Shakespeare

I have not run into a guide like SCM offers, but you can put together your own fairly easily using the same 3 steps SCM suggests.

Start with a simplified reading of the story. Gutenberg has Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet is included. Read through that for step 1.

Pick up a Dover Thrift copy of the script and use the Arkangel audio to go along with it. Divide the play into manageable portions as your schedule allows for this subject. My family does 20 minute lessons in Shakespeare each week, so I have them listen to no more than 10 minutes at a time. This equates to 1 or 2 scenes from an act.

After you have scheduled it so it works with your timeframe, begin each lesson by asking the children what they remember from last time. Next, read a short scene summary of the portion you will be listening to that day. I quickly look this up online at the beginning of a lesson. There are many websites that offer scene summaries for the Shakespeare plays. For instance, if you are listening to Act 1 Scene 1 and 2, type in a search for a ‘scene summary of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet act 1 scene 1 and 2’. Choose the option you like best and read it to the children so they get an understanding of what is to come in this lesson. Listen to the play, following along with the script, and ask for a narration at the end. Repeat this each week until the play is done. That is step 2.

Go watch the play. That completes step 3.

Sorry if this sounds complicated. Once you begin to implement it, it is fairly quick to put together. I have used it with many plays over the years because I have not run into guides for most of the plays I have done with my children.

The Shakespeare plays published by Folger have the text on the right page and explanatory notes on the left. Very helpful! 🙂