Lesson+Plans

**Romeo and Juliet**
[|Performance Abridged] - One of the most effective ways to teach Shakespeare is through the medium it was intended - performance. However, performing an entire play can be quite daunting for many students. This site provides one with an abridged version of Romeo and Juliet. [|Romeo & Juliet License Plates] - This lesson plan is a creative way to end a unit on //Romeo and Juliet.// It allows students to take popular quotes or characteristics of major characters from the play and turn them into license plates. [|The Perfect Mate] - This lesson plan is a great way to involve parents! The lesson plan requires students to think of what characteristic they would want in their perfect mate as well as what characteristics they think their parents would want in their mate. The parents then list characteristics that they would want their child's future husband or wife to possess as well as list characteristics that they think their children look for in mates.

**Maus**
[|Resources & Timeline] - This is a great site for educators to use and implement during a //Maus// unit. It includes a timeline for the novel, which is extremely helpful, as well as study questions. [|Strategies & Worksheets] - This link provides one with a plethora of resources for educators who are planning a //Maus// unit. Not only does it include a myriad of lesson ideas and corresponding worksheets, but it also provides English teachers with a variety of strategies and explains how to implement them in the unit.

**Beowulf**
[|Sensory Imagery & Descriptive Writing]- Ms. Novak, a middle school educator, introduces //Beowulf// to her students in a very unique and engaging way. When she explains tasks to students, she includes the purpose and how it relates directly to the Common Core standards - something most teachers wouldn't think of discussing with their students, as if it's some big education secret. Ms. Novak further outlines how te activities and objectives presented in this short clip will continue to develop throughout the unit. This is a great introductory lesson such a difficult text! [|Overview] - This interactive overview of //Beowulf// covers basic information about the epic. It includes information about the plot, manuscript, and significance - making it a great resource for an interdiction. [|The Language of Beowulf] - This document reviews the different era's of the English language. Since //Beowulf// is written in Old English, it's original text can be difficult for students to understand. Some teachers find teaching //Beowulf// with an updated version appealing so the language doesn't hinder student's comprehension; however, the differences between Modern English and Old English is an essential part of the poem's curriculum.