Speeches That Changed the World

Explore key historic figures through their speeches & help students step into their shoes (Drama/History, KS2-3)


History is shaped by individuals in particular times and places, tolerating uncertainty, daring to be different, sticking with difficulty and speaking up for making change. In these three learning sequences, pupils will explore key historic figures through their speeches that shaped and are shaping history: Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Mary Prince, and Malala Yousafzai.

Increasingly, we've come to know these historical figures through portrayals on stage and screen. These learning sequences – created by Butterfly Theatre Company – use the approaches of an actor to inhabit the life of a character. In exploring these figures and the powerful speeches they made, pupils will be fuelled to explore their own sense of justice, what they feel strongly about, and what speech they will create for themselves.

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