Lessons, activities, and materials align to Common Core and address symbolism, craft, characterization, theme development, historical context, 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:
- Introduction and Anticipation Guide
- The American Dream
- I Have a Dream Deferred
- 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)
- 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)
- Drama Read-through: Act III
- A Raisin in the Sun Discussion & Analysis #3
- A Symbol in the Sun
- Strong Words Monologue
- Structure and Tension
- 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).
