Passing Lesson Plan

Discussion: Racial Passing

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

To discuss the concept of “passing” and to provide historical context and background to the novel.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1.A

Structure:

Show the class the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Zebl-3cf4. Tell students to take notes while they watch, keeping in mind the following questions: What is “passing”? Does it always refer to race? What is the difference between voluntarily and involuntarily passing?

When the video is finished, ask for general reactions to it, and then divide the class into smaller groups of three or four. Tell groups to answer the above...