KS3 & KS4 English curriculum

This unit uses and builds on pupils' understanding of drama and stagecraft from 'The Tempest', developing their understanding of identity and belonging from the characters Ariel and Caliban. The unit also builds on pupils' understanding of belonging and identity from the 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou' unit. Pupils are prepared for the four 'Leave Taking' units in Years 10 and 11 by being given a grounding in modern theatre stagecraft and how Black female British writers have explored modern British identity and belonging, which is further developed in 'Leave Taking'.

1. An introduction to the play 'Small Island'
2. Helen Edmundson on adapting 'Small Island' for the stage
3. 'Small Island': from page to stage
4. 'Small Island': reading the start of Act 1 Scene 1
5. 'Small Island': exploring the theme of power through Little Hortense
6. 'Small Island': tracking the events of Act 1 Scene 1
7. 'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane
8. Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 1 with director Rufus Norris
9. 'Small Island': reading Act 1 Scene 2
10. Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 2 with director Rufus Norris
11. 'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3
12. 'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3
13. Watching 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 3 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson
14. 'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 4-6
15. 'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 7 and 8
16. Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scenes 4-8 with Rufus Norris
17. 'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush
18. Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1
19. 'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scene 1
20. Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson
21. 'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4
22. 'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 5 to 6
23. Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 2 to 6 with Rufus Norris
24. 'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 7 and 8
25. 'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 9 to 11
26. Watching 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 7-11 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson
27. Rufus Norris on directing and adapting 'Small Island'
28. Tracking characters and tension in 'Small Island'
29. Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island'
30. Understanding questions and writing thesis statements on ‘Small Island’
31. 'Small Island': creating topic sentences and using quotes in essays
32. Essay writing: using context in responses to ‘Small Island’
33. Introductions and conclusions in a 'Small Island' essay
34. Planning and writing a 'Small Island' essay
35. Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island'