
Review what you have read. Write two important events that made Marian a
&ILLINTHE#HARACTER-APON*OURNALPAGE
successful
singer on your Sequence Chain on Journal page 4.
PAGE 8
1. Text Feature Why do some words on pages 4, 6, and 8 look
different from the rest of the words?
They are songs that Marian sang.
2. Inference Reread page 8. Why did Marian’s father think that
people would try to take advantage of Marian?
She was very young to be performing. She would be around a lot of
adults who would be making money off her.
4HINK)T/VER
Think
It Over
4HINKABOUTWHATYOUREADANDANSWERTHESEQUESTIONS
Write
the answers to these questions.
0ERSONAL2ESPONSE
(OWISYOURFAMILYTHESAMEAS!RTUROS(OWISIT
1. Personal
Response Marian
loved to sing and she practiced all the time.
DIFFERENT
What
do you love to do? Do you have to practice it to be successful?
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
*/52.!,0!'%&!#3)-),%
0LACEDATCENTEREDINBOX
SONOFOOTERINFOSHOWS
It means
that their voices were beautiful and sounded
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Paraphrase
3IMILES 7HATAREYOURFAVORITESIMILESINh!MERICAN.AMESv4ELLWHATTWO
2.
Reread page 6. What does it mean that Viola and Marian’s
THINGSAREBEINGCOMPARED
“harmony
blended like a silk braid”?
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
very good together; they sang in beautiful harmony.
PAGE 13
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
1. Details The music school would not accept Marian. Why was
life challenging for Marian when she was a child?
She lost her father, helped support her family so she had less time to
pursue her music, and she faced prejudice.
2. Summarize Reread pages 10–11, What kind of person
was Marian?
She was talented, motivated, and hard-working.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
3. Main
Idea and Details Reread page 13. List three details to support this
statement: “Marian knew about prejudice.”
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
The music school would not accept Marian because she
was African American. The trolley did not stop for her
family. She knew that African Americans were the last
to be helped in the store.
#HARACTER 7HATIS!RTUROLIKE)SHETHEKINDOFPERSONYOUTHOUGHTHEWOULD
BE%XPLAINYOURANSWER
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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Pages 14–23
Section 2
ANSWERS TO “BEFORE YOU MOVE ON”
Student Journal, page 6
PAGE 19
Section 2: Pages 14–23
1. Conclusions Reread page 19. Mr. Boghetti said he would not
take new students, but then he changed his mind. Why?
He recognized true talent.
2. Paraphrase Reread page 15. What does it mean that “opera
was simply the sun and the moon—a dream that seemed too
far away to reach”?
The sun and the moon are unreachable. Marian sings, but she
doesn’t have the training required to be in the opera.
Respond to Pages 14–23
Sequence Chain
Review what you have read. Add two more important events to your Sequence
Chain on Journal page 4.
Think It Over
Write the answers to these questions.
1. Personal Response Marian was very nervous and excited when she got on
the ship to Europe. Tell about a time you did something that made you
nervous and excited.
PAGE 23
1. Main Idea and Details Why was the trip to Europe important
for Marian?
She could develop her voice, learn new languages, sing to mixed
audiences, and travel without restrictions.
2. Author’s Purpose Look at the song on pages 22–23. Why did
the author put it here?
It tells about being lonely and missing home. It shows how Marian
felt when she traveled without her family.
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2. Judgment After performances, Marian often could not get a hotel room
because she was African American. Do you think Marian should have
performed even though she was not treated fairly?
3. Context Clues Look at the word segregated on page 17. What other words
in the sentence help you understand its meaning?
The sentence says that whites sat in the best seats
and blacks sat in the balcony. It shows that segregated
means “divided by race.”
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When Marian Sang
Pages 24–32
Student Journal, page 7
Section 3
Section 3: Pages 24–32
Respond to Pages 24–32
ANSWERS TO “BEFORE YOU MOVE ON”
Sequence Chain
Review what you have read. Complete your Sequence Chain on Journal page 4.
PAGE 29
1. Sequence The manager of Constitution Hall did not let
Marian perform because she was African American. What
happened after he refused?
Marian’s agent wrote him a letter. Angry fans protested. Eleanor
Roosevelt resigned from the organization. A high school denied
them. Then, Marian sang at the Lincoln Memorial.
2. Comparisons How was Marian’s life different in Europe than
it was in the United States?
In Europe she had achieved success, but in the United States she still
had to prove herself and overcome prejudice.
Think It Over
Write the answers to these questions.
1. Personal Response Do songs affect you in different ways? How? Give
examples.
2. Personal Experience Do you feel inspired by Marian? Why or why not?
3. Comparisons Compare Marian to other famous singers you know about.
What were their goals? How did they accomplish them? What obstacles
did they have?
PAGE 32
1. Conclusions Why was Marian’s life so important?
She broke through barriers for future African American singers.
2. Inference Reread page 30. Why did someone say “Welcome
home” to Marian?
Since her voice was so great, the great opera house was where she
belonged.
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When Marian Sang
Allow time for groups to meet for The Exchange. If you plan to participate, use
these tips for guiding students in discussing the big question:
How can the actions of one person affect the next generation?
Marian Anderson helped make it possible for future African American
singers to perform. Has anyone made it possible for you to do something
you love?
During Marian’s life time, there were unfair laws against African Americans.
Do you think some rules or laws are unfair today? What can you do to
change them?
There were many people who motivated Marian. How has someone
motivated you?
Extend the Reading
Write to Protest
Listen to Her Voice
A Special Kind of Music
Remind students that Marian
Anderson was not allowed
to sing at Constitution Hall
in Washington, D. C. in 1939.
Have them write a letter to
the newspaper in protest.
Have students find a
recording of Marian
Anderson’s in the library to
play for their group. After
listening, students can discuss
her voice and compare her to
other singers they know.
Share a few details about
opera and give students an
opportunity to listen to it.
Afterwards, involve students
in a Roundtable discussion
about why they believe many
people enjoy opera.
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