KS2:3 What should we put in an online biography of Thomas Clarkson?
Enquiry question
2. How well does the
feature film
“Amazing Grace”
write Thomas
Clarkson back into
history?
Having introduced Thomas Clarkson, the Scheme of Work now focuses on the interpretation of Clarkson’s character and role in the recent film “Amazing Grace”.
Pupils will interpret texts (image & film) in the light of what they know about Clarkson and learn that historical interpretation is a matter of personal judgement based on the evidence.
Combined History and Literacy Learning Objective
To assess the relative accuracy of an audio-visual text as an historical interpretation of a past figure.
Links with renewed Framework for Literacy, Year 6 Non Fiction, Unit 1 Phase 2
Children access the same biography from an audio or visual source, make notes and then prepare and give an oral presentation to answer some key questions about the person’s life.
Activities
Although this Scheme of Work can be taught as a free-standing unit, Scheme of Work 2: What was the Transatlantic Triangular Slave Trade? Enquiry question 2 Activity 1 provides essential background. It should be taught here before continuing, if pupils have not completed it.
Have the quote (Resource C1) and the image of Sewell as Thomas Clarkson Resource B ready to display on the IWB to the whole class. Pupils will need Post It notes.
Prepare enough sets of the information cards (Resource C2) for pupils to work in pairs or threes (these must be printed onto card and cut out). Each group will also need an large copy of the Venn diagram (Resource D).
Be prepared to screen two short film clips from “Amazing Grace”: The dinner party scene(Resource B2). and Clarkson at Equiano’s grave
Explain that in 2006 a feature film was made about abolishing the Transatlantic Slave Trade called “Amazing Grace”. Display the following claim about the film from a website (Resource C1). Make sure pupils understand the claims of the quote. Divide the class into pairs or threes.
“The screenplay by Steven Knight has been exhaustively researched and is largely historically accurate.”
Explain that the class is going to test out whether this claim is true by looking at and comparing how the film portrays Thomas Clarkson. Display a still image of Rufus Sewell as Thomas Clarkson (Resource B).
and/or http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/gallery.php
Ask groups to discuss ‘what kind of person’ he looks like and to
write describing words onto Post It notes against the clock. Invite
groups to put their Post It notes up on the IWB, describing what
they think (e.g. that he looks kind, cruel, drunk etc. because…).
Next, with the sound turned down, show two clips from the film that depict: Clarkson displaying shackles and chains to abolitionists at a dinner party Resource B2 Clip 1Clarkson drinking on the grave of Olaudah Equiano Resource B2 Clip 2. Ask groups to discuss whether the clips support the words they chose earlier to describe Sewell as Clarkson on their Post It notes.
Repeat the clips with the sound turned up and hold another discussion. Take a vote on whether, based on what they know so far, the film-makers have portrayed Thomas Clarkson accurately.
Give out enlarged versions of the Venn diagram (Resource D) and sets of information cards (Resource C2). Ask pairs/threes to sort the cards, deciding whether each card in turn supports the quote (yes) or does not support the quote (no), placing them in the appropriate circle on the diagram. Cards that pupils are ‘not sure’ about can be placed in the centre or discarded as irrelevant. Pupils could refer to their Clarkson pin board. Circulate, gauging understanding & prompting where necessary.
Ask pupils to prepare and perform a short presentation:
1. What have we learned about Thomas Clarkson?
2. How accurate do we think the film portrayal of Clarkson is?
Outcomes
- To have viewed a
photograph and clips
from “Amazing Grace”.
- To have decided on
suitable words to
describe the portrayal of
Thomas Clarkson in the
film.
- To have taken part in a
class vote on the
accuracy of the portrayal.
- To have worked in pairs,
arranging cards on a
Venn diagram about the
film’s accuracy.
- To have prepared and
performed an oral
presentation on the film’s
portrayal of Thomas
Clarkson.
Resources
Resource B
Still of Sewell as Clarkson
from the film “Amazing
Grace” www.amazinggracemovie.com (Film image gallery)
For alternative images see:
www.aboutrufus.com/amazing_grace.htm
Resource B2
Two clips from the film Amazing Grace(courtesy of Walden Media (Bristol Bay Productions))
Clip 1 - The Dinner Party
Clip 2 - Equiano's Grave
Resource C1
Resource C2
Additional information
www.thomasclarkson.org /grace10.html