Classroom Visits – Intro to Shakespeare

Over the years, I have done many classroom visits.  It’s such a wonderful experience for me, the kids, and the teacher.  It’s a quick 45-55 minutes visit, that consists of the following:

  • 2-3 minutes about me and Shakespeare, quick and simple
  • 5-9 minute solo TOTALLY interactive one-man show retelling one play (i.e. Macbeth or Hamlet or check out some videos below!)
    • Typically, I pull kids out of the audience and have them say lines or get killed during the performance!
  • Then we have them do their “auditions” (mine are COMPLETELY different than typical auditions)
    • It starts with everyone lining up and doing their best “death” (remember, this is melodramatic Shakespeare and most kids LOVE to die on stage!)
    • Then, I have every give me their best scream! (they just saw a dead body, it’s only logical!)
    • Lastly, I have everyone line up and give me their best evil laugh or witches cackle.  I first start off with teaching them how to do a basic evil laugh (Muwahahaha!!! Using their entire body in the process)
  • Lastly, we do an Shakespeare Insult-a-thon and crown an insult champion!
    • A few days before, the class reviews and writes down various Shakespeare insults from the insult generator.
    • Have them practice on each other (or even their parents and siblings!)
    • Then we meet and start the Insult-a-thon.  Kids love it!
  • At that point, it’s a Q&A about whatever Shakespeare title they are reviewing, Shakespeare, or even book writing and publishing.

You can engage your class this way on a first day of Shakespeare, or , if you are interested in learning more about me coming in for a classroom visit, you can email me at brendan at PlayingWithPlays.com

One other note, the typical grades that I visit are 5th through 7th, they are typically the most engaging when it comes to all the hands-on activities that we do!

Have fun engaging kids with Shakespeare!!!

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About brendan kelso

Brendan is the main creative source and author behind Playing With Plays and the infamous Shakespeare for Kids series. You can typically find him inventing by day, playing with his family by night, and writing by very late night.

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