Whether it's the prospect of killing the Scottish King, or the reason why two young people would kill themselves for love, at Crew of Patches we understand the challenges of making a 16th century story relevant to a younger audience.
We a passionate about Shakespeare, and believe in creating exciting ways for students to engage with these stories developed and written over 400 years ago. Below are a list of different ways you might explore Shakespeare with your young learners!
Explore through play
Whether you are reading a novelisation of the text, or are challenging learners by reading directly from the 1st folio itself, there is no getting away from the fact that these stories were designed to be watched and acted out, not read!
Sometimes the best way to explore something is up on your feet! This exercise can be completed in a classroom, or a school hall if you want some extra space.
Ask each student to find their own space in the room. Begin with simple instructions. "Go" means walk around the room. "Stop" means to freeze. Next introduce some exciting ways of working. For example, if you are exploring Macbeth, could your students march around the room as if they are a general in the army? If you are exploring A Midsummer Night's Dream can your students explore the space as a mischievous fairy.
After your students have had time to explore a variety of characters, bring them together to discuss how each character made them feel? Did moving in a certain way make them feel a certain emotion? How would they describe the similarities and differences of individual characters?
News Report
Through your students into a specific moment in the play, by getting them to create a news report.
You could encourage them to report on the death of King Duncan at Macbeth's castle, or report on Romeo killing Tybalt in Verona. Make sure your learners cram in as many facts and information as possible, by making sure each report contains the following 5 Ws.
Where did it happen?
What happened?
Who was involved?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?
If you are happy for your students to work in groups, they could create a piece of drama to perform in front of the class, or alternatively, create a newspaper article explaining the facts.
Create a map
A creative way to bring in elements of art, design and geography into your classroom whilst learning about a Shakespeare classic.
Ask your learners to create a map of a location from a Shakespeare play. See if your students can create the forest outside of Athens from "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Can they show the area where the Mechanicals rehearse? Where does Titania and her fairies sleep? In what direction is the court of Athens?
This can turn in to a great project. Students can get creative with pens and pencils, or make a 3D landscape.
There are exciting ways of exploring all manner of Shakespeare plays! Why not get in contact and we can help spread the love of Shakespeare in your school.
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