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Part of the Drama One Curriculum

Elizabethan Theatre

Created by Karen Loftus

Elizabethan Theatre

How do you introduce students to Shakespeare? This unit introduces the Bard through life in Elizabethan England and the playwrights, players, and playhouses. It also explores how to approach unfamiliar words and context clues in Shakespeare’s texts.

Unit Overview
The overview lays out the structure of the unit, including objectives, materials list, lesson structure and assessment and time management tools.
Additional Attachments
1: Playwrights & Players
This session introduces students to the Elizabethan Era, and its’ key playwrights and players.
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2: Strange Language
Students learn how to use context clues to approach the unfamiliar words they will find in Shakepeare’s language.
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3: Context Clues
Students review context clues and apply it to the Prologue from Romeo and Juliet.
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4: Playhouses
Students are introduced to three of the most important playhouses in the Elizabethan Era, as well as the areas of the Globe Theatre.
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5: Crime Scene Clues
Students apply their knowledge of context clues to find meaning in the Tomb Scene from Romeo and Juliet.
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6: Expanding the Unit
You can add an additional three or four lessons to this unit by adding another performance opportunity.

Standards Addressed

National Core Arts Standards

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Pr4.1.HSII.a - Discover how unique choices shape believable and sustainable drama/ theatre work.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 6

TH:Pr5.1.6.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.

Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade 6

TH:Cn11.1.6.a - Identify universal themes or common social issues and express them through a drama/theatre work.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 8

TH:Pr5.1.8.a - Use a variety of acting techniques to increase skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Cr2.1.HSII.b - Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.

Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade 7

TH:Cn11.2.7.b - Examine artifacts from a time period and geographic location to better understand performance and design choices in a drama/theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Advanced

TH:Cr3.1.HSIII.b - Synthesize ideas from research, script analysis, and context to create a performance that is believable, authentic, and relevant in a drama/theatre work.

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