Shakespeare 101

See how excited we are about Shakespeare? 

Not!  Really, he was just being the class clown.  Have to have one of those, you know.

Still, this is my high schooler who needs to have a course in Shakespeare to go on his high school level transcript.  I absolutely refuse to have anyone say that I didn't do my job...as well as I know how.

Continuing with our Shakespeare 101 study...

Question:  What age group is this study for?

Answer:  The plans were developed to share with a class of 6-12 graders.  At home I'll be including a 4th grader in the study. I plan to include our Kindergartner in watching the plays on DVD and acting out some scenes. So it's friendly across the board.  It also puts into practice what I preach in A Picture Perfect Childhood which is the use of picture books for all ages. 

I must say that when I walked into the classroom yesterday I was met by a very enthusiastic, intelligent group of young people who will, it seems, be teaching me about Shakespeare rather than the other way around. 

I told my friend Linda that this class was going to be a piece of cake.  Seems the children are more interested in developing a production to get others interested in Shakespeare than anything else.  And I'm cool with that.  The class is theirs, not mine.  So we're working with a very Socratic method of study.  The children are talking and brainstorming amongst themselves and I know they appreciate this freedom of study better than anything I could try to force down their throats teach them.

I will continue to share my "plans" however, so that homeschoolers might glean what they can.  These are the "plans" I'll be using within my home.

Here are some starter books for you to check out at your library:

• Bard of Avon: Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley/ Peter Vennema
• William Shakespeare and the Globe by Aliki
• All the World's a Stage by Rebecca Piatt Davidson/ Anita Lobel
• Shakespeare Can Be Fun series by Lois Burdett
• Bravo, Mr. William Shakespeare by Marcia Williams
• Tales From Shakespeare by Marcia Williams
• More Tales From Shakespeare by Marcia Williams
• Mr. William Shakespeare's Plays by Marcia Williams

Check back later this week for a booklist of the plays and downloadable PDF files for your portfolio notebooks.  Right now I have a Kindergartner who wants me to play "tea party" with her and one sick with the flu who needs a dosage of medicine. 

This gives you time to go to your library and gather your books together.  I think we'll be reading one of these books during tea time as well.  I just checked the menu my daughter concocted while I was typing this.  Looks like we have an appetizing tea of:

• Cheetos
• Vienna Sausages
• Mini-Marshmellows
• Grated Cheese
• Pickles

Sweet!

Comments

[Paula in MN]

Thanks for the list of library materials. Enjoy the tea party - I need time to collect everything! Oh, and we might be down your way again in March. I already let Alice and Colleen know...a 4Real Tea party could be fun!

[Kristen]

This is great, Cay. Thanks for putting it here for us. We've been wanting to do a Shakespeare study, but really just weren't sure where to start. This will surely help.

[Jimmie]

I'm enjoying your Shakespeare posts! Keep them coming! :-)