Shakespeare in school Focus Questions

1. Briefly summarise the Shakespeare in school story. 2. Many people may see William Shakespeare’s work as… 3. How is the performance shown in the BtN story, trying to make Shakespeare

relevant to young people? 4. Why is William Shakespeare considered the best writer and poet of all time? 5. Which modern movie was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s work? 6. Describe the props used in the production. 7. Why is Shakespeare’s writing difficult to understand? 8. Do you think Shakespeare’s work is still relevant today? Explain your answer. 9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story? 10. What was surprising about this story?

Shakespeare in school Ask students to record what they know about Shakespeare and his work on sticky

notes then place on a mind map. What would they like to find out? As students

complete the following activities, they can add information to the mind map.

Review the map when students have completed the activities.

Synopses of Shakespeare’s work are available at

http://www.playshakespeare.com/

Students can choose one or more of the following activities:

Research Shakespeare’s life using print and online resources. Create a timeline of major events in his life or a poster displaying interesting facts.

The Globe Theatre was a play house where Shakespeare performed many of his greatest plays. Take a virtual tour of The Globe at the following websitehttp://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/movies/sound_globe.swf Describe some of the sights, sounds and smells you might encounter watching one of Shakespeare’s plays.

Shakespeare’s plays were written in Early Modern English. Rewrite the following lines into Modern English.

“To thine own self be true: and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can’st not then be false to any man.” Hamlet

“Give me thy hand, `tis late: farewell, good night.” Romeo and Juliet

EPISODE 11

10TH

MAY 2011

Learning Area

English, The Arts

Key learning

Students will develop a deeper understanding of the life and work of William Shakespeare.

Take on the job as The Globe Theatre’s special effects expert. http://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/movies/special_effects_primary.swf

Shakespeare was well known for the insults included in his work. Some of these included: Thou urchin-snouted foot-licker Thou swag-bellied pignut Thou beetle-headed canker-blossom To hear some more of Shakespeare’s insults and find out which play they are from go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/onenightofshakespeare/onenightofshakespeare_insults.shtml Create your own Shakespearean insults using a word from each column at the following website http://www.folger.edu/documents/KidInsults.pdf

Shakespeare is believed to have invented many of today’s well-known expressions As luck would have it Tower of strength Seen better days Green-eyed monster Vanish into thin air One fell swoop Without rhyme or reason What does each phrase mean and use it in a sentence or short paragraph. Use the internet to find out which Shakespearean plays the expressions are from.

Related Research Links Shakespeare online – Shakespeare’s plays http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/ Children’s BBC - Shakespeare http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/showbiz/shakespeare/newsid_3539000/3539058.stm BBC History - Shakespeare http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/shakespeare_william.shtml