An Interactive Guide to Shakespeare's London
A virtual tour of Shakespeare's London will get kids to interact with the culture of Elizabethan England.
Paul H. The Shakespearean Student
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(52)
What's included
5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
To teach kids about the Elizabethan era and the background of Romeo and Juliet, The Instructor will interact with the class (via pre-recorded videos), pretending to be Shakespeare. The class, pretending to be actors in Romeo and Juliet, will get a virtual tour of The Globe Theater, Hampton Court Palace, and a virtual visit to an Elizabethan doctor's office. This activity is an immersive way for them to learn about the period, how it relates to the world of the play, and how Shakespeare changed theater. The class will take the form of a guided WebQuest activity. First, the students will get a worksheet that has a series of fill-in-the-blanks about Elizabethan society (below). The students will fill out this worksheet based on a Nearpod and in conjunction with a website I’ve made, https://sites.google.com/nebobcats.org/visit-to-elizabethan-london/home?authuser=0 Both the Nearpod and each webpage will have a virtual tour, a video, and text explaining some aspects of Elizabethan life. Before they go to each location, I will give a short introduction via prerecorded video: 1. The Stage- We will cover Shakespeare's theater and how his plays were written and performed 2. The Castle- We will learn about Queen Elizabeth, and why her reign was considered a golden age of English history. 3. The Balcony- We will cover the plot of Romeo and Juliet, and cover how real Elizabethan teenagers lived, got married, and had children. 4. The Street- We will cover the culture of dueling and the prevalence of violence in the play "Romeo and Juliet." 5. The Plague Doctor's Office- We will learn about sanitation and cleanliness in Elizabethan London and the way Italians like Romeo and Juliet tried to fight the pandemic known as Bubonic Plague. We will also explain how Shakespeare uses the plague as a metaphor for hatred and violence in the text of "Romeo and Juliet."
Learning Goals
The main objective of this class is Introduce the class to the culture and society of Shakespeare’s plays. The class is divided into different aspects of that culture and as we "visit" each location, the students will learn facts about that aspect of culture:
1. The Stage-
- How Elizabethan actors learned their parts, the theater they performed in, and the importance of costumes.
2. The Castle-
- Queen Elizabeth's reign from 1538-1603, including her parents, her struggles to keep the Protestant Reformation continuing, and her patronage of arts and poetry.
3. The Balcony-
-We will cover the plot of Romeo and Juliet and introduce the major characters
- We will cover the lives of Elizabethan teenagers from birth, education,
- I will contrast 17th century marriage practices to 21st century marriages including the status of women, the use of dowries, and marital alliances since "Romeo and Juliet"
4. The Street- We will cover the culture of dueling and the prevalence of violence in the play "Romeo and Juliet."
5. The Plague Doctor's Office- We will learn about sanitation and cleanliness in Elizabethan London, and the way Italians like Romeo and Juliet tried to fight the pandemic known as Bubonic Plague. We will also explain how Shakespeare uses the plague as a metaphor for hatred and violence in the text of "Romeo and Juliet."
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum5 Lessons
over 5 WeeksLesson 1:
Background on William Shakespeare and his Plays
Meet Mr. Shakespeare and hear about his life and work. Lesson 2:
The Globe Theater
Take a virtual field trip to Shakespeare's theater, The Globe Lesson 3:
The Elizabethan Era
Get the inside story on the politics, history, and daily life in Shakespeare's time. Lesson 4:
The Plague
Look at the shocking facts about how a deadly disease struck England at the same time Shakespeare was writing "Romeo and Juiet" Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
-Youtube
-Nearpod: https://nearpod.com/library/preview/lesson-L122994037
- Google Sites: https://sites.google.com/nebobcats.org/visit-to-elizabethan-london/home?authuser=0
Joined April, 2021
4.8
52reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Mary Baldwin College
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Ashland University
I specialize in Shakespeare and Astronomy, having worked in theater for over 10 years, and for two years as a professional astronomy assistant. I teach courses in Shakespeare Appreciation and Shakespearean acting, as well as basic astronomy for kids.
My strongest belief about teaching is that students need instruction that will stimulate their minds through multimedia and hands-on exercises. I believe that no subject is out of a student’s reach as long as the instructor presents it in a way that is sufficiently engaging. To this end, whenever I teach workshops or classes, I make use of my training in acting, videography, and dramaturgy in order to make whatever I teach come alive.
Summary of Experience:
- Currently working as a special education paraprofessional for the York School District
- Two years experience as Astronomy Assistant for Primland Resort (2012-2014)
-Two years experience teaching at college level Shakespeare courses
-Education Outreach director for two theatrical companies
-Proven effective Shakespeare workshops for elementary school, high school, and university-level students (2008- present)
-Master Of Fine Arts, in Shakespeare and Elizabethan Literature in Performance, Mary Baldwin College (2010)
Research/ Creative Accomplishments:
-Research paper peer-reviewed and accepted at Blackfriars academic conference (2013)
-Published articles on Blogging Shakespeare (2013- present)
-Honored at Kennedy Center for dramaturgy (2007)
Something fun about me: One summer I got to meet Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman and saw Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe onstage. I got Harry Potter bingo!Reviews
Self-Paced Class
$2
weekly5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 10 learners
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Ages: 13-18
