A RAISIN IN THE SUN Unit: Lessons, Activity Materials, Quizzes, Projects...

This engaging A Raisin in the Sun unit takes students from pre-reading activities through the final exam. Lessons, activities, and materials align to Common Core and address symbolism, craft, characterization, theme development, historical context, allusion, and more.

A Raisin in the Sun Unit Bundle:

• Lessons (21 + student materials)
• Reading Quizzes (3)
• Projects and Essays (18 options)
• Test Maker (Choose from 145 test items.)

A Raisin in the Sun Lessons:

Pre-reading Lessons:

• Introduction and Anticipation Guide
• The American Dream
• I Have a Dream Deferred

Act I Lessons:

• Drama Read-through: Act I, Scene 1
• A Raisin in the Sun Discussion & Analysis #1
• Setting the Stage with Words
• Talking the Talk (Dialogue and Dialect)
• When It’s NOT an Apple (Symbolism)

Act II Lessons:

• Drama Read-through: Act II, Scene 1
• A Raisin in the Sun Discussion & Analysis #2
• 1950s Chicago, USA (Historical Context)
• Booker T. and W.E.B.
• “It’s Life, Mama!” (Characterization)

Act III Lessons:

• Drama Read-through: Act III, Scene 1
• A Raisin in the Sun Discussion & Analysis #3
• A Symbol in the Sun
• Strong Words Monologue
• Structure and Tension

Follow-up Lessons:

• Hansberry’s Themes
• To Be Young, Gifted and Black
• Symbol Poems

Reading Quizzes (with answer keys):

• Reading 1: Act I
• Reading 2: Act II
• Reading 3: Act III

Projects and Essays (extension and culminating tasks):

• Symbols in the Sun (presentation)
• Hansberry’s Themes
• Historical Context (research report)
• Primary Source Gallery
• Characters and Points of View
• Author’s Style: Word Choice
• Setting the Stage (design contest)
• An Unfamiliar Symbol
• “It’s Life, Mama!” (personality test)
• 1961 Film (viewing guide and critique)
• The American Dream (debate)
• Feminist Perspective (debate)
• Comparing Literature (presentation)
• One Scene for Stage or Screen (performance)
• The Lost Scene (creative writing)
• Forms of Racism (A Raisin in the Sun essay)
• Cutting a Character (argument)
• Original Artwork

Test Maker (with answer keys):

• 51 recall and comprehension questions
• 55 literary knowledge and analysis questions
• 27 short answer prompts
• 12 extended response / essay prompts

Resource Notes: A Raisin in the Sun Unit

• Modifying or omitting A Raisin in the Sun lessons that do not align to your unit goals will not interfere with the rest of the unit.
• Files are PPTX (presentations), PDF, and DOCX.
• A Raisin in the Sun materials can be printed as-is (PDF) or modified in MS Word or Google Docs (DOCX).