'Black Diggers' by Tom Wright unit activities

A comprehensive set of activities designed to enhance the study of Tom Wright’s playwright and Wesley Enoch’s production of ‘Black Diggers’. TEACHER SOLUTIONS INCLUDED!

Through a series of interweaving vignettes, Black Diggers reveals the largely untold story of Indigenous service in the First World War. Activities are suitable for students in years 9-11.

The resource is organised into four parts:

Part A: Pre-reading/viewing activities.

This section is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of Australian history, focusing on key aspects such as the division and trauma experienced by Indigenous Australians, their fight for rights and recognition, the historical context of World War I, the significant role played by Indigenous Australians during the war, the concepts of egalitarianism and cultural capital, and the path towards reconciliation. By engaging in these activities, students will be better equipped to appreciate the historical context and significance of the experiences of the Australian Aboriginal soldiers during World War I.

**Part B: Reading/viewing activities. **

This section comprises a series of comprehension and big picture questions carefully crafted to facilitate student’s development of a comprehensive understanding of the plot, characters, setting, and themes presented in the material.

**Part C: Post-reading/viewing activities. **

This section focuses on exploring and unpacking the characters, themes, style, structure, and aesthetic features present in the work. By engaging in these activities, students will develop a more nuanced understanding of the artistic and literary aspects of the material, allowing for a comprehensive analysis and interpretation.

**Part D: Analytical essay writing. **

This section is dedicated to developing student’s analytical essay writing skills. By mastering the following elements, including the five-paragraph scaffold, writing thesis statements, crafting topic sentences, composing robust body paragraphs, and integrating quotes correctly, students will enhance their ability to construct coherent and logical analytical essays.

Overall, this resource is an excellent tool for teachers looking to enhance their student’s study of ‘Black Diggers’. The organised structure of the activities provides a framework for a comprehensive study of the playwright and production, while the varied tasks and prompts cater to different learning styles and encourage critical thinking and analysis skills.

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