Once Upon A Time

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Language Arts 9 and Social Studies 9 Grade 9 Living Respectfully Preventing Prejudice Respecting Diversity Resolving Conflict “Once Upon a Time”: Tearing Down Fences Contributors Irene Welch and Janice Pritchard, teachers, Thomas B Riley Junior High School, Calgary, Alberta, Calgary School District No 19. Lesson Objectives This humanities (language arts and social studies) lesson provides an opportunity for students to think about how, at its height, the system of apartheid affected South African society until the early 1990s. The lesson is based on the short story “Once Upon a Time” by Nadine Gordimer (see Supplementary Resources). Gordimer’s story provides valuable insights about prejudice and discrimination that can be applied to any society. Students will learn how individuals can take responsibility in reducing societal misunderstandings. The story illustrates the irony in thinking that building fences provides security and solves societal problems. The story asks students to consider the fences that every society builds. Teachers should focus on the elements of the short story throughout this lesson. Time 120–240 minutes Getting Started Knowledge Now Ask students to brainstorm what they know about South Africa’s policy of apartheid. Use the five W’s (who, when, what, where and why). Discuss the facts relating to South Africa’s historical situation with regard to the policy of apartheid. Make sure that they know about recent changes to the policy and that it was abolished in 1994 when Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) was elected to power by citizens of all races in the country’s first free elections. Break students into groups of four. Have students discuss how the policy of apartheid could have become the legal condition in South Africa. Why? Begin to explore the idea of barricades. How would people who are barricaded

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