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Year 9 - English

'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush

'Small Island'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils explore the playtext adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel 'Small Island'. They first explore the transition from novel to stage, before reading the playtext in full and exploring key scenes in detail. They then plan and write an essay on the theme of 'hope' in the text.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explore the context of Windrush experiences and how they are presented in Act 1.

Key Notes

  • 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.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • 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 Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Windrush generation entered Britain illegally.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key 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.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'colonisation'

when a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The Windrush generation entered Britain illegally. Correction: Those coming from the British Commonwealth were considered citizens.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 9 English guide library.