Shakespeare's England
Teacher Jenny Wilson
| Year
|
Level
|
Duration
|
| 9-10
|
5
|
1 week
|
| Achievement Objective Being Assessed
|
Learning Outcomes
|
| This unit is not formally assessed as it is designed to precede the study of a Shakespearean play.
|
Deliver a seminar to the class on some aspect of life in Shakespeare's England, after researching a specific topic.
|
| Processes
|
| Processing information
|
Using the Internet and other research sources, students retrieve, select and interpret information about Shakespeare and his world and present it accurately in a seminar to classmates.
|
| Supporting Achievement Objective
|
Learning Outcomes
|
| Interpersonal speaking and listening
|
Speak confidently and effectively to classmates to communicate information and ideas about Shakespearean England.
|
Introduction
This unit is designed to precede a study of a Shakespearean play (see Romeo and Juliet
, Julius Caesar
, Hamlet
and King Lear
).
Teacher background reading
Teaching and learning activities
Select and adapt these learning activities to best meet the needs of your students, and to fit the time available:
Learning task 1
Learning task 2
NB If your students have internet access, then an alternative introduction to Shakespeare and his life and times can be accessed at
Assessment
No assessment. Present to the class as spoken and visual presentation, using, if possible, presentation technologies.
Resources
Large sheets of news print and felt pens for brainstorming.
worksheet_topics (RTF 34KB)
overview (RTF 25KB)
Electronic
-
William Shakespeare: The Complete Works
This is a very comprehensive site with links to the complete works including background information, biographical information and pictures, information about Elizabethan theatres, a Shakespearean dictionary, the first folio, quotes, a quiz and a discussion forum.
- Life in Elizabethan England
- Seeing, Storms and Madness: King Lear
- an English Online unit.
- Romeo and Juliet
- an English Online unit.
- Julius Caesar
- an English Online unit.
- The Romeo and Juliet Web Guide
has teaching guides and student activity sheets for Romeo and Juliet.
- Mr William Shakespeare and the Internet
- Surfing with the Bard
- Talking to Shakespeare
- William Shakespeare Authorship WebQuest
- Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Stand Up
- Much Ado About Something
- Artsedge: Shakespeare's England
-
In Search of Shakespeare
A PBS resource to support the television series which includes, teaching resources, a playwright game and information on Shakespeare's life and times.
-
Converse: Shakespearean Resources
Some excellent interactive resources to support the study of Shakespeare, including an animated depiction of the experience of viewing a Shakespearean play, an interactive 3D version of the Globe,plot questions on several plays, Shakespeare's insults and more.
-
No Fear Shakespeare
A site which presents the language of Shakespeare's plays side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English.
-
Shakespeare Games
Quizzes on Elizabethan English, Hamlet, memorable quotes and what's in a name?
Print
- Tillyard, E.M.W. Pelican Guide to English Literature No 2 The Age of Shakespeare
- Spurgeon, Caroline. The Elizabethan World Picture. (Pelican)
