King Lear: Shakespeare Book Club
In this 5-week book club, students will read and discuss Shakespeare's tragedy, King Lear
Janelle Fila
Average rating:
4.6
Number of reviews:(903)
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What's included
5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
2-4 hours per week. Students will read one act per lesson on their own time in. Each act contains 3-7 scenes. Each lesson, students will have access to 3-7 new videos and a corresponding worksheet with vocabulary definitions, discussion questions and places for fill-in-the blank answers. Each lesson, I assign a short writing assignment focused around that week's discussion questions and ask the students to share their responses in the classroom. There is an optional Kahoot! trivia quiz and supplemental activities to test their comprehension from the weekly chapters.Assessment
The more questions, comments, and posts that students share in the classroom, the more I can understand their knowledge and comprehension of the topics we are discussing. I always respond to written items, but I only grade assignments if requested/required.Grading
Please let me know if you would like a grade for this course.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
King Lear is Shakespeare's tragedy about a father's descent into madness as he tries to determine which of his three daughters loves him the most (or not at all). Shakespeare's plays are required reading for a lot of high school students. This is the perfect story for group discussion and analysis because Shakespeare's language and word choices can be hard to appreciate and understand when reading alone. Students will read one act per lesson on their own time. Each act contains 3-6 scenes. A separate video will discuss each scene the student reads. I will also post a summary of each scene and a worksheet with vocabulary definitions to important words and phrases within the scene. I use the worksheets to address/remind the students of some of the important topics from each scene. The worksheets may also have space for short discussion questions and fill-in-the blank answers. For each Act students will have access to: 3-7 videos, scene summaries, vocabulary and supplemental worksheets 1 one-two page weekly writing assignment to gauge the reader's understanding of their previous reading as needed: supplemental interactive activities, graphic organizers, jokes, riddles, etc. 1 optional Kahoot trivia game (Kahoot is a free, online trivia game that does not require an account or any extra log in steps)
Learning Goals
Week One: Act 1 (Scenes 1-5)
Week Two: Act 2 (Scenes 1-4)
Week Three: Act 3 (Scenes 1-7)
Week Four: Act 4 (Scenes 1-7)
Week Five: Act 5 (Scenes 1-3)
Syllabus
5 Lessons
over 5 WeeksLesson 1:
Act 1
Video lessons, worksheets, supplemental activity, writing assignment, and optional Kahoot! review quiz Lesson 2:
Act 2
Video lessons, worksheets, supplemental activities, writing assignment, and optional Kahoot! review quiz Lesson 3:
Act 3
Video lessons, worksheets, writing assignment, and optional Kahoot! review quiz Lesson 4:
Act 4
Video lessons, worksheets, writing assignment, and optional Kahoot! review quiz Other Details
Parental Guidance
From commonsensemedia.org: Parents need to know that King Lear is one of Shakespeare's greatest and toughest plays. There are some violent incidents mentioned, including torture and murder. One of the antagonists, Edmund, is an illegitimate child and seeks revenge against his legitimate brother and father. He is often referred to as the "bastard." Beyond that, there is little objectionable material for younger readers, though the subject matter can feel very heavy at times. King Lear would be an excellent introduction to Shakespeare or Lear for those who might feel alienated by his dense language and complex plotting.
Supply List
The students will need their own copy of King Lear to read on their own. It can be borrowed from the library or even listened to as an audio book. The students will not need a physical copy of the story in class, although they may find it helpful to have when completing the writing assignments. I use a well-annotated edition that explains difficult words and constructions in class, but students may want an annotated edition for their own reading as well.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined June, 2019
4.6
903reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Spalding University
I have a Master's degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults. I was a substitute teacher for three years before teaching full-time on Outschool for multiple years. Currently, I teach English Composition at a local nursing college. I have been blessed to discuss Shakespeare in the classroom multiple times, including my own high school reading experience! My high school English teacher was obsessed with Shakespeare and taught me the importance of understanding these often tragic plays. I learned a lot from her enthusiasm and hope to pass that passion on to my own students. I learn something new every time I am exposed to Shakespeare's stories. His plays to discuss because there is so much language and subtext to analyze. I am excited to read it alongside your student to see what emotions and feelings Shakespeare's writings stir up for them.Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$14
weekly or $70 for all content5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 1 learner
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Ages: 14-18
