Unit Plan Gifted Romeo and Juliet Pekatos
Unit Plan Gifted Romeo and Juliet Pekatos
Unit Plan Gifted Romeo and Juliet Pekatos
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Christine Pekatos
Unit Plan
Honors Literature and Composition
9th grade gifted students
Students explore drama conventions while reading William Shakespeares classic The
Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Students will also learn the historical context of Elizabethan
England and Shakespeares life. They will then examine why and how the playwright
became a foundation of the literary canon.
5 weeks of 50 minute class periods
Essential Question(s)
How did Elizabethan England allow Shakespeare to become so influential?
How did Shakespeares depiction of love change over time?
What role does class play in Romeo and Juliet?
How does a change in context change the audiences experience?
How does Shakespeares dialogue characterize the relationship between Romeo and Juliet?
What resources can we use to help us fully understand Shakespeares work?
What effects do directorial decisions have on the story of Romeo and Juliet?
How can parallelism be used beyond syntax?
Who is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
What is true love, how is it related to passion, and is one more noble than the other?
Evidence of Learning
What Students Should Know
What Students Should Be Able To Do
Dramatic Conventions
Read Shakespeares play in Early Modern
English and understand
How Shakespeare became such an influential
part of the Western canon
Chart the plot of Romeo and Juliet
The resources available to help read
Identify dramatic conventions in a play
Shakespeares plays
Read and Act Romeo and Juliet with
purposeful intonation and movement
The purpose behind Shakespeares love
imagery
Debate using academic language and behavior
without the instructors help
The role that class plays in Romeo and Juliet
and Elizabethan England
Rewrite and perform a scene from Romeo and
Juliet in a new context
How context changes the audiences
experience of a plot and characters
Compare and contrast multiple adaptations of
the same narrative
Suggested Vocabulary
Tragedy
Soliloquy
Oxymoron
Round v. Flat
Comedy
Aside
Colloquial Language
Dynamic v. Static
Monologue
Dialogue
Archetype
Iambic Pentameter
Idiom
Pun
Renaissance
Foil
Stage Directions
Paradox
Sonnet
Footnotes
Assessments:
Diagnostic
Formative
Standardized:
Sonnet Comparison Organizer
Ticket Out the Door
KWL
Square-Circle-Triangle Organizer
Drama Vocabulary Quiz
Act I and II Quiz
Act V Presentations
Performance:
Sonnet Tic-Tac-Toe Assignment
Prologue: Close Reading and Poetry Analysis
Film & Language Organizer (Scenes I.v and II.ii)
IV.iii Soliloquy Analysis
Summative
Standardized:
Romeo and Juliet Multiple Choice Test
Performance:
Shakespeare Retwisted GRAPE
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3. Conclusion: Students receive graded scene summaries with feedback. Then they
independently create scene summaries for the two new scenes, avoiding any
previous errors.
Graded scene summaries
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balcony.
3. Ticket out the door: Predict what will happen next.
Luhrmanns Romeo and Juliet DVD
Projector configured to laptop
Film Comparison Organizers
Day 11: Balcony Scene Comparison Continued
What effects do directorial decisions have on the story of Romeo and Juliet? How does
a change in context change the audiences experience?
Compare and Contrast: Film to Film
1. Watch short playlist of Balcony scenes from other adaptations of Romeo and Juliet
a. Franco Zeffirelli, Romeo and Juliet (1968) film
b. MacMillan, The Royal Ballets Romeo and Juliet (2013) ballet
c. Jerome Robbins, West Side Story (1961) film
d. Johnathan Levine, Warm Bodies (2013) film
e. Kelly Asbury, Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) film
f. Kenny Ortega, High School Musical (2006) film
g. Meredith Averill, Star-Crossed (2014) television series
2. Student complete Film Organizer
3. Students discuss the affect that setting and context has on the story.
4. Create a spectrum on the board from Most Romantic to Least Romantic.
Student can contribute but must justify their answers. Allow for debate.
Luhrmanns Romeo and Juliet DVD
Projector configured to laptop
Balcony Scene Organizers
Day 12: Plot Thickens (II.iii II.iv)
What resources can we use to help us fully understand Shakespeares work?
Graduated Difficulty [FULL LESSON PLAN IN APPENDIX]
1. Bellringer: Watch the first 5 minutes of Hip Hop & Shakespeare. Discuss what is
similar about Shakespeares language and what is familiar.
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What is true love, how is it related to passion, and is one more noble than the other?
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Appendix:
Full Lesson Plans and Materials: Attached in Full Below
Compare & Contrast Lesson Plan: Sonnets 18 and 130
Sonnet Tic-Tac-Toe Assignment and Rubric
Sonnet Criteria Organizer
Sonnet Comparison Organizers (2 per page)
Graduated Difficulty Lesson Plan: Reading Shakespeare Independently
Philosophical Chairs Lesson Plan: Who killed Romeo and Juliet?
Philosophical Chairs Prep Organizer
Philosophical Chairs Rubric
Performance Assessment: GRAPE and Rubric
Assessments, Resources, and Handouts: Available for Download from Portfolio Website
1. Shakespeares Got Swag Historical Background Powerpoint
2. Cornell Notes
3. Sonnet 18 and Sonnet 130
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
4. TPCASTT Guide
5. Prologue Worksheet
6. Scene Summary Examples
7. Film Comparison Organizers
8. Vocabulary Quiz
9. Balcony Scene Organizer
10. Juliets Soliloquy Sheet
11. Romeo and Juliet Tests
Time:
55 min
OPENING
Getting students ready to learn
Summary/Overview
The focus of this lesson is for students to study examples of sonnets as love poems, as well as the
development of Shakespeares poetic themes over time.
Essential Question
How did Shakespeares understanding of love change over the course of his career?
Step 2: How will you know when they have gotten it? (Communication of Success Criteria)
At the end of this lesson the student will understand that:
The traditional subject matter of sonnets is love. Sonnets often consists of a list of
comparisons between features of a beloved woman and beautiful imagery. Shakespeare
initially follows this tradition, but eventually twists it in order to criticize popular ideas of
true love.
What students should be able to do:
Identify a sonnet based on common characteristics
Use close reading skills to analyze a sonnet
Discuss the change in Shakespeares perception of love based on his poetry
Step 3: Get the students interested (Build Commitment and Engagement)
Shakespeare Video Clip: History of English: Chapter 3, Shakespeare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMkuUADWW2A
Before one minute video is played, have students record a brief response in their Journal: Why
do we study Shakespeare? What makes him such a giant figure in Western literature?
After watching video, have students answer the same prompt again.
Step 4: Give students new information (Teacher Presentation Strategies)
Students will take notes down about characteristics specific to Shakespearean Sonnets.
Students will receive either a 1 or 2 based on a reading diagnostic score. Students with
Finish
Early or
Need
Challenge
CLOSING
Helping students make sense of
their learning
WORK PERIOD
Releasing students to do the work
lower Each person will read his/her assigned piece and complete the criteria organizer.
HOMEWORK: Given a new Shakespearean sonnet, analyze the poems depiction of love.
Write a theme statement for the poem.
Step 7: Have students practice (Independent Practice)
Distribute Think-Tac-Toe. Each student will select and complete three of the activities.
Resource(s)
Technology:
1. Introduction to Sonnets video clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMkuUADWW2A
2. Sonnet Format notes on ActivBoard.
Handouts:
Handout 1:
Handout 2:
Handout 3:
Handout 4:
Handout 5:
Musical-Rhythmic
Verbal-Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
SING IT!
READ IT!
PROVE IT!
Visual-Spatial
Bodily-Kinesthetic
DRAW IT!
MOVE IT!
Wild Card
Get creative! Your idea must be approved
by Ms. Pekatos before you begin.
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Naturalist
JOURNAL IT!
PARTNER UP!
____________/ 5
MLA Format
____________/ 5
=_____/10
Choice 1: ______________________
Student followed project directions
____________/5
____________/10
____________/10
____________/5
=_____/30
Choice 2: ______________________
Student followed project directions
____________/5
____________/10
____________/10
____________/5
=_____/30
Choice 3: ______________________
Student followed project directions
____________/5
____________/10
____________/10
____________/5
=_____/30
Name _____________________________________
Ms. Pekatos
Period ____________
November 2014
Criteria Organizer
Comparing and Contrasting Sonnet 18 and 130
Sonnet 18
Criteria
Physical
Appearance of
Woman
Appealing
Qualities of
Woman
Role of Speaker
Sonnet 130
Name _____________________________________
Ms. Pekatos
Period ____________
Date _____________
Sonnet 18
Similarities
Sonnet 130
Similarities
Sonnet 130
Name _____________________________________
Ms. Pekatos
Period ____________
Date _____________
Sonnet 18
Grade Range:
Duration:
50 Minutes
Christine Pekatos
Author(s):
Standard(s)/Element(s)
ELACC9-10RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
ELACC9-10SL1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in
groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 910 topics, texts, and issues, building on others
ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively
ELACC9-10SL6: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal
English when indicated or appropriate. (See grades 910 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific
expectations.)
Summary/Overview
The goal of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to discuss and debate a central question based on
evidence from Romeo and Juliet. Students will questions each other in an effort to deepen the conversation and
understand the nuances of Shakespeares plot and characters.
Learning Goals(s)
At the end of this lesson the student will be able to
d. Manage a meaningful discussion and debate independent of an instructor.
e. Question and debate with other students in an effort to deepen analysis.
f. Identify how individual actions and characters affect the plot.
g. Discuss the theme of a novel in light of its conclusion.
Essential Question(s)
h. Who is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
Suggested Vocabulary
Academic Vocabulary in General
Blooms Taxonomy
HOT Qs (Higher Order Thinking Questions)
Procedure(s)
Phase 1: Hook
1. Ask students to find their seats based on who they believe is MOST to blame for the deaths of Romeo and
Juliet. Character names are posted around the room. Students will take a moment to review their notes
before beginning. Students will have prepared an organizer and Higher Order Thinking Questions in advance.
Phase 2: Discuss and Debate
2. As one group, students will discuss Romeo and Juliet without the help of a teacher-led discussion. Students will
be expected to debate politely to each other and take turns asking questions when conversation lulls. The
content of discussion should be analytical in nature; students can use their understanding of Blooms
taxonomy to determine appropriate questions. Students may use any notes from the unit to assist them.
3. Any student who changes his mind should move around the room to reflect which characters he blames most for the
death of the title characters.
Summarizing Activity
4. Ticket out the door: On an index card, each student will nominate one student who performed exceptionally
during the Philosophical Chairs. Exceptional performance is not only marked by students individual
contributions, but how that student interacted and supported other students as well. What academic behavior
did the student demonstrate? (Tomorrow give recognition to student who is most nominated).
Resource(s):
Romeo and Juliet copies
Prepared Philosophical Debate Prep, based on Blooms Taxonomy
Philosophical Debate Rubrics
During Debate: Participate, listen to your peers, and never talk over someone else. Make sure to take notes on
the other characters as we go.
Character
Evidence (Include Citations)
Friar
Tybalt
Nurse
Fate
Other:
Written
Individual
Group
Topic:
Date___________________
Superior Discuss.
(95-100)
Great Discussion
(88-94)
Good Discussion
(78-87)
Entire class
participates evenly and
enthusiastically in
discussion. All
members contribute
insight today. Students
shared the floor,
encouraged each other,
and asked thoughtful
and insightful
questions which kept
the discussion at a high
level.
Offers many
contributions.
Comments are
insightful and show a
high level of
understanding and
clear evidence of
reading. Comments
move discussion to a
higher level, are
interesting, and
analytical. Asks
thoughtful questions.
Outer circle notes are
excellent. White board
comments are relevant
and insightful.
Cites clear, convincing
evidence and specific
support for
observations, quoting
the text each time.
Entire class
participates fairly
evenly in the
discussion. All
members contributed
something important
today. Students shared
the floor, encouraged
each other, and asked
questions which kept
the discussion
moving.
Entire class
participated in the
discussion, but
somewhat unevenly.
All members
contributed today, but
some only rarely and
without much insight.
Students did not
always share the floor,
encourage each other,
and ask questions.
Offers several
contributions. Shows
evidence of reading
and a solid
understanding of the
text. Comments move
discussion forward
and are interesting.
Asks questions, seeks
clarification from
others. Outer circle
notes are good. White
board comments are
relevant and
interesting.
Offers a few
contributions.
Comments show an
acceptable level of
understanding.
Comments are a little
vague and could be
more insightful. Does
not ask questions.
Acceptable outer
circles notes. White
board comments are
relevant.
Rarely offers
contributions and
shows a weak
understanding of the
text and/or maybe
weak preparation.
Comments are vague
and/or need more
evidence of critical
thinking. Fails to ask
questions, seek
clarification. Outer
circle notes lacking.
White board
participation lacking.
Offers specific
example for support of
observations, but does
not directly quote the
text.
NOTE: You will be graded not on how often you participate, but the WAY in which you
participate. You must LISTEN to each other, ask questions, cite the text, keep the discussion
going, offer insight, and include everyone. You must not monopolize the floor, you must not
talk over each other or argue. You must show a high level of understanding of the text.
Teacher:
Subject:
Grade:
50
Minutes
Christine Pekatos
9th Grade
Honors
Step 1: Teacher and students talk about what they will learn and do (Communication of Learning
Intentions)
Review the Essential Question & Standards:
Content Area Standard
ELACC9-10RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
OPENING
ELACC9-10RL10: By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas,
and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high
end of the range
ELACC9-10SL1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-onone, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building
on others ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Summary/Overview
The focus of this lesson is for students to determine the qualities of Love in order to determine
whether is it simply a biological reaction to certain hormones or a meaningful life experience. They will
look at specific passages of the play in addition to a non-fiction speech from a biologist and decide what
happened to Romeo and Juliet.
Essential Question:
What is true love, how is it related to passion, and is one more noble than the other?
Step 2: How will you know when they have gotten it? (Communication of Success Criteria)
At the end of this lesson the student will understand that:
Love, or attraction, at the very least, can be proven biologically
After responding on paper, I ask students to raise their hands in an informal survey. Students almost
always have a very strong opinion on the subject, which helps to immediately engage.
Step 4: Give students new information (Teacher Presentation Strategies)
WORK
PERIOD
Releasing
students to
do the
work
CLOSIN
G
Helping
students
make
sense of
their
learning
2. Students will take Cornell notes down about what happens biologically when we fall in love by
watching TedTalks: The Brain in Love by Helen Fischer
3. Then each student will receive a copy of the article Taking Words Seriously-Romeo and Juliet
are Troubled Kids and take Cornell notes from the text individually.
Step 5: Have students use the new information (Guided Practice )
4. With a partner, each student should compare notes from the TedTalk and the non-fiction article.
5. Students will discuss with another pair (four students total together) about whether Romeo and
Juliet are truly in love using evidence from all three texts.
Step 6: Conclusion
6. In partners, use evidence from the text and TedTalk to write a well-developed response
explaining whether Romeo and Juliet should be held responsible for their impulsive behavior.
Technology:
1. The Brain in Love TedTalk Video
Resource(s)
http://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_studies_the_brain_in_love?language=en
Handouts:
2. Cornell Notes
7. Printed copies of Article Taking Words Seriously-Romeo and Juliet are Troubled Kids bu Stanton
Peele
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/addiction-in-society/200902/taking-words-seriously-romeoand-juliet-are-troubled-kids
Date: ____________
Goal
Role
Audience
Performance
Evaluation
The audience of
your proposal is a
group of movie
producers.
-YOU determine
the target audience
of your film
adaptation.
Each member of
your team will
choose one of these
four roles:
1. Director
2. Head Writer
3. Actress
4. Actor
Shakespeare Retwisted
You and your team are attempting to adapt Romeo and Juliet to a new context for a new film. You and
your team will demonstrate your concept by adapting just Act 1 Scene 5, known as the Balcony Scene,
to your chosen context, and you will perform this for a group of movie producers to try and get their
financial support.
Your assignment includes the following elements:
1. Choose a new setting (time and place, context) for your adaptation.
2. Assign roles:
a. Director Tasks include advising Actor and Actress, helping write first draft of the script
and writing the proposal.
b. Head Writer Tasks include helping write first draft of the script, then editing and
formatting the script.
c. Actress Tasks include helping write first draft of the script and acting the part of Juliet.
d. Actor Tasks include helping write first draft of the script and acting the part of Romeo.
3. Write a script that adapts the balconey scene to your new setting. Pay attention to the specific
language used. The script must be formatted according to the included example.
4. Write a proposal that sells your idea to the movie producers. Who would the audience of your
adaptation be? Why will your adaptation be monetarily successful? Justify your choice of new
context.
5. Perform this scene during our class.
Performance of Scene
Very limited
understanding of the
text and topic.
Lacking detail,
development or
support.
Creative work doesnt
show imagination or
sensitivity
Rarely employs literary
features or employs
literary and/or
nonliterary features that
do not serve the context
or intention.
The use of terminology
is missing, inconsistent
and/or incorrect.
Near Standard
3-5 Points
Demonstrates little or
no understanding of the
original plays text and
topic.
Rarely employs
organizational
structures and/or
language-specific
conventions or uses
those that do not serve
the context .
The work is generally
disorganized, unclear
and/or incoherent.
Performance is not
rehearsed; students read
all lines and cues
Blocking was never
planned; actors move
little around stage, if at
all
Performance has only
the most superficial
elements in common
with original scene in R
&J
Meets Standard
Exceeds Standard
6-8 Points
Limited understanding
of the text and topic.
Detail, development,
and/or support are
insufficient.
In creative work,
pieces show limited
imagination or
sensitivity.
Attempts to employ
literary and/or
nonliterary features
that sometimes serve
the context and
intention.
The use of
terminology is
sometimes accurate
and appropriate.
Demonstrates some
understanding of the
original plays text
and topic.
Attempts to employ
organizational
structures and/or
language-specific
conventions that serve
the context and
intention.
Shows some attempt
at organization, but is
disorganized, unclear
and/or incoherent.
Performance is not
well rehearsed;
students need help
with lines and cues
Blocking and moving
is minimal
Performance
maintains some
elements in common
with original scene in
R&J
9-10 Points
Demonstrates good
understanding of the
plays topic..
Uses helpful and
important detail,
development, and
support.
In creative work,
pieces reflect some
imagination and
sensitivity.
Usually employs
literary and/or nonliterary features that
serve the context and
intention.
Relevant terminology
is usually used
accurately and
appropriately.
Demonstrates a good
understanding of the
original plays text
and topic.
Frequently employs
organizational
structure and
language-specific
conventions that
serve the context and
intention.
The work is generally
organized, clear and
coherent
Demonstrates a very
good understanding
of the original plays
text and topic.
Consistently uses
helpful and
important detail,
development and
support.
Employs literary
and/or non-literary
features that serve
the context and
intention.
Shows a very good
command of relevant
terminology, and
uses it appropriately
Demonstrates a very
good understanding
of the original plays
text.
Consistently
employs
organizational
structure and
language-specific
conventions that
serve the context and
intention.
The work is well
organized, clear and
coherent .
ELACC9-10RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as
well as inferences drawn from the text.
ELACC9-10W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, wellchosen details, and well-structured event sequence
ELACC9-10W10: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter
time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences
ELACC9-10SL6: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when
indicated or appropriate. (See grades 910 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectation
PLAYWRIGHT
So if I just have people saying nothing much about anything? If they just talk about what interests me and nothing much
happens, its not so good?
THEATER DIRECTOR
(Snoring. Wakes up)
huh? Right! Yes. Youll put everyone to sleep if your characters have no conflict.
PLAYWRIGHT
What if I want to write some action that happens without any dialogue going on?