An introduction to Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the characters in ‘Leave Taking’ and start to predict some of its main themes.
Key learning points
- ‘Leave Taking’ is set in London
- There are five characters in the play, of two different generations
- Enid and Brod moved to England from Jamaica when they were younger
- Enid’s daughters were born, and have grown up in, London
- Obeah is a series of spell-casting and healing traditions found in the Caribbean
Keywords
Leave taking - Leave taking is the act of saying goodbye to something that you are leaving behind.
Theme - A theme is an idea that is explored in a text in a number of different ways to fully explore the complexity of that idea.
Generation - A generation refers to people of about the same age. Grandparents, parents and children are all different generations.
Obeah - Obeah is a series of spell-casting and healing traditions found in the Caribbean.
Colonisation - Colonisation is when a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain.
Common misconception
Brod is Enid's husband.
Brod is a family friend. Enid's husband is mentioned in the play, but he left her and his two children when they were little.
Teacher tip
Consider how you will explore the key word 'theme' with your class so that your discussion around the blurbs in LC1 is meaningful/deliberate. Consider referencing a theme explored in another text you have read with them to ground them in the concept.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.
Content guidance
Contains strong language
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.'Leave Taking' is a play. What are common features of plays?
Q2.'Leave Taking' includes stage directions. What is the purpose of stage directions in a play?
Q3.'Leave Taking' was first performed in 1987 and is set around this time. It is a modern play. Which century is it set in?
Q4.'Leave Taking' has a cast of five. What does the word 'cast' mean in this context?
Q5.Winsome Pinnock's first full length play is 'Leave Taking'. The title is significant. What might the title refer to?
Q6.Winsome Pinnock, the playwright who wrote 'Leave Taking', is a prolific British playwright. What does 'prolific' mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.There are five characters in 'Leave Taking'. Match the characters to their roles.
a Jamaican born woman in her 40s with 2 daughters
an obeah woman
a family friend of Enid's, also Jamaican born
Enid's oldest daughter, she has left school, born in London
Enid's second daughter, still in school, born in London
Q2.One of 'Leave Taking's' key themes is inter-generational conflict. How many generations are presented in the cast?
Q3.How does 'Leave Taking' begin?
Q4. is a series of spell-casting and healing traditions found in the Caribbean.
Q5.In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Mai says 'I don't deal in numbers. Is I deal in.'
Q6.In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Del calls obeah 'mumbo jumbo '.
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: An introduction to Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: An introduction to Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, 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 4 English lessons from the Leave Taking: a sense of belonging unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.