Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema; Diane Stanley, ill. New York: HarperCollins, 1998. ISBN: 978-0688162948

 

The life of William Shakespeare is recounted in this informative and entertaining blend of historical facts and scholarly speculation. 

 

Media: gouache, watercolor

 

Rating: 4Q/2P

 

Literary device utilized: rhyme

 

Example:

 

“Good frend for Jesus sake forbeare,

To dig the dust encloased heare:

Blese be the man who spares thes stones,

And curst be he who moves my bones.”

 

Curricular connection: English/literature, middle school level

 

submitted July 2009 by Josh Mitchell  

 

 

 

 

Bard of Avon: The story of William Shakespeare, by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema. New York: Morrow, 1992.

ISBN: 978-0688162948

Annotation: Highly informative, with many details of Elizabethan society and the life of Shakespeare, but accessible even for reluctant readers thanks to the clear, straight-forward writing.

Illustrations: gouache on watercolor paper

Curricular Use: 7^th-10^th grade; History, English, Biography

5Q/4P

 

Lesson Plan Title: The Truth will out: Words and phrases coined by William Shakespeare

Subject: English Language Arts

Concept / Topic To Teach: Shakespeare's contributions to the English language; how language evolves over time. This complies with California’s English-Language Arts Content Standards for grade 10, which call for students at this level to develop their knowledge and understanding of word origins and derivations.

California State Content Standards Addressed: Grade 10 Reading Section 1.0, Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary

General Goal(s):

1. Learn biographical information about Shakespeare.

2. Discuss concepts regarding the way English changes over time.

3. Learn some words and phrases created by Shakespeare.

Specific Objectives:

1. Read Bard of Avon: The story of William Shakespeare,, by Diane Stanley and Peter Venemma, ill. (New York: Morrow, 1992).

2. Conduct Internet research

3. Participate in class discussion and discussion with partner

Required Materials:

-copies of Bard of Avon for all students

-Internet access for individual students to conduct independent research 

Step-By-Step Procedures:

A.    Introduction-

Read aloud from book several selections on Shakespeare's life and times (students will read the rest independently for homework)

B. Development-

1. Write out on the board some of the phrases/words created by Shakespeare to be discussed.

2. Read the paragraph from the end notes of "Bard of Avon" on the differences in pronunciation in England during the Middle Ages in areas just fifty miles apart.

3. Show the areas being discussed on a map of England to assist students in visualizing the setting and distances.

C. Practice-

1. Class discussion of examples of modern changes in language (text-speak, phrases that evolve, words from other languages that are incorporated as population demographics shift, new words that enter the dictionary and where they come from, etc)

2. Using some of the Shakespearean words in sentences suggested by students

Independent Practice:

1. In class, pair up with partner to share some ideas about how language might continue to change in the future. The results of the discussions will be shared with the class in next class meeting.

2. Finish Bard of Avon at home as independent reading

3. Use the Internet to find 5-10 more words/phrases that are in common usage that originated with Shakespeare (teacher may decide to allow other famous writers to be used also, to allow students more freedom). These will be shared with the class next time. 

Closure/Follow-up:

1. In next class meeting, students will present the results of their Internet research to the class, sharing some words and phrases they found which stemmed from Shakespeare

2. Student pairs will present the thoughts they came up with for ways in which English might continue to change in the future and the things which might effect these changes.

Extension For Gifted Students:

-Write a one- or two- page paper using some words and phrases of your own invention and explain how these might have come about.

-Read one of these related books and write a page or two giving your response to it:

Coined by Shakespeare: Words and meanings first used by the bard, by Jeffrey McQuain & Stanley Malless. (Merriam-Webster, 1998)

Shakespeare's Insults: Educating your wit, by Wayne F. Hill and Cynthia J. Ottchen. (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1995)

 

DM 6/27/09

 

 

 

Stanley, D. & Vennema, P. (1992). The bard of Avon: The story of William Shakespeare. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

 

5.18.08 cjm