Composition & Essays

Lord of the Flies

Other Studies

Poetry

Shakespeare

To Kill A Mockingbird

Deborah Lisaingo

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Grade: 9

Duration of Unit: 19 days (almost 4 weeks)

Global Rationale:

The purpose of the unit is to expose students to the world of Shakespeare, in particularly, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. My hope is that students gain an appreciation for Shakespeare by enjoying the aesthetic experience, as well as finding the story’s themes relevant to their own lives. The unit also introduces the students to drama techniques and public speaking. In this way, they can identify the difference between a story and a play—a story is just a story, whereas a play must be brought to life by actors.

I tried my best to ensure that students have the opportunity to explore Shakespeare as a class, in small groups, as well as individually. I chose to do a portfolio in the hopes that it creates in them a sense of ownership and pride for their work. The plot charting is useful for students to sort out the myriad of events that occur throughout the play, as well as providing them with an invaluable tool for studying. The unit test at the end of the unit will test for comprehension and interpretation of the play.

Most importantly, I tried to include a variety of activities (e.g. written, oral, artistic, visual, and audio) to accommodate all types of learners. Many of the activities in the unit allow students to demonstrate their creative capabilities and connect personally with the play.