RomeoJuliet2006

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Lesson Plan Week of 10 April - 15 April 2006

Topic/Focus:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Immediate Resource Vectors:

http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/romeo_juliet/

Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet film

Luhrmann's 1996 Romeo + Juliet film

Homework:

General Vocabulary Enrichment from Text:

as we stumble across it, but including:

exeunt/exit

wherefore

tragedy

prologue

scene

act

wordplay

pun

dialogue

aside

Quotes of the day:

1. Part, fools!

Put up your swords; you know not what you do!

Benvolio

What is his role in this play?

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Materials: TV/VCR, Computers equipped with internet access

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,

Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet film,

Luhrmann's 1996 Romeo + Juliet film,

Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

Week 17-21 April 2006

Part A

I. Lesson Objective

1. Students will be introduced to William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.

2. Students will begin reading the play to gain a literary understanding of Shakespeare's work.

II. Set Instruction

1. As students enter the classroom, music from the Renaissance time period will be playing.

2. When class period begins and all business has been taken care of, teacher will introduce the play.

3. Teacher will ask for any prior experiences and opinions of William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet.

4. An assignment to read the play through Act I for the next day of class will be given.

III. Instruction

1. Teacher will give brief introduction to William Shakespeare and time period in which he was writing. This

should also include background on the Globe Theatre and acting and actors in Shakespeare's day (especially

that female roles were played by young boys).

2. A brief history of the story of Romeo and Juliet should also be given: based on an English poetic retelling of an

old Italian tale (Arthur Brooke's The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet).

IV. Options: Supervised Practice

Class will discuss ways in which Shakespeare has influenced drama as it is perceived today, both in acting and

in storylines. Remind students that the story of star-crossed lovers is seen again and again in modern

literature and movies.

V. Assignment:

Students will read Act I of Romeo and Juliet and be prepared to discuss key points of the act in class

tomorrow.

Part B

Evaluation

Students will begin writing in their journals about their expectations for the story. How do they think the

story will develop? How will it end?

Week 23-27 April 2006

Part A

I. Lesson Objectives

1. Students will discuss literal aspects of Act I of Romeo and Juliet.

2. Students will begin preparation of dramatic presentations of scenes in the play.

II. Set Introduction

As students enter the room, various clips of Zeffirelli's film version of Romeo and Juliet will be playing

(balcony scene, Tybalt/Mercutio/Romeo fight, Romeo's daybreak departure, Romeo's death, and Juliet's

suicide soliloquy.

III. Instruction

a)Materials: Romeo and Juliet script, TV/VCR, Zeffirelli film

b)Teaching Strategies: Discussion

c)Supervised Practice:

Part A

1. Students and teacher will discuss key aspects of Act I, including any symbolism, foreshadowing, and

literary devices. Any questions about the act should be asked at this time.

Part B

1. Students will be divided into groups of four.

2. The above scenes will be introduced (balcony scene, Tybalt/Mercutio/Romeo fight, Romeo's daybreak

departure, Romeo's death, and Juliet's suicide soliloquy) to the class.

3. Students will choose (as a group) one of the five scenes. They will prepare this scene for presentation before

the class. Presentations will take place in one week.

4. Students will have the rest of the class to begin preliminary work on this project.

IV. Closure

Instructor will summarize the information from Act I and restate the directions for the acting project.

V. Assignment

Students will read Act II of Romeo and Juliet and be prepared to discuss key points of the act in class

tomorrow.

Week 1-5 May 2006

(includes Scarborough Faire Roadtrip)

I. Lesson Objectives

1. Students will discuss literal aspects of Act II of Romeo and Juliet.

2. Students will write a journal entry describing their predictions for the story as they see it developing.

3. Students will have the last half of class to rehearse their dramatic presentations.

II. Set Introduction: same as Day Two

III. Instruction: same as Day Two

IV. Closure

Instructor will summarize the information from Act II and answer and questions pertaining to the acting

project (dramatic presentation).

V. Assignment

Students will read Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet and be prepared to discuss key points of the act in class

tomorrow.

Week 8-12 May 2006

I. Lesson Objectives

1. Students will discuss literal aspects of Act III of Romeo and Juliet.

2. Students will choose one of three scenes to rewrite in modern day English as an in-class essay.

II. Set Introduction

As students enter the room, various clips of Zeffirelli's version and Luhrmann's version will be playing

(Iv meeting scene, IIii balcony scene, and IIIv departure scene).

III. Instruction

a)Materials: Romeo and Juliet script, TV/VCR, Zeffirelli film, Luhrmann film

b)Teaching Strategies: Discussion

c)Supervised Practice:

Part A

1. Students and teacher will discuss key apects of Act III, including any symbolism, foreshadowing, and

literary devices. Any questions about the act should be asked at this time.

2. The above scenes (Romeo and Juliet's meeting, the balcony scene, and Romeo's dawn departure) will be

reintroduced to the class.

3. Students will choose one of the three scenes and rewrite it in modern day English.

4. Students will have the remainder of class to complete this assignment.

It is due at the beginning of the next class meeting.

IV. Closure

Instructor will summarize the information from Act III and restate the directions for the completion of the writing assignment.

V. Assignment

Students will read Act IV of Romeo and Juliet and be prepared to discuss key points of the act in class tomorrow. They should also bring their completed writing assignment.

Week 15-19 May 2006

Part A

I. Lesson Objectives

1. Students will discuss literal aspects of Act IV of Romeo and Juliet.

2. Students will continue work on the dramatic presentation assignment.

3. Students will write a journal entry reflecting upon their attitudes towards this work as it progresses.

II. Instruction

a)Materials: Romeo and Juliet script b)Teaching Strategies: Discussion

c)Supervised Practice:

Part A

1. Students and teacher will discuss key aspects of Act IV, including any symbolism, foreshadowing, and

iterary devices. Any questions about the act should be asked at this time.

Part B

1. Students will write a journal entry reflecting upon the predictions for the story line that they did on Day

Three. Were they right? In which ways were they mistaken?

2. The students have the remainder of the class period to rehearse their dramatic presentations.

IV. Closure

Instructor will summarize the information from Act IV.

V. Assignment:

Students will read Act V of Romeo and Juliet and be prepared to discuss key points of the act in class

tomorrow.

Week 22-25 --- Final Exams

I. Lesson Objectives

1. Students will discuss literal aspects of Act V of Romeo and Juliet.

2. Students will continue final preparations for dramatic presentations.

II. Instruction

a)Material: Romeo and Juliet script b)Teaching Strategies: Discussion

c)Supervised Practice:

1. Students and teacher will discuss key aspects of Act V, including symbolism, foreshadowing, and literary

devices. Any questions about the act should be asked at this time.

2. Students will have the remainder of the class to finalize preparations for the dramatic presentations.

III. Closure

Instructor will summarize the information from Act V.

IV. Assignment:

Students will reread their notes and prepare to discuss the play as a whole.