Understanding Slavery

Overview

Unit: Freedom and Justice Journey (Lesson 2 of 7)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 8 students
Age group: Year 7 (11-12 years old)
National Curriculum Link:

• History Key Stage 3 study of the development of Britain from the earliest times to the present, with a focus on changes in society and impact of events.
• Develop understanding of the impact of significant events, people, and developments in history (NC History KS3 Programme of Study).
• Emphasis on historical enquiry and interpreting evidence.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• I can describe the historical context of slavery and its effects on people’s lives.
• Understand key vocabulary related to the topic: loyalty and resistance.
• Explore personal experiences of enslaved individuals through literary excerpts from Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
• Begin to investigate how slavery affected societies and individuals during different time periods.

These objectives reflect the National Curriculum aims for KS3 History to understand social, cultural, and political aspects of past societies, developing empathy and critical thinking.

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Curriculum Links & Competencies

• Historical Knowledge and Understanding:

  • Develop knowledge and understanding of slavery’s place and impact in British and world history.
  • Understand cause and consequence of slavery as a system.

• Historical Enquiry:

  • Analyse sources (literary excerpts) to understand individual experiences.
  • Interpret vocabulary and concepts linked to historical themes.

• Communication & Literacy:

  • Use evidence from texts to support ideas.
  • Discuss and articulate personal reflections on difficult historical issues.

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Resources Needed

• Copies of selected excerpts from Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (age-appropriate passages illustrating enslaved individuals’ experiences).
• Whiteboard or flipchart and markers.
• Vocabulary flashcards for loyalty and resistance.
• Worksheet with guided questions (differentiated for ability).
• Timer for activities.

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter (5 minutes) – Engaging Prior Knowledge

• Begin with an open question: "What do you already know about slavery?"
• Students share in brief pairs, then share key ideas aloud. Teacher lists initial ideas on whiteboard.
• Introduce the I can objective: I can describe the historical context of slavery and its effects on people's lives.
• Show vocabulary flashcards for loyalty and resistance; ask students to discuss what they think these words might mean in the context of slavery.

2. Introduction to Historical Context (10 minutes)

• Brief teacher-led input: Historical overview of slavery, focusing on when and where it existed (ancient times, transatlantic slave trade, British involvement), touching upon how enslaved people were treated and the system’s societal impact.
• Use a timeline on the board to visually place slavery in history, linking to known historical periods (e.g., Tudor Stuart era, 17-18th centuries).
• Highlight key concepts: the loss of freedom, forced labour, and the impact on individuals’ lives and communities.

3. Reading & Analysis – Personal Stories (15 minutes)

• Distribute excerpts from Chains. Students read individually or in pairs.
• Worksheet prompts students to:
  • Identify parts of the text that show loyalty and resistance.
  • Note how the character feels about their situation.
  • Reflect on what this tells them about the effects of slavery on individuals.
• Teacher circulates, supports interpretation, and models reading aloud to emphasise tone/emotion.

4. Group Discussion (10 minutes)

• Class discussion responding to:
  • How do the characters in Chains show resistance to slavery?
  • How do they show or struggle with loyalty—perhaps to family, themselves, or others?
  • Why is it important to understand personal stories when learning history?
• Encourage students to make historical connections based on the reading and vocabulary.

5. Plenary and Assessment (5 minutes)

• Students complete an exit ticket:
  Write one sentence to describe the historical context of slavery and one sentence about its effect on the lives of people.
• Quick recap of I can objective and self-assessment: Can you describe the historical context and effects of slavery? (Yes/Partially/No)
• Teacher collects exit tickets for formative assessment.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide vocabulary support and sentence starters for lower ability learners.
• Challenge higher ability students to link the historical overview with modern concepts of freedom and justice (foreshadowing later lessons).
• Use paired reading to support students with reading difficulties.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• English: Developing literacy through reading and analysing narrative texts.
• PSHE: Exploring themes of justice, human rights, loyalty, and resistance helping to build empathy and moral understanding.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Did students engage with sensitive content appropriately?
• Which parts of the text and vocabulary sparked the most thoughtful discussion?
• Note any misconceptions about slavery and freedom and address in subsequent lessons.

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By integrating personal narratives through Chains with structured historical enquiry and key vocabulary development, this lesson aims to deepen Year 7 students’ understanding of the human impact of slavery, fulfilling the National Curriculum goals of historical empathy and knowledge acquisition within a manageable 45-minute timeframe.