Shakespeare Project

In groups of four, undertake a research project on Shakespeare covering the
following areas:

1. Who he was, date and place of birth, what he did, where he lived, his 
   background, his family, and any interesting gossip on him, etc, etc! (20)
2. His plays: how many did he write, provide a definition of the 3 different 
   types of plays that he wrote with an example (and very brief plot summary) 
   of each. (20)
3. The Globe - what it was (is), when it was built, interesting facts about it, 
   drama in Shakespeare's days, audience, ticket prices, etc.  (20)
4. His sonnets.  What is a Shakespearean sonnet?  How many did he write? 
   Illustrate the group's favourite.  (10)
5. Make a list of cool websites on Shakespeare.  This must include: the site's 
   title, a picture / logo and a brief summary of what the site offers. (10)

Post-research Tasks
1. Illustrate Shakespeare's life and times in a timeline. (20)
2. Write Shakespeare's curriculum vitae. (20)
3. Act out the story of one of his plays in five minutes.  You can use props, 
   musical instruments, torches and basic, symbolic costumes but don't go 
   OTT! (No dialogue) (20)
4. Produce a replica of The Globe.  Once the design is completed, you will 
   become tour guides to the rest of your class members, providing information 
   and answering any questions that they have - each group member being 
   responsible for a certain area of info on it. (30)
5. Design a word search entitled 'Shakespeare'.  (10) (Min.20 words, max. 30)
6. Write a front-page newspaper story (local, tabloid or broadsheet) on any 
   event within Shakespeare's life. (Individual) (5 / 20)

The Rules
1. Where applicable, each individual research area must be presented on A4 
   or A3 paper. (Think about layout; headings, sub-headings, font style 
   and use of colour) 
2. You must present your work neatly.
3. Illustrate your research pages using pictures, drawings and 
   pretty borders.
4. You may handwrite and / or word-process your work.
5. Work as a team!

Important
One of the main reasons that you are undertaking this project is to prove 
that you can do research.  However, how you handle, deal with and present 
your researched information is more important.  You will need to show that 
you can:
* sift through the masses of information that you will find on Shakespeare and 
  select the relevant, basic, interesting stuff;
* put this information into your own words.  (You will not be awarded marks for 
  copying out huge chunks of text from an encyclopaedia!)

Marks
Groups will be awarded marks out of 200.  Each area, unless specified, is 
worth 20 marks.  The individual newspaper stories will be marked out of 5, 
giving a group total out of 20.

***************************************************

Teacher's Notes 

I intend to use this project with my Year 8 (Ages 12/13) before they begin 
reading Twelfth Night next term.  The project is intended to assess their 
information handling skills - and not just via the written word.

The project assumes that students will already have covered certain areas.  
For example, my lot have already done newspaper articles, cvs, role-play, 
formal speaking / listening, etc, etc.  (That said, I'll certainly have to 
remind them to look back on their work as we approach each new task.) 
Alternatively, you could integrate these areas into your Scheme of Work and 
teach them side-by-side. 

Certain tasks assume that the class will have access to the Internet and, 
for the Globe design, that you get on well with your Technology Department! 

The only other thing that is probably worth doing (and it is something that 
I haven't done with mine yet) is teaching the art of prÚcis!  Any hints and 
tips, please feel free to send them my way!

I'm really looking forward to it.  If you use it, let me know how your students 
get on.  If you have any other ideas, suggest them; they will be gratefully 
and graciously received. :)