Role Play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry for SS 3

Class: SS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Literature in English
Topic: Role Play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
Subject Matter: Sun” by Lorraine; Hansberry
Previous Lesson: Minor Characters and Their Roles in “A Raisin in the Sun”

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the major characters in “A Raisin in the Sun”.
• Identify the minor characters in “A Raisin in the Sun”.
• Describe the roles and traits of major and minor characters.
• Explain the relationships between the characters.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the complexities of character development in the play.
• Demonstrate empathy for the characters’ struggles.

Psychomotor Domain

• Act out scenes portraying the actions of major characters.
• Act out scenes portraying the actions of minor characters.
• Portray the emotions and motivations of assigned characters.

Social Domain

• Collaborate effectively with peers during role-playing activities.
• Discuss character interactions and their impact on the plot.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable Literature-in-English textbook for SS 3
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Copies of “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
• Cardboard paper with a list of major and minor characters
• Simple props or costume pieces (optional)
• Designated space for role-playing

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it allows students to engage with the text of “A Raisin in the Sun” in a dynamic and interactive way. Role-playing helps students to deeply understand character motivations, relationships, and the play’s central conflicts. This practical approach enhances critical thinking and dramatic interpretation skills beyond mere textual analysis.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students are expected to have read and discussed “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, understanding its plot, themes, and basic character outlines.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Role Play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry

Major Characters in “A Raisin in the Sun”

The major characters are central to the plot and themes of the play. Their actions and decisions drive the narrative.

1. Lena Younger (Mama) – The matriarch of the Younger family, deeply religious and practical, who dreams of owning a home.
2. Walter Lee Younger – Mama’s son, a chauffeur who dreams of investing in a liquor store to provide for his family and achieve financial independence.
3. Ruth Younger – Walter’s wife, a weary but loving woman who works as a domestic and tries to keep the family together.
4. Beneatha Younger – Mama’s daughter and Walter’s sister, an aspiring medical student who explores her African identity and challenges traditional gender roles.
5. Travis Younger – Walter and Ruth’s young son, representing the future generation and the family’s hopes.

Minor Characters in “A Raisin in the Sun”

Minor characters support the main narrative and often highlight aspects of the major characters or themes.

1. Joseph Asagai – A Nigerian student and one of Beneatha’s suitors, who encourages her to embrace her African heritage.
2. George Murchison – A wealthy, assimilated African American man and another of Beneatha’s suitors, representing a different path for black identity.
3. Karl Lindner – A white representative from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, who attempts to buy out the Youngers to prevent them from moving into the white neighborhood.
4. Bobo – Walter’s business partner, who loses their investment money.
5. Willy Harris – Walter’s supposed business partner who runs off with the investment money (never appears on stage).

Relationships Between Characters

The interactions and relationships between characters are crucial to understanding the play’s conflicts and resolutions.

1. Mama and Walter – A complex relationship marked by love, generational conflict, and differing views on money and family values.
2. Walter and Ruth – A strained marriage due to financial pressures, unfulfilled dreams, and communication breakdown, yet underpinned by love.
3. Beneatha and Walter – Siblings who often clash over their ambitions, intellectual pursuits, and approaches to life, but ultimately support each other.
4. Beneatha and Asagai/George – Her relationships with her suitors represent her exploration of identity and potential future paths.
5. Family vs. Society – The Younger family’s collective struggle against racial prejudice and economic hardship, exemplified by their encounter with Karl Lindner.

Role Play Guidelines

Effective role play requires understanding, empathy, and clear portrayal of character traits.

1. Understand your assigned character’s personality, motivations, and emotional state.
2. Portray the character’s actions and dialogue as they would occur in the play.
3. Interact with other characters in a way that reflects their established relationships.
4. Focus on conveying the emotional depth and conflicts of the scene.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Role Play, Group Work, Question and Answer, Explanation.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Review/Introduction

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reviews the plot and main themes of “A Raisin in the Sun” and introduces the concept of role-playing as a way to understand characters deeply. The teacher explains that students will act out scenes from the play.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and recall key aspects of the play.

Learning Point: Review of play’s plot

Step 2: Character Identification

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Listing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays the cardboard paper with a list of major and minor characters. The teacher guides students to identify and recall the names of these characters and their basic roles in the play.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and state the names of major and minor characters.

Learning Point: Character names and roles

Step 3: Character Analysis

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a discussion on the traits, motivations, and dreams of the major and minor characters. The teacher prompts students to explain what each character wants and how they try to achieve it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss and explain the traits and motivations of various characters.

Learning Point: Character traits and motivations

Step 4: Relationship Discussion

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Analysis

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to discuss the relationships between the characters, focusing on how they interact, their conflicts, and their bonds. The teacher uses questions to explore family dynamics and external pressures.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss the relationships and interactions among characters.

Learning Point: Character relationships explored

Step 5: Scene Selection and Assignment

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Assignment/Organization

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher selects a few key scenes from the play that highlight character interactions and assigns roles to groups of students. The teacher provides brief instructions for the role-play.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils receive their assigned roles and scenes, preparing for the role-play.

Learning Point: Role-play scene assignment

Step 6: Role Play Activity

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Observation/Facilitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher observes as students perform their assigned role-play scenes, ensuring they portray the actions and emotions of the characters accurately. The teacher provides gentle guidance if needed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate in role-playing the actions of major and minor characters.

Learning Point: Character actions portrayed

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Who are the major characters in “A Raisin in the Sun”?
2. Mention two minor characters and their roles.
3. Describe the relationship between Walter and Mama.
4. How did the role-play help you understand the characters better?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Character understanding assessed

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on major and minor characters and their relationships into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Board notes recorded

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the importance of understanding character motivations and relationships in dramatic works. The teacher encourages students to continue exploring literary texts through active engagement.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and reflect on the lesson’s main points.

Learning Point: Character analysis reinforced

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: In your Literature-in-English notebook, answer the following questions:

1. Choose one major character and one minor character from “A Raisin in the Sun”. Write a paragraph describing each character’s main goal in the play.
2. Imagine a short dialogue (5-7 lines) between Beneatha and George Murchison about her dreams for the future.

Lesson Keywords

• Role play – Acting out parts or scenarios, especially as a training exercise.
• Character – A person represented in a drama or novel.
• Major character – A central figure in a story, essential to the plot.
• Minor character – A character who supports the main character and plot, but is not the focus.
• Relationship – The way in which two or more people or things are connected.
• Lorraine Hansberry – The playwright of “A Raisin in the Sun”.
• A Raisin in the Sun – A play depicting the struggles of an African American family in Chicago.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher can provide simplified character descriptions and assign less complex roles or shorter dialogue segments. Faster learners can be challenged to analyze the subtext of their characters’ lines or to explore how historical context influences character motivations.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding of character analysis and role-play techniques related to “A Raisin in the Sun”, search on YouTube for:
A Raisin in the Sun character analysis SS3
role play techniques for drama students

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Teachers should begin by ensuring students have a solid foundational understanding of “A Raisin in the Sun” before this lesson. Prepare the cardboard paper with character lists in advance. During the instructional procedures, encourage active participation in discussions about character traits and relationships. When assigning roles for the role-play, consider students’ strengths and comfort levels, perhaps allowing them to choose characters where appropriate. Observe the role-play closely, providing constructive feedback to help students embody their characters more effectively. Guide students to copy the Board Summary notes after the role-play and evaluation to consolidate their learning. Support weaker learners by pairing them with stronger ones or providing prompts, while challenging faster learners to delve deeper into character psychology and thematic connections.