A Taste of Shakespeare: Elementary School
A quick but exciting intro to Shakespeare, his language, and his work, including his use of poetry and prose, types of plays, the sonnets, and even some Shakespearean insults.
Merium Khan
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(581)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 2 - 5
(NOTE: Class will run even if only one student is registered.) Shakespeare. Many people are scared to tackle his plays, but I have discovered that you are never too young to enjoy the Bard. I use a combination of beautifully illustrated excerpts from plays, lively discussion, graphic novels, and video clips from amazing performances to spark a love of Shakespeare. I hand-pick passages that are accessible for kids, thought provoking, and exciting. We will savor the language together, hearing his words flow like music. We will talk about the big themes and ideas. We'll discover how much he has influenced our language. I am passionate about teaching Shakespeare as his words are so timeless and relevant. My goal is to spark an interest in his work as well as help students to see his work as being within their reach. This is a jam-packed class. Here's a rundown of what we will talk about, in an exciting, age-appropriate way: * Brief summary of Shakespeare's life and education * Overview of what types of plays he wrote by genre, sonnets * What are the secrets to Shakespeare's greatness? * Crash course on meter: iambic pentameter & trochaic tetrameter (sounds complicated? I break it down in an easy-to-understand way for elementary schoolers). * How the meter of the verse ties in with its meaning * Applying what we've learned to a play: famous excerpts from Romeo and Juliet * A taste of Shakespeare's insults --- Special Needs: Please send me a note in advance if your child has special needs I should be aware of, or if he or she would not be comfortable speaking in class and would prefer to listen only. I would love to be able to accommodate your needs. Parent comments on my teaching style: "...[Merium's] clear speech, down to earth personality and passion for literature shined through.." -Keisha "Merium was a great teacher, who readily engaged the kids with her teaching style and the content. She brought Shakespeare alive for them. They had quite an animated discussion!" --Jennifer M. "The teacher presented interesting ideas, concepts, and information in a gentle and interesting way that was age appropriate while respecting the kids abilities...My son finished the class with a huge smile - said he loved it and that he wants to learn more about Shakespeare." --Dr. K "Thanks to an inspiring teacher who is clearly passionate about her subject area and teaching young minds, my daughter had a splendid time being introduced to Shakespeare..." --Amy B.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined September, 2017
4.9
581reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I started teaching from a young age--as an 18-year old college graduate in the Social Sciences and Psychology, I had an opportunity to start my career early, so I have over two decades of teaching experience. I am always teaching someone, whether that be an adult seminar or school-age children.
I use Socratic-style dialogue with my students to draw out their ideas and thoughts about the subject matter. My current areas of focus center around literature and writing. I believe in stretching and challenging students in their thinking and writing. Literature is one of the most powerful ways to learn about the human experience, both real and imagined. Reading great literature leads to great writing, which is why I incorporate literature and writing together to help students learn techniques from the authors we study.
One of my greatest joys is being able to bring Shakespeare to life for children of all ages, even the very young. I infuse my classes with my passion for the Bard's work and I bring his words to life with color, sound, and video so that kids can see that Shakespeare is fun and accessible.
I am also passionate about gifted education and therefore some of my offerings cater to this group. These students are often reading and reflecting on literature that is usually assumed to be beyond their years, yet they thrive on the excitement of discussing these big themes with other like-minded students. I love to give these students a platform to "geek out" with each other and to share their love for challenging ideas.
I have taught gifted literature pull-out programs at a private school as well as taught private individual and group lessons. I have also done consulting for teachers and schools on curriculum and pedagogy. Along with teaching, I enjoy creating art that incorporates thoughtful words with whimsical images.Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$18
per classMeets once
60 min
Completed by 644 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-11
1-18 learners per class
