ABSTRACT

This text is meant for gifted program, talent development, or enrichment program teachers in upper elementary and middle school settings who are anywhere in the range of novice to expert on the subject of Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream are the anchor texts for this standards-based curriculum that can be used in its entirety. Or, because each chapter is an individual standards-based module, certain modules can easily be selected to design a Shakespeare unit that meets individual program needs. Chapter 6 explains how learning goals related to point of view can be addressed within the context of exploring Shakespeare. This module of the unit requires students to investigate characters’ motivations and points of view by taking on the persona of one of the studied characters, engaging in a debate, and adapting their Shakespearean anchor text to develop their own production of one of the Bard's classics. The chapter features standards-based assessments, student centered and collaborative learning activities, possibilities for technology integration, teaching examples from the original Shakespearean texts, as well as teaching advice delivered in a humorous, warm, and supportive tone.