'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush
I can explore the context of Windrush experiences and how they are presented in Act 1.
'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush
I can explore the context of Windrush experiences and how they are presented in Act 1.
Lesson details
Key learning 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.
- 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.
Common misconception
The Windrush generation entered Britain illegally.
Those coming from the British Commonwealth were considered citizens.
Keywords
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
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
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
"England is my golden life".
"I will have big house with a bell on the front door."
"England is the future".
"He prefer to go licky-licky to the British".