In this activity, students read the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and explore how the social, educational, economical, and political climate of the 1950s affected African Americans' quest for "The American Dream." The critical reading and analysis of the play are complemented by a close examination of biographical and historical documents that students use as the basis for creating speeches, essays, and scripts.
Read the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry with your students and you can enhance your discussion of "The American Dream" even while you and your students explore how the social, educational, economical, and political climate of the 1950s affected African Americans' quest for "The American Dream."
Preparation
Make sure that the site is not blocked at your school and that the resources can be viewed.
Review the site and the available resources.
Review the detailed online lesson plans
Choose which of the activities you want to use in class and how you want to present them.
Read To Be Young Gifted and Black by Lorraine Hansberry and make copies of the chapter titled "To Be Young Gifted and Black"(about 6 pages) to distribute to the class.
Download and review the following documents:
"Let America Be America Again" (The Academy of American Poets)
"Jim Crow-Close Up" (Africans in America/part 3)
Written Analysis Worksheet (Digital Classroom)
Photo Analysis Worksheet (Digital Classroom)
"The Black Laws," "Lynch Law-Georgia" (American Memory Collection/African American Perspectives: The Progress of A People)
Check "extending the lesson" for more ideas about this topic.
Program Areas
ASE: High School Diploma
View Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Engagement Enhancement
Think-Pair-Share: Ask students to brainstorm their personal definitions of "The American Dream." Have them pair up and share their thoughts with a partner.
Gallery Walk: Post images around the room depicting different interpretations of the American Dream (e.g., homeownership, education, career success). Have students walk around, writing brief reflections on sticky notes about what each image represents.
Quick Write: Students write a short paragraph on whether they think the American Dream is equally accessible to everyone. Share a few responses aloud.
Introduction
Introduce A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and explain its historical context.
Present the essential questions:
How does A Raisin in the Sun reflect the social, educational, economic, and political climate of the 1950s?
How does the play illustrate the impact of these factors on African Americans' quest for the American Dream?
3. Discuss the role of literature in addressing social issues and connect the play’s themes to modern-day struggles for equality.
Presentation
Engagement Enhancement Extension
Understanding the Playwright:
Read excerpts from To Be Young, Gifted, and Black by Lorraine Hansberry.
Compare the themes in the poem with those in A Raisin in the Sun.
3. Historical Context:
Discuss Jim Crow laws using a photo analysis activity (e.g., "Jim Crow Close-Up").
Divide students into groups to conduct internet research on Jim Crow laws, complete a Written Document Analysis Worksheet, and present findings.
Introduce Brown v. Board of Education and analyze excerpts from dissenting opinions.
Practice
Engagement
Dramatic Reading: Assign roles and have students perform key scenes from A Raisin in the Sun, rotating parts to ensure engagement.
Small Group Analysis: In groups, analyze elements of the play using guided focus questions on:
Characterization
Plot/Conflict
Symbolism
Allusion
Theme
3. Speech Writing: Students write and deliver a persuasive speech from the perspective of the Little Rock Nine, arguing for equal educational opportunities.
Evaluation
Class Discussion: Explore the guiding questions:
How does A Raisin in the Sun reflect the social, educational, economic, and political climate of the 1950s?
How does the play illustrate the impact of these factors on African Americans' quest for the American Dream?
Assessment Options:
Essay Prompt: Students argue whether the Younger family made the right decision in rejecting Lindner’s offer, connecting their reasoning to their definition of the American Dream.
Creative Writing: Rewrite the final scene of the play or add a scene showing the Younger family’s life six months later.
Historical Analysis: Explain how the play serves as an extension of the Civil Rights Movement and its relation to the American Dream.
Application
Enhancement Extension
Modern American Dream: Have students interview family members or community members about their perspectives on the American Dream. Create a multimedia presentation comparing past and present views.
Community Discussion: Organize a panel discussion with guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to discuss contemporary challenges in achieving the American Dream.
Social Justice Action Project: Students research current social justice issues and create an advocacy campaign (e.g., social media, posters, public service announcements) addressing a problem related to equality and opportunity.
Wrap up with a reflective journal entry:
How has your understanding of the American Dream evolved?
What lessons from A Raisin in the Sun can be applied to today’s society?
What actions can individuals take to ensure equal access to the American Dream?
CCR Anchor 1 - Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
CCR Anchor 6 - Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
CCR Anchor 10 - Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Writing
CCR Anchor 1 - Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Speaking and Listening
CCR Anchor 1 - Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
View Tags
Reading, characterization, civil rights, conflict, discrimination, dream, economical, edsitement, educational, play, playwright, plot, political, social, stanza, symbolism, theme, writer, African American, allusion, American dream, equity Jim Crow, Black, Brown
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ChatGPT was used to rewrite this lesson in the WIPPEA format
