Pursuing Dreams: A Raisin in the Sun

Students explore the search for belonging through the story of an African American family striving to achieve their dreams in the face of challenges.

icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 3

7th Grade

Unit Summary


Please Note: In July 2026, this unit and its lesson plans received a round of enhancements. This unit is now 31 instructional days (previously 27 days). The overall content, sequencing, and writing projects of the unit have been adjusted significantly. Teachers should pay close attention as they intellectually prepare to account for the updates.

A Raisin in the Sun is a story about belonging and the American Dream, and the ways that race can be a nearly insurmountable barrier to achieving both. This award-winning play follows the story of the Youngers, a working-class African American family living in a cramped kitchenette apartment on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. Three generations share the apartment, which is barely large enough to fit the five people who live there, let alone the dreams each one has for his or her future and the future of their family.

Students begin the unit studying informational texts that provide context for the play's setting, including the Great Migration, and the history of housing discrimination against Black people in the United States. Contextualizing this play within this historical moment provides students with the knowledge necessary to unpack the specific and universal themes Hansberry explores. Students write an informational article about the Great Migration, applying the knowledge that they built through informational texts to start the unit. They focus not only on the text in the article, but also on the text features that aid comprehension of the topic. Students also read and watch three speeches with thematic and historical connections to A Raisin in the Sun. Additionally, students watch several scenes from the 1961 film adaptation, A Raisin in the Sun, and analyze the way that filmmakers draw viewers into a story through techniques specific to the media. Through this story of a family in a segregated northern city in the 1950s, A Raisin in the Sun continues students' exploration of what it means to belong, and how race, gender, and class shape a person's identity.

After finishing A Raisin in the Sun, students have the opportunity to write their first literary analysis essay of the year, focusing on one of the Essential Questions from the unit: How do race, class, or gender affect the challenges a character faces, and the resilience they show in achieving their dreams? Students will apply what they learned about argumentative writing in Unit 2 and make an argument about a character in the text and use evidence, analysis, and explanations to support their argument.

Fishtank Plus for ELA

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Texts and Materials


Some of the links in the sections below are Bookshop affiliate links. This means that if you click and make a purchase, we receive a small portion of the proceeds, which supports our non-profit mission.

Core Texts

Supporting Texts

Assessment


The following assessments accompany Unit 3. For more guidance, see the Summative Assessments and Assessments Accommodations & Modifications Teacher Tools.

Warm Read Assessment

The Warm Read Assessment measures students' ability to apply the core reading standards and their knowledge from the unit to comprehend new, topically or thematically aligned texts. It includes both multiple choice and short written response questions and should serve as the primary assessment for the unit.

Vocabulary Assessment

The Vocabulary Assessment measures students' acquisition of text-based vocabulary words from the unit.

Fluency Assessment

The Fluency Assessment measures students' oral reading fluency with a passage drawn from one of the unit's core texts. See the Assessing Reading Fluency Teacher Tool for more guidance.

Unit Prep


Intellectual Prep

Unit Launch

Before you teach this unit, unpack the texts, themes, and core standards through our guided intellectual preparation process. Each Unit Launch includes a series of short videos, targeted readings, and opportunities for action planning to ensure you're prepared to support every student.

Essential Questions

  • How does migration or displacement impact individuals' sense of belonging in their new environment?
  • How does the quest for belonging influence relationships between individuals and groups?
  • What role do race, class, and gender play in a person's ability to achieve their dreams?

Enduring Understandings

  • During the Great Migration, Black individuals who migrated from the South to the North had different experiences based on their circumstances. Some found opportunities for better employment, education, and housing, while others faced new forms of discrimination and economic hardship.
  • The desire to belong can strengthen some relationships, while it can create tension or tear other relationships apart. Some individuals strive to belong in a community or culture, while others focus on belonging to a family unit. Regardless, the desire to belong is universal.
  • Throughout history, marginalized groups have advocated and continue to advocate for equality. Individuals who are marginalized may have a harder time achieving their dreams due to systemic barriers.
  • The American Dream is meant to be a simple ideal for all Americans to aspire to. However, it can be more difficult for some Americans to achieve than others.

Vocabulary

Text-based

adeptamiablyaspirationdeferreddrearyeccentricenticedexuberantexpectantfalterfosteringforlornlyfutileindifferencelanguishesominousplaintivesullentransformundaunted

Literary Terms

actor's choiceactargumentcamera movementcamera angleclaimclimaxcutdialectdialogueevidencefalling actionlightingmonologuepacingrelevant evidencescenesetsettingsoundstage directionssufficient evidencetension

Writing Terms

analysisanecdoteconclusioncompound sentencecomparisondescriptiondefinitionexamplefactimageryintroductory sentencequotationstatistictopic sentence

To see all the vocabulary for Unit 3, view our 7th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.

Notes to the Teacher

  • Teachers should have students read this play aloud in class when possible, taking on different roles. This can be done in a whole group or in smaller groups to give more students the opportunity to read. This is a great way to build engagement and investment in this text, as well as to have all students practice fluency.
  • There are several instances in the play where characters use offensive language—most notably, the N-word. Prepare students for these passages and discuss as a class their reactions to these words, and what their use reveals about characters' beliefs and emotions. As a part of intellectual preparation, review the following resources to further prepare for daily instruction:
  • A Raisin in the Sun briefly discusses abortion (Lesson 10), which may be a sensitive topic for students and families. Abortion is a sensitive and often divisive issue. Students may have questions about this topic.  For resources on how to support students if they have questions, consult your school or district administrators.

Lesson Map


Projects


These projects are optional and serve as a great way to enrich students' experience and deepen their content knowledge in this unit. If teachers have flex days in their schedules, we strongly recommend any of the below options.

Common Core Standards


Core Standards

RI.7.7
RI.7.8
RI.7.9
RL.7.7
W.7.1
W.7.1.a
W.7.1.d
W.7.1.e
W.7.2
W.7.2.a
W.7.2.b
W.7.8
W.7.9
L.7.1.b
L.7.5
SL.7.1
SL.7.1.a
SL.7.1.d
SL.7.4

Supporting Standards

RI.7.1
RI.7.2
RI.7.4
RI.7.5
RI.7.10
RL.7.1
RL.7.2
RL.7.3
RL.7.4
RL.7.5
RL.7.6
RL.7.10
W.7.1.b
W.7.2.c
W.7.4
W.7.5
W.7.6
W.7.7
W.7.9.a
W.7.9.b
W.7.10
L.7.5.c
L.7.6
SL.7.1.b
SL.7.2
SL.7.6
We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free