Exploring Shakespeare's plays and language using three of his major tragedies

Rhianna Elsden
Sunday, December 1, 2019

This scheme offers a wide range of activities to enable teachers to explore Shakespeare’s plays and his language with KS3 students. It offers ideas on how to work with three texts (Romeo and Juliet; Macbeth and King Lear) and several key scenes practically, deliberately not providing a depth of exploration to any one text. There are both on and off-text ideas and activities. The activities outlined develop students’ understanding of the characters, plot and themes for key moments throughout the plays, and help them to work more confidently with sixteenth-century language. Many of the activities could be adjusted to inspire the exploration of other Shakespearean scenes or whole texts.