'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the context of Windrush experiences and how they are presented in Act 1.
Key learning points
- The Windrush Generation are those who arrived from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1973.
- The Windrush Generation took up jobs in sectors affected by the post World War Two labour shortage.
- The ‘mother country’ promised not only jobs and opportunities, but unity, collective identity and openness.
- Like ‘Small Island’ Windrush history is made up of many voices.
- Levy and Edmundson want to foreground the real experiences and stories of those absent from historical narratives.
Keywords
Colonisation - when a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain
Migration - when you relocate from one country to another
Indoctrinate - when you make people believe something- a less formal synonym is to brainwash
Racism - discrimination and prejudice against people based on their race or ethnicity
Common misconception
The Windrush generation entered Britain illegally.
Those coming from the British Commonwealth were considered citizens.
Teacher tip
There are lots of recordings of interviews with Windrush migrants telling their stories. These could be shared in the classroom to elevate the experience.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the play 'Small Island' written by Andrea Levy and adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Small Island', who does Hortense marry at the end of Act 1?
Q2.In 'Small Island', which of these characters enlist for the RAF in WWII?
Q3.In Act 1 Scene 7 of 'Small Island', who is Queenie reunited with in the house in Earl's court?
Q4.In 'Small Island', Hortense and Gilbert's decision to marry could be described as pragmatic. What does this word mean?
Q5.Which of these sentences uses a comparative conjunction?
Q6.Match the character from 'Small Island' to the correct line they say in the play.
"England is my golden life".
"I will have big house with a bell on the front door."
"England is the future".
"He prefer to go licky-licky to the British".
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word can be defined as "making people believe or accept something without challenge"?
Q2.Which word describes the generation that arrived from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1973?
Q3.In 'Small Island', what jobs do Hortense and Gilbert see themselves having in England?
Q4.In 'Small Island' which character says "I cannot be the fool who is left behind again”.
Q5.In 'Small Island' which character says: “There’s way more opportunities in England…” and “England is where the future lies”.
Q6.When writing 'Small Island', Andrea Levy used the experiences of her parents and other people from the Windrush generation to influence her plot. Why did she do this?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush, 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
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.