Make the link, break the chain

The resource aims to create historical awareness of slavery, by exploring the personal feelings of a slave and by looking at how slaves used songs as a form of protest (and the coded messages they hide). In later lessons, the resource looks at contemporary forms of slavery, where the students will perform a role play about modern day slavery and learn practical ways they can help prevent slavery in the world today.

Background

The Anti-Slavery Project began as a school linking programme connecting pupils in schools in the UK, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Brazil and Haiti.  These countries were chosen because they were all on the triangular route of the transatlantic slave trade.

The aim of the Anti-Slavery Project was to create an awareness of the role that each of these countries played in the transatlantic slave trade – and the legacy that this shared history had upon these countries - and that contemporary forms of slavery still exist in the world today.

These lesson plans are an offshoot of the main project and explore the same core concepts of slavery, freedom, liberty and, especially, contemporary forms of slavery.

About Plan

Plan has programmes in 46 countries and is committed to supporting communities to create and administer their own solutions for improving lives. Children are at the centre of everything it does, so they play an essential part in the process of planning and implementing projects within their communities.

Children around the world are sometimes forced to work against their will and not paid.  This is a form of contemporary slavery that needs to be addressed.  This resource aims to create an awareness of these issues and encourages students to find practical ways to solve this problem of contemporary slavery.

Through education resources such as these, Plan UK aims to help young people gain not only a better understanding of the world that they live in, but also to prepare them for playing an active part in making it a fairer place.

Resource information

The anti-slavery lessons include:

Four Key Stage 3 cross-curricular lesson plans with clearly stated curriculum links.

All the resources and activity sheets needed for the lessons, available to photocopy.

Links to slave songs in Mp3 format.