English and Black History - Role-playing 'Roll of Thunder'

Description

KS3 students role-play characters from Mildren D Taylor's book Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, merging black history with English.

Segregation is examined in 1930s America by role-playing characters from Mildred D Taylor's Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, charting the life of a young girl, Cassie, growing up in Mississippi.

Examining the language and social context of the book, students pick a character and track them through the story, gathering evidence about them for their behaviour.

By role-playing, they invent scenarios for their characters and imagine how they would resolve the conflicts and moral dilemmas facing black and white characters living through segregation.

The lesson is designed for Key Stage 3 classes, but can also be used with Key Stage 2 pupils.

Part of the series: Great Secondary Lesson Ideas