Teach A Raisin in the Sun with a complete, ready-to-use drama unit that helps students analyze dreams, family, identity, dignity, symbolism, housing discrimination, and the American Dream.

This unit includes a 1-week pacing guide, editable instructional slideshow, student activities, character posters, discussion cards, final literary analysis essay planning, a character dream vision board project, and a Google Form quiz. It is designed to help students move from background knowledge and first impressions to deeper analysis of character motivation, theme, symbolism, and historical context.

Students will explore the American Dream, track each character’s dreams and obstacles, analyze major symbols, learn about housing discrimination, discuss the Younger family’s choices, and plan a final literary analysis response.

This resource works well with the full play, selected scenes, or a film version of A Raisin in the Sun.

What’s Included

• Teacher Start Here Guide
• 1-Week Pacing Guide
• Editable Instructional Slideshow
• Google Access Links
• Character Posters
• Activity 1: American Dream Anticipation Guide
• Activity 2: Character Dream Tracker
• Activity 3: Act Reading Guide
• Activity 4: Symbolism + Theme Tracker
• Activity 5: Housing Discrimination Context Activity
• Activity 6: Character’s Dream Vision Board
• Discussion Cards
• Activity 7: Final Literary Analysis Essay Planning
• A Raisin in the Sun Quiz / Google Form Assessment

Skills Covered

Students will practice:

• character analysis
• theme analysis
• symbolism analysis
• historical context analysis
• American Dream analysis
• quote analysis
• discussion skills
• evidence-based writing
• literary analysis
• claim development
• counterclaim or alternate interpretation
• final project planning

Great For

• A Raisin in the Sun drama unit
• American Dream unit
• Black History Month literature study
• character analysis lessons
• symbolism lessons
• housing discrimination context lesson
• final essay preparation
• creative character project
• high school ELA
• middle school enrichment
• film study companion
• sub plans or review days

Why Teachers Love It

This unit is designed to be clear, flexible, and classroom-ready. The pacing guide helps you teach the unit across five class periods, while the activities can also be used individually. The character posters and vision board project make the unit visually engaging, while the discussion cards, symbolism tracker, and final essay planning activity help students move beyond plot summary into meaningful literary analysis.

The included quiz provides a quick comprehension and analysis check, and the Google access links make the resource easy to use digitally or in print.

Suggested Use

Day 1: Dreams, context, and the American Dream

Day 2: Character dreams and family conflict

Day 3: Identity, pride, and symbolism

Day 4: Housing discrimination, choices, dignity, and vision board project

Day 5: Discussion, final writing, and optional quiz

Please Note

This is a digital resource. No physical item will be shipped.

This resource does not include the full text or film of A Raisin in the Sun. It is designed to accompany your classroom reading, selected scenes, or viewing of the play/film.