Overview
The Hate U Give Unit engages secondary ELA students in examining identity, power, and justice through Angie Thomas’s award-winning novel. Over six to seven weeks, students analyze literature and media to understand how stories can challenge systems of oppression and inspire social change. Using a reader’s workshop model, students participate in close reading, discussions, and creative projects that connect themes from the novel to their own lived experiences.
Rooted in WAESN’s Five Framework Themes—Identity & Agency, Power & Oppression, Action & Reflection, Resistance & Liberation, and Indigeneity & Origins—this unit integrates Ethnic Studies and ELA standards to help students read critically, write persuasively, and engage civically. Learners examine bias, code-switching, and activism through multiple lenses while building empathy, analytical thinking, and confidence in their voices.
Educators will love this unit because it:
-
Combines literary analysis with real-world applications and social justice themes
-
Aligns with WA State and Common Core ELA standards
-
Includes argument writing lessons, Socratic seminars, and book-to-film comparisons
-
Provides scaffolds for multilingual learners and culturally responsive discussion practices
-
Promotes anti-racist teaching, student leadership, and authentic engagement
Format & Duration
-
6–7 week unit (100-minute class blocks)
-
Designed for secondary ELA (grades 8–12)
-
Includes both fiction and nonfiction components
What’s Included
-
Detailed lesson plans, slide decks, and handouts
-
Reading guides and comprehension questions
-
Vocabulary resources and formative assessments
-
Argument Writing Mini-Unit (three lessons)
-
Film comparison and culminating Socratic Seminar
Developed by MLL Educators Andrea Chorney and Elisa M. Yzaguirre with the WAESN curriculum team and funded by College Spark Washington, this unit transforms reading into a practice of reflection, empowerment, and collective liberation.