Lesson Plan
Lesson: Shakespearean Insults
Possible Adaptations:
- May be used for learning Old English Kennings (students create a kenning to describe themselves or another student)
- Could be used for practicing any literary device
- Activity may be performed alone or in groups
- Activity may also be used to teach the grammar skill of using commas with coordinate adjectives
- Invite the principal or assistant principal to participate.
To introduce Shakespearean drama to students in a creative and fun way, while also having them practice a grammatical skill or demonstrate ability to utilize literary devices.
Materials Needed:
- Shakespearean Insult list (see attached list)
- Sentence strips (or strips of posterboard)
- Markers
- Method for posting a "Wall of Shame"
- Dictionaries for defining unknown words
1. Review with students the grammatical skill of using commas with coordinate adjectives.
2. After introducing Shakespearean drama through discussion and class notes, provide students with a handout of Shakespearean insult words.
3. Have students create an insult by combining three words from the list (2 adjectives and 1 noun). Students should know the meaning of all words they use.
4. Students should then write their insult on a sentence strip.
5. The teacher begins by insulting a student who then turns and insults the person behind him or her. Continue on around the classroom until everyone has been insulted and has insulted someone else. (The last person gets to insult the teacher.)
6. Post the sentence strips on the wall or bulletin board to create a "Wall of Shame."