Britain & The Slave Trade (1-2 Lessons)

This lesson on the Trans-Atlantic Trade Triangle and Middle Passage journey is primarily aimed at KS3 students and places a focus on Britain’s role in the slave trade. The lesson begins with an engaging starter showing a variety of images relating to slavery ranging from paintings of American plantations to modern photographic images from the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. The story of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston is a recurring feature of the lesson in order to maintain focus on Britain’s central role in the slave trade. Students learn about the Triangular Trade system through the use of YouTube clips and creative diagram tasks before considering the thoughts and feelings of slaves and slave traders on the Middle Passage journey. Discussion is encouraged to consider why people were willing to accept and promote the slave trade in the past. The final task asks students to produce a diary entry or newspaper article on the Middle Passage journey from varying perspectives.