Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 9
Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson
I can use Helen Edmundson's comments to explore the contrast between Act 1 and Act 2.
- Year 9
Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson
I can use Helen Edmundson's comments to explore the contrast between Act 1 and Act 2.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Edmundson wanted a strong contrast between Act 1 and Act 2.
- Act 1 is expansive, playful, and full of dreams, with direct address creating a story-like feel.
- Act 2 brings characters “back to Earth” into a more disappointing and compromised reality.
- Act 1 has a "fluidity" of movement, while Act 2 has structured, realistic spaces.
- Direct address is removed in Act 2 (until the end) to reflect a more grounded, serious tone.
Keywords
Fluidity - in theatre, fluidity refers the smooth and seamless flow of movement, scenes, or ideas during a performance
Expansive - large, wide, or covering a lot of space
Confined - kept in a small or limited space
Common misconception
The fixed setting in Act 2 means the play is less interesting or creative.
The fixed setting in Act 2 shows how the characters feel trapped or confined by their situations, which makes the story more powerful and emotional.
To help you plan your year 9 English lesson on: Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 English lesson on: Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'Small Island' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need the National Theatre production of 'Small Island', which can be found on the website 'Drama Online'. Act 2 Scene 1 begins (1:36:15) to Gilbert's exit "you are lucky" (1:50:45).
Content guidance
- Contains strong language
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Language may offend
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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