Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Shakey's Place is a fascinating 3-D Shakespeare and Globe Theater research and collaboration site to help you and your students interpret the literary works of William Shakespeare. Readers of Shakespeare work hard, so now have some much-deserved fun for a change. Start with the biography and then move on to the summary, photographs, link to the full text, and further information about each of his plays and sonnets. Special features include notes, study questions, quizzes, lists of Internet resources for students and teachers, and even a list of Shakespeare festivals throughout the country, just in case you are looking for a great field trip. You will find many impressive ideas and discover some new applications for what you already know by visiting Shakey's Place. Some of the activities are original and some are links from other sites. Note that this Thinkquest entry is created by high school students and has won many awards!

tag(s): area (24), plays (18), quiz (61), quizzes (47), shakespeare (133), sonnets (6)

While the introduction is missing on this webquest, all the other parts are there and it is enough for students to create the PowerPoint project. There is a simple task, with web sources given, and students have a wide range of persons to choose from. Web sources provided are neither extensive or imaginative. You will want to allow students to add others or provide other web sites yourself. Students working in pairs or small groups will decide what does or does not make an effective leader and will support their choices for defense against the class. Some of the links require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): shakespeare (133)

If your curriculum calls for study of other cultures and times or even archaeology, this site makes Roman culture understandable to upper elementary and beginning middle school students. This website, created by the BBC, introduces students to the Romans, the Forum, Caesar, and more. Links and activities include City of Rome and the Roman Empire, Invasion, Rebellion, Religion, The Roman Army, and several others. There are printable pages, online activities, lesson ideas, a glossary, a link for teachers, and an illustrated timeline. Although most of this website isn't interactive, the information and printable pages are very useful in the quest to learn about the Romans.

tag(s): forum (16), romans (14)

From the UK, this site offers valuable teacher resources and ideas for teaching some classic literature. Penguin and Signet Classics Teaching Guides comprise a variety of activities and discussion questions to stimulate your students' reactions and responses to the classic literature they are studying. Some of the approaches offered are different than past book company offers, so this is really worth a look. All of the guides feature before-during-after reading ideas and vocabulary lists that mesh well with current research on effective reading strategies. The list of books/lessons available includes: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Persuasion by Jane Austen
A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Odyssey by Homer
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
King Lear by William Shakespeare
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Othello by William Shakespeare
Richard III by William Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

tag(s): literature (178), shakespeare (133)

A simple Julius Caesar site that offers some discussion and activity suggestions for teaching Shakespeare's play of politics and honor (or lack thereof!).One of the nicest things about this site is the extension into the real world connections that will make this play come alive and be meaningful for students.

tag(s): julius caesar (5), shakespeare (133)

Literature summaries and resources created by enterprising Harvard alumni.

tag(s): julius caesar (5), shakespeare (133)

Study questions from Penguin Putnam Publishing

tag(s): julius caesar (5), shakespeare (133)

Full text - from M.I.T.'s Shakespeare archive.

tag(s): julius caesar (5), shakespeare (133)