I chose
the lesson plan “All’s Well that Sells Well: A Creative Introduction to
Shakespeare” because I found the idea of connecting Elizabethan theater to
modern movies via commercials to be alluring. The activity prompts students to
make connections between Shakespeare’s time and the modern day, which incite
students to better understand the audience that Shakespeare’s plays were
originally intended for. Given that Shakespeare is a classic staple of any high
school English course (and one that students often struggle with), this seemed
like a great topic for a lesson plan.
The
primary objective of the assignment is for students to: compare and contrast
The Globe Theater with a modern movie theater based on research and their own
experiences, and create an advertisement of a modern product targeted to an
Elizabethan audience at The Globe Theater. Many standards are listed as
relevant to this lesson, but some of the standards are only weakly linked. For
example, standard 9-10RI 1 (Citing textual evidence to support analysis) may be
involved in students analyzing the similarities and differences of The Globe
and modern theater, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the project handouts.
The teaching strategies were largely student-centered, relying on graphic organizers
and outlines for students to fill out rather than direct instruction from the
teacher. Perhaps with a bit more instruction from the teacher, the connections
between the standards and the lesson objectives would become clearer and
students would have a better idea of what is expected of them.
Technology is initially
incorporated through the use of a virtual tour of the Globe Theater, which is
essential to the assignment by allowing students to visualize the Theater for
their comparison. While the original assignment called for students to act out
a commercial, I included the option of utilizing technology (either Powerpoint
or a video-editing software) to produce a commercial. These technologies allow
students a better medium to display the knowledge they have gained from their
research via writing skills while providing them with an opportunity to
practice presentation or video-making skills that can serve them well beyond
life in a classroom.
I had to add in teacher modeling because my lesson plan also just had the teacher giving students handouts to fill and website tools to use. The commercial idea is intriguing because it allows students to demonstrate knowledge creatively. It is also a way to engage students that have trouble writing to demonstrate their understanding. Virtual tours are being used in more classrooms and it is a better alternative to simply showing a picture.
ReplyDeleteCathleen, I agree with your comment on my blog that classroom settings should contain a student – teacher balance. As future educators, we need to remember that students aren’t the only ones learning in the classroom. However, with that being said we also need to keep in mind that they also need clear instructions and guidance in order to excel in and outside the classroom. Your lesson plan is definitely a creative one. While mine strived to make a similar connection with regard to language (comparing Old English and Modern English), I think yours does a better job at engaging the students’ interest. By making a commercial catered to an Elizabethan audience, the students are able to make stronger connections and understand the lesson better.
ReplyDeleteCathleen, I think that the lesson that you chose to use is an excellent one. The fact that it gives students the opportunity to get a better incite of how the Globe Theater used to function and then compare it to how today’s theaters work is really fascinating. The use of the virtual tour of the Globe is a great tool, which is a unique way that helps students to not only get a better picture of what they’re working with, but also see the vast differences.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that you mention is the balance between teacher and student centered strategies in the classroom. I also encountered this same problem. It is extremely important for there to be that balance because otherwise the lesson would fall too heavily on one side, leaving too much room for failure.