Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet

Presented by: Cynthia Durbin

Subject Area(s):

Grade Level(s):

Description:

Brief Description: School Library Media Specialist (SLMS) and classroom teacher will work collaboratively on this unit. This unit is meant to introduce students to the literature of Shakespeare and the time period from which he wrote. Information literacy skills to be promoted will be Web evaluation of online sources, research skills, and review of citation skills. This unit will take place over a period of 20 days, 5 sessions of which will be with the SMLS. The 6th session will be the students' presentations with the classroom teacher present. The remaining teaching time will be spent with the classroom teacher during designated class period times.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

*      Students will conduct research, identify and organize important information.

*      Students will write an informational essay complete with bibliographic citations and give an oral presentation.

*      Students will design research questions and conduct advance searches.

*      Student will measure the adequacy and appropriateness of various online sources.

*      Students will deliver oral presentations in small groups.

Learning Objectives:

*      Students will evaluate print and online resources to gather their research, identify relevant information and organize in notebook.

*      Student will write a 5 page essay based on research material they have identified through research, relating to chosen topic, including a works cited page.

*      Students will develop 3 questions on topic and find answers from online/print resources.

*      Students will review with SLMS web evaluation information and use handout to evaluate 3 Web sources they find relating to topic.

*      Students will deliver an oral presentation using one form of media, of groups choosing, demonstrating a thorough understanding of topic.

Motivational Goals:

*      Generate interest in research

*      Generate interest in classical literature

*      Build confidence in students’ ability to find reliable websites.

*      Build confidence in students’ ability to effectively evaluate web resources.

*      Promote satisfaction in students’ research accomplishments.

*      Promote satisfaction in student’s ability to speak publicly.

Materials:

Materials:

Romeo and Juliet

Notebooks

Computers in library

Web evaluation handout

Chart paper

Research rubric

Procedures:

Introduction: Classroom teacher will have already begun reading Romeo and Juliet with the students and giving a brief introduction of Shakespeare.  Begin lesson by activating prior knowledge.  Ask students what they have learned so far about Shakespeare or Romeo and Juliet?  Write responses on chart so students can refer back to it.  Talk about the time period and what other things might have been going on then and how people lived.  This will get students thinking about different topics they will want to do their research in.  Suggest topics such as, Shakespeare himself, Globe theater, Elizabethan drama, major historical events, lifestyles of people, occupations, etc.  Rubric will be handed out to students that will guide them in their research project.

 

Session 1: SLMS will explain to students that based on the topic they have chosen, they will begin their research with keyword searches to locate online sources of information pertaining to their topic.  In notebooks, students will make a list of Websites for consideration of research and Web evaluation.  As a refresher, in doing research SLMS will have students go to the following link and go over the points with them and then circulate and answer questions as needed.  http://www.crlsresearchguide.org

Classroom teacher will put students into small groups for presentation at end of lesson based on topics chosen for research. 

 

Body:

Session 2: In this session students will be given a Web evaluation handout checklist to use as a guideline on gathering information related to topic and determine if the site is relevant. Students will write their findings on Web sites in their notebooks based on the information in the checklist.  SLMS will direct students to the following links as review of Web evaluation that students can refer back to as they go through the lesson and for future use in other research projects. 

            http://www.virtualchase.com/quality/checklist.html

            http://www.southhampton.liunet.edu/library/evaluate.html 

 

Session 3: SMLS will introduce a guest speaker for the class.  The guest speaker will be someone who is an Elizabethan re-enactor playing the part of an out of work actor or (possibly an actor who can play the part).

The guest speaker will talk about life during Shakespeare’s time and what it was like to live then.  He will discuss what it is like to be an actor, how he lives, what types of food he eats, and how and where he lives when not working as an actor.  At the end of the presentation, student’s will have a more vivid idea of what life was like in this time period with the goal of stimulating/motivating them in their research efforts.  Students will be allowed to ask questions.

 

Session 4: SMLS will discuss the previous session with the guest speaker and find out what the students enjoyed the most about the visit.  After brief discussion, SMLS will review with students the proper format for building their works cited paper and reasons why citing is important when doing a research.  SMLS will also cover plagiarism and what it means. Use this Website as a good link to refer to.  http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/mla.html

Students will be allowed to continue the research process as time allows.

 

Session 5: Student groups will begin collaborating on oral presentations that will be presented at the end of lesson.  SMLS will provide assistance to any group who needs help gathering images or information to use in presentation.

 

Conclusion: SMLS and classroom teacher will gather students in library for oral presentations by small groups.  Presentations will take place over 2 class periods.  After presentations questions will be allowed by fellow students. 

Assessment:

Learning Assessment Method(s):

- Research rubric.

- Grading of 5 page paper and works cited page.

- Development of 3 written question including answers found through research.

- Completion of Web evaluation handouts.

- Thoroughness of topic in oral presentations within small groups and inclusion of one for of media, i.e. Power Point, collage, demonstration etc.

Supporting Files:

Standards: