Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1
I can explain the structure of Act 1 and offer a personal perspective on key themes.
Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1
I can explain the structure of Act 1 and offer a personal perspective on key themes.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Act 1 is considered a very important part of a play’s structure- it is sometimes referred to as the ‘set-up’.
- ‘Small Island’ is comprised of an ensemble cast and multiple narratives.
- Queenie’s pregnancy and the sailing of the Empire Windrush at the end of Act 1, create a dramatic transition into Act 2.
- The themes of ambition, betrayal, hope and belonging are prevalent in Act 1 and connect many of the characters.
Keywords
Motivation - the willingness to do something or a reason to act or behave in a specific way
Theme - an idea that is explored in a text in different ways, to fully explore the complexity of that idea
Ensemble cast - a cast that comprises of many different main actors- there is not a single protagonist
Inciting - means to stir up or encourage an action, usually in a forceful, urgent way
Exposition - the establishing of key information, characters and setting in a text
Common misconception
That you should not use your own opinions or perspectives when exploring a text.
Being able to articulate your own opinions and perspectives is an important skill to have. They should be rooted in evidence from the text and should avoid speculation.
To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1, 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.
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 sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
This introduces the characters and their relationships to each other.
The character whose motivation and goals drive the story.
An important part of the story that develops and furthers the plot.
Appears at the end of Act 1. It can push the story in a new direction.