Critical Shakespeare Unit
Week One
Monday
Essential Why does Shakespeare
Question remain an influential
voice in the 21st century
Language Arts
classroom?
Learning Target I can read and analyze
texts to gain a better
understanding of whose
voices are included in the
cannon. This means I can
share textual evidence in
groups.
Tuesday
Why does Shakespeare
remain an influential
voice in the 21st century
Language Arts
classroom?
I can explain in my own
words what critical
literacy is and how it
functions.
Wednesday
Why does Shakespeare
remain an influential
voice in the 21st century
Language Arts classroom?
I can explain in my own
words what post-colonial
theory is and apply it to a
short story.
Thursday Friday
Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare
remain an influential remain an influential
voice in the 21st voice in the 21st century
century Language Arts Language Arts
classroom? classroom?
I can conduct my own I can compare and
research on contrast performances of
Shakespeare and his life a scene in The Tempest
to build background with my classmates in
knowledge for this unit. order to better
understand how the
scene might be
interpreted. This means I
can participate in a
whole class conversation
about the different
representations of this
scene.
 Activities -All hands on deck -KWL chart on critical
activity about the canon literacy
-Reading about the canon -Mini-lesson on critical
-Small group discussion literacy
on canon -Introduction and brief
overview of critical
lenses for reading
-Frame of reference -Small group scavenger -Readers Theater
activity on post-colonial hunt on Shakespeare reading and staging of
theory and class share out act one scene one and
-Mini-lesson on post - two
colonial theory -Character mapping
-Workshop time-- activity
readings on post-colonial
theory, practice applying
to short story

Success Criteria Exit ticket- in your own KWL Chart Annotations and Journal entry with Beginning of character
words define what the application of theory to jigsawed notes map in writer’s
canon is. short story notebooks

Week Two

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Essential Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare
Question remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential
voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st voice in the 21st century
Language Arts Language Arts Language Arts classroom? century Language Arts Language Arts
classroom? classroom? classroom? classroom?
Learning Target I can read and analyze I can read and analyze I can research and analyze
the text to make texts to understand what examples of resisting the
decisions on how to a feminist critical lens is canon through
perform a scene with my and how to use it when collaboration with my
classmates. reading. peers and the use of online
resources in order to
actively participate in a
whole-class discussion
about why resisting
canonical texts can be
useful.
I can compare and I can conduct research in
contrast two order to find examples
performances of The of Shakespeare in pop
Tempest and apply my culture and analyze why
knowledge of critical Shakespeare remains an
lenses in order to better influential part of
understand how a scene American culture.
might be interpreted
and why a director
might make these
choices.

Activities - Journal entry on why -Mini-lesson on feminist - Journal entry: what does -Watch clips of -Scavenger hunt for
critical literacy is lens challenging the canon performance from RSC examples of
important -Workshop time: (short look like -Watch clips of Shakespeare in pop
-Readers theater readings on feminist -Class scavenger hunt for performance from culture
-Continue adding to theory) challenges to the canon Globe -Class share out
character map (and share out) -Answering questions -Think/Pair/Share about
-Class conversation - Class conversation of on a google doc as we why Shakespeare
why it might be important watch to continues to show up
to disrupt the canon compare/contrast and
- Listen to recording of apply lenses
play

Success Criteria Exit Ticket check in Tool created in journals Journal entry on the Responses to questions Journal check from
on feminist theory canon, should it be scavenger hunt
disrupted? Why (not)?

Week Three

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Essential Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare NO SCHOOL
Question remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential
 voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st
Language Arts Language Arts Language Arts classroom? century Language Arts
classroom? classroom? classroom?

Learning Target I can brainstorm both on
my own and
collaboratively, ideas for
my final project.
I can use online tools to I can apply my knowledge
conduct research on of critical literacy to The
where the canon has Tempest in order to better
been challenged by understand the role of
people who hold time and place in this
identities outside of play. This means that I
power. This means that I can participate in a class
can share my findings in discussion, sharing my
a whole class discussion. own interpretation of the
text utilizing one of our
critical literacy lenses.
I can apply my
knowledge of post-
colonial theory and
critical literacy to a text
in order to better
understand how post-
colonial theory shows
up in The Tempest

Activities -Mini-lesson introduction -Individual research-- -Three column chart -Workshop time reading
to final project who can find examples (What I knew, What I Shakespeare and
-Journal entry brain of people traditionally know now, What I still Caliban essay
dump of ideas outside of the canon don’t know) -Class share
-Small group round using works of the canon -Discussion of time and out/discussion of essay
tables brainstorming and -Class discussion/share place-- opportunity to -Readers Theater
developing ideas out (anchor chart) apply post-colonial and/or
-Journal entry on power feminist theory
- Readers Theater

Success Criteria Exit ticket with what Check journal entry Discussion check Annotations on essay
they think their project
will be on

Week Four
 Monday
Essential Why does Shakespeare
Question remain an influential
voice in the 21st century
Language Arts
classroom?
Learning Target I can apply my
knowledge and learning
from this unit to a whole-
class discussion about
Shakespeare and whether
he should continue being
taught.
Activities -Socratic Seminar about
the canon-- should
Shakespeare continue to
be taught? Why (not)?
Success Criteria Speaking points notes
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare Why does Shakespeare
remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential remain an influential
voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st century voice in the 21st voice in the 21st century
Language Arts Language Arts classroom? century Language Arts Language Arts
classroom? classroom? classroom?
I can participate in a I can collaborate with my I can collaborate with I can listen to my peers
class discussion about peers in order to improve my peers in order to share about their
the text in order to begin and revise our essays. improve and revise our projects in order to gain
forming my thoughts for This means that I can have essays. This means that a better understanding of
my final project. a conversation with my I can provide one piece the perspectives around
peers in order to provide of advice for me.
feedback to them on their improvement and one
projects. thing that my partner
did well on their draft.
-Readers Theater -Workshop -Workshop -Sharing of final
-Watching clips of projects
closing scene
-Class discussion on
thoughts about the play,
etc.
Journal entry Check in on discussions Exit slip with one thing Exit slip with one point
summarizing final /comments on peers they are going to do in a classmate presented
thoughts project order to improve their that you really liked,
project changed your thinking