William Shakespeare Unit Study - peanutbutterfishlessons.com · William Shakespeare. Unit Study. Subjects: Reading, History, Copy Work, Vocabulary, Writing ©2020 Randi Smith . Teacher

William ShakespeareUnit Study

Subjects: Reading, History, Copy Work,

Vocabulary, Writing

©2020 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

Teacher InstructionsThank you for downloading the William Shakespeare Unit Study! It was created to be used with the books: Who Was William Shakespeare? andMagic Tree House: Stage Fright on a Summer Night. You may incorporate other books about William Shakespeare, as well. Here is what is included in the study:

Pages 3-12: A Biography of William Shakespeare: Notetaking sheets with answer key.

Page 13-17: Timeline of William Shakespeare’s Life: Students may write on the timeline or cut and glue events provided.

Pages 18-26: Famous Quotes Copy Work: Nine different quotes from Shakespeare’s plays for children to practice copying.

Pages 27-31: Shakespeare’s Words: Twenty-four words Shakespeare added to the English language. Your children can look them up and write the definition and a sentence for each one.

Pages 32-37: Shakespeare Vocabulary Matching: Practice matching the words from above with their definitions, synonyms or antonyms. Answer key included.

Page 38: Create Your Own Play Writing PromptPage 39: Design A Coat of Arms

Also refer to our post, William Shakespeare FREE Unit Study, for:1. Some historical background of when Shakespeare lived.2. Videos about William Shakespeare and London.3. Resources to create and put on your own play.4. Other related resources.


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Known For: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Birth: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Family: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was going on in the world during Shakespeare’s childhood?: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How was Shakespeare introduced to the theatre?: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: ___________________ ©2020 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

A Biography of William Shakespeare

School: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Marriage and children: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In 1592, records indicate Will was living in London. What was London like then?: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was the theatre scene like? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was thought to have been Will’s first job in the theatre?: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


A Biography of William Shakespeare (cont.)

What were some of the plays he wrote and what were they about?:



Name of Play Short Description

What shut down the theatres in London for two years? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did Shakespeare do during this time?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is a sonnet?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When he returned to theatre, how was Shakespeare’s role different?: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What were some of the new plays Shakespeare wrote?




Family changes: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What new theatre did Shakespeare’s group build?: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When he returned to theatre, how was Shakespeare’s role different?: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





Family changes: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What new theatre did Shakespeare’s group build?: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Known For: Being one of the greatest playwrights that ever lived.

Birth: He was baptized in Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church in 1564, but his actual birthday is unknown. It is celebrated on April 23rd.

Family: His family lived in a small town called Stratford-upon Avon. Shakespeare’s father was named John and made gloves, belts, purses, etc. He was also a member of the town council. His mother was named Mary and her family owned their own farm land. The family was considered middle class.

What was going on in the world during Shakespeare’s childhood?: When he was young, the plague went through England. Elizabeth I was queen. Her goal was to keep peace and England was growing prosperous. Explorers were traveling the world discovering new lands. Astronomers were making new discoveries about the universe. Artists were creating beautiful work and the printing press was fairly new.

How was Shakespeare introduced to the theatre?:Plays were performed on the streets of his town. Mystery plays about stories in the Bible were also performed in a nearby town. Wagons were used for stages or sometimes stages were built in the town square. Queen Elizabeth also liked to have plays put on for her, including when she traveled to castles around the country.

School: Will went to the King’s New School. It started at 6 am and ended at 6 pm. Classes were held six days a week year round. Reading and learning Latin were important subjects. He only attended elementary school.

Name: ___________________ ©2020 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

A Biography of William Shakespeare

Answer Key

Marriage and children: Will married Anne Hathaway in 1582 when he was only 18 years old. They had a daughter, Susanna, the next year and then twins, Hamnet and Judith, a couple years later. The family did not have much money. Shortly after the twins were born, Will left the town, but no one was sure why.

In 1592, records indicate Will was living in London. What was London like then?: London was busy. Rich and poor people lived there. The city was dirty and there was a lot of disease. It was set along the Thames River. The London Bridge was there. It was also a busy area for traders from all over the world. There were many restaurants and types of entertainment.

What was the theatre scene like? Indoor theatres were new, but they still had no roofs. You could buy tickets to sit and watch plays or to stand. The tickets to stand were cheaper and the people who bought them were called groundlings. People would eat during the play and if they didn’t like the play, they would throw food at the actors. Theaters were built just outside London because the mayor didn’t like them. They attracted pickpockets, people drank too much, and it made it easy for disease to spread.

What was thought to have been Will’s first job in the theatre?: Tending to the horses of the people who attended the theatre.


A Biography of William Shakespeare (Answer Key cont.)

What were some of the plays he wrote and what were they about?:



The Two Gentlemen of Verona

About two friends who travel around Italy.

Henry VI Written during the War of the Roses between the Lancasters and the Yorks.

Richard III About an evil king who loses everything.

Titus Andronicus About war between the Romans and the Goths.

The Taming of the Shrew

Petruchio marries a rich woman who is hot temperedand he treats her badly.

What shut down the theatres in London for two years? The plague, also known as the Black Death.

What did Shakespeare do during this time?He probably left London, but people are not sure where he went. But, he spent the time writing poetry. He published some of these poems and improved his finances.

What is a sonnet?Sonnets are 14 line poems with complicated rhyme patterns.

When he returned to theatre, how was Shakespeare’s role different?: He became part owner of the acting group he joined, Lord Chamberlain’s Men.





Romeo and Juliet A story of unlucky lovers that ends in tragedy.

Midsummer Night’s Dream

Another romance, but a happier one.

The Merchant of Venice About a young man who borrows money from a Jewish money lender named Shylock.

The Merry Wives of Windsor

A character named Falstaff romances two married women at the same time.

Family changes: Will’s son, Hamnet, died at age 11. Will bought a new home for his family called New Place.

What new theatre did Shakespeare’s group build?: The Globe Theater. They used the materials from their old theater that they had to abandon because the landowner would not rent the land to them any more.





Julius Caesar About the former, powerful Emperor of Rome.

Hamlet A tragedy about a young prince whose father is murdered.

Othello The story of a general who marries a highborn lady.

Macbeth In this story, a soldier meets three witches who make predictions about his life.

King Lear A play about a king who abused his power.

The Tempest A duke is tricked by his brother and sent out to sea.

Where did Shakespeare live later in life?: At New Place with his family.


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Events for the Timeline

1440 Printing press invented. Printing press invented.

1514 Copernicus wrote the sun was the center of the universe.

Copernicus wrote the sun was the center of the universe.

1519 Magellan sailed around the world. Magellan sailed around the world.

1564 Shakespeare baptized at Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church.

Shakespeare baptized at Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church.

Approx. 1568 The Queen’s Men acting group visited Stratford.

The Queen’s Men acting group visited Stratford.

1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway.

1583 Daughter, Susanna, was born. Daughter, Susanna, was born.

1585 Twins, Hamnet and Judith, born. Twins, Hamnet and Judith, born.

1592 Shakespeare appeared in records in London.

Shakespeare appeared in records in London.

1592 Wrote Henry VI. Wrote Henry VI.

1592-1594 Bubonic plague in London. Bubonic plague in London.

1595 Wrote Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Wrote Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

1596 Hamnet died. Hamnet died.

1596 The Lord Chamberlain’s Men group went on tour.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men group went on tour.

1597 Wrote The Merchant of Venice. Wrote The Merchant of Venice.

1599 The Globe Theater opened. The Globe Theater opened.

1601 Wrote Hamlet. Wrote Hamlet.

1603 Queen Elizabeth died. Queen Elizabeth died.

Glue these events on the timeline or write in your own. Events are undated in the right column, to allow students to place in the correct order based on their memory of what they read and researched.

Events for the Timeline1606 Wrote Macbeth. Wrote Macbeth.

1607 Susanna married. Susanna married.

1608 Shakespeare’s group bought an indoor theatre.

Shakespeare’s group bought an indoor theatre.

1609 Shakespeare’s Sonnets were published. Shakespeare’s Sonnets were published.

1610 Will returned home to Stratford. Will returned home to Stratford.

1613 The Globe Theater burned. The Globe Theater burned.

1616 Judith married. Judith married.

1616 Shakespeare died. Shakespeare died.

©2020 Randi Sm

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1400 1500 1550


Timeline of William Shakespeare’s LifeCut out and glue the events where they go on the timeline and/or write in the events you want to include.

15851580 1590

1595



16051600 1610

1610



16201615 1625

“To be or not to be: that is the question.” –Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1


“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” –As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7


“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” –Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, Scene 1


“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” –Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2


“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” –Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 5


“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?.” –Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1


“What’s in a name? A rose by any name would smell as sweet.” –Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2


“But for my own part, it was Greek to me.”–Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 2


“All that glisters is not gold.”–Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 7


Shakespeare’s Words


It is thought that Shakespeare invented over 1700 of our words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and just making up whole new words. Below are a list of some these words. Look them up in the dictionary if you don’t know them and then write a sentence using each one.

Amazement Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blushing Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Circumstantial Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dauntless Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Equivocal Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________



Flawed Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Green-eyed Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Hobnob Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Impede Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Jaded Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Lackluster Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________



Moonbeam Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Negotiate Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Ode Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Premeditated Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Quarrelsome Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Rascally Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________



Swagger Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Tranquil Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Unreal Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Vulnerable Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Worthless Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Yelping Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________



Zany Part of Speech: ________________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Can you make up some new words like Shakespeare did and write them below?

_____________________ Part of Speech: _______________Definition: _____________________________________________________________________________________________Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________




Shakespeare’s WordsVocabulary Matching 1


Amazement

Blushing

Circumstantial

Dauntless

Equivocal

Green-eyed

Note: This activity is to be used after students look up the definitions on the previous pages OR as a stand alone activity.

Match the words in the ovals to their definition, synonym or antonym (opposite).

Flawed

Feeling of surprise or wonder.

Open to more than one way of looking at

something.

Jealous

Reddening of face due to embarrassment or emotional stress.

Pointing toward someone’s guilt, but not

proving it.

Fearless and determined.

The opposite of perfect.



Negotiate

Impede

Jaded

Lackluster

Moonbeam

Worthless


Ode

Poem.

A ray of light from the moon.

Without value.

Socialize with those of a higher social status.

Become bored with something after you have

done so much of it.

To bring something about through

discussion.

The opposite of brilliant.

Stand in the way of.Hobnob



Rascally

Swagger

Vulnerable

Yelping

Tranquil

Quarrelsome

Unreal

Behave in a wicked or dishonest way.

Argumentative.

Susceptible to attack.

Planned out beforehand.

Walk in an arrogant way.

Peaceful.

So strange as to seem to be imaginary.


Squawking.Premeditated


Answer Key


Amazement

Blushing

Circumstantial

Dauntless

Equivocal

Green-eyed

Flawed

Feeling of surprise or wonder.

Open to more than one way of looking at

something.

Jealous

Reddening of face due to embarrassment or emotional stress.

Pointing toward someone’s guilt, but not

proving it.

Fearless and determined.

The opposite of perfect.

Shakespeare’s WordsVocabulary Matching

Answer Key


Negotiate

Impede

Jaded

Lackluster

Moonbeam

Worthless

Ode

Poem.

A ray of light from the moon.

Without value.

Socialize with those of a higher social status.

Become bored with something after you have

done so much of it.

To bring something about through

discussion.

The opposite of brilliant.

Stand in the way of.Hobnob


Rascally

Swagger

Vulnerable

Yelping

Tranquil

Quarrelsome

Unreal

Behave in a wicked or dishonest way.

Argumentative.

Susceptible to attack.

Planned out beforehand.

Walk in an arrogant way.

Peaceful.

So strange as to seem to be imaginary.

Squawking.Premeditated

Shakespeare’s WordsVocabulary Matching

Answer Key

Pick a main character: ___________________________________

What does your character want to do? (Go to a certain place, find something, accomplish a task, etc.)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What stands in your character’s way?

Pick a villain (bad guy): ______________________________________________Add some problems: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How will your main character solve these problems and achieve his or her goal?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Name: ___________________ ©2020 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

Create Your Own Play

Design a Coat of ArmsObtaining a coat of arms in medieval England meant you were a ‘gentleman’. Shakespeare helped his father receive a coat of arms. Look up some coat of

arms online and then design one for your family. You will need to choose your colors and design. Then, you might add a family crest and/or a motto.

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William Shakespeare Unit Study - peanutbutterfishlessons.com · William Shakespeare. Unit Study. Subjects: Reading, History, Copy Work, Vocabulary, Writing ©2020 Randi Smith . Teacher