Shakespeare is for everybody—and that includes elementary school students! Many performance-based teaching strategies work very successfully with younger students, getting them up on their feet and interacting with the text cognitively, physically, and vocally.
For ideas to use in your classroom, check out our lesson plans for elementary-age students, videos, and an NPR feature on second grade students reading Macbeth.
Lesson Plans for Elementary School Students:
General
Shakespeare Storyboard: Pre-Reading the Play
A Boxful of Character
"My ___ are Nothing Like ___"
Stomping and Romping with Shakespeare
Shakespeare Sound Out: Building the Atmosphere
Macbeth
When Shall We Three Meet Again?
Shakespeare Sound Out: Building the Atmosphere
Merchant of Venice
A Casket, A Casket
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Fairy Fair, Truth or Dare
Six Characters In Search of a Play
Six Characters In Search of a Play: Part 2
Shakespeare Sound Out: Building the Atmosphere
Romeo and Juliet
Starr-Crossed Scramble
Plotting the Prologue
Twelfth Night
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Videos
"Occupation Romeo" introduces students to character and delivery. This lively, short exercise is a great way to begin a play or Shakespeare unit! Teachers describe "Living Iambic Pentameter" as "great" for the classroom and a fun, effective introduction to the rhythm of Shakespeare's language.
For DC Schools
Shakespeare Steps Out, a local outreach program of Folger Education for DC schools, brings teaching artists to your classroom for an introduction to Shakespeare's language and student performance.
