Romeo and Juliet | Class Schedule

Class 1: Introduction to Romeo and Juliet

Pre-Reading Improvisations (30 mins)
Life of Shakespeare (5-10 mins)
Discussion Questions/Writing Prompts for Background Material (20 mins)
Homework: Writing Assignment for Pre-Reading

Class 2: Conventions of Shakespearean Verse and Staging

Small Group Pre-Reading Discussion Questions (15 mins)
Class-Wide Discussion of Small Group Answers (10-15 mins)
Lecture Topic: Verse and Staging (5-10 mins)
Five Jive with M.C. Shakespeare: Iambic Pentameter (10 mins)
Rhyming Couplets (10 mins)
Homework: Writing Prompts for Act 1 Pre-Reading

Class 3: Act 1 (Scenes 1 and 2)

Lecture Topic: The Role of Fate (10 mins)
Group Discussion Questions (Supplemental Activity - 10 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompts (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Video Integration for Pre-Reading (Supplemental Activity - 15 mins)
Small Groups Read Aloud Scenes 1-2 (20-30 mins)
Voracious Vocabulary (while reading in small groups)
Homework: Read 1.3-5. Note unfamiliar vocabulary words and define.
Reading Guidance for Act 1 (5-10 mins)

Class 4: Act 1 (Scenes 3 through 5)

Comprehension Check for Act 1 (10 mins)
Lecture Topic: Weaker Vessels and the Four Humours (15 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompts (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Small Group Exercise: Theme of Youth Versus Age (15 mins)
Video Integration or In-Class Reading: Scenes 3-5 (Supplemental Activity - 15 mins)
Vocabulary Feud (15 mins)

Class 5: The Theme of Leadership

Lecture Topic: Right Rule (15-20 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompts (15-20 mins)
Review of Act 1: Open Question Period (10 mins)
Homework: Review for Exam 1

Class 6: Exam 1 (Act 1)

(60 mins)

Class 7: Historical Topics

Small Group Exercise: Historical Topics
Homework: Work on Historical Project

Class 8: Presentations of Historical Topics (Part 1)

Historical Presentations (first set of groups) (60 mins)
Homework: Speculation Paragraph (Act 2)

Class 9: Presentations of Historical Topics (Part 2)

Historical Presentations (second set of groups) (50-55 mins)
Homework: Read Act 2.1-3.
Reading Guidance for Act 2.1-3

Class 10: Act 2 (Scenes 1 through 3)

Comprehension Check for Act 2.1-3 (10 mins)
Vocabulary: Act 2 (20 mins)
Video Integration for Act 2.1-3 (Supplemental Activity - 15 mins)
Homework: Read Act 2.4-6; finish vocabulary if necessary
Reading Guidance for Act 2.4-6

Class 11: Act 2 (Scenes 4 through 6)

Comprehension Check for Act 2.4-6 (10 mins)
Vocabulary Dialogues (20-30 mins)
Video Integration for Act 2.4-6 (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs vs. Actual Events of Act 2 (10 mins)

Class 12: The Role of the Clergy

Lecture Topic: The Problem of Friar Laurence (25-30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Improvisation: Romeo and Juliet Seek Premarital Counseling (20-30 mins)
Homework: Bring a Photo That Depicts Modern Beauty

Class 13: Cross-Curriculum Discussion on Ideal Beauty

Lecture Topic: The “Ideal Beauty” (20-30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (15-20 mins)
Extending Activity for Writing Prompt: Renaissance Artists
Literary Device: Introduction to Alliteration (10 mins)
Homework: Alliteration

Class 14: Review of Act 2

Group Discussion of Alliteration Examples (10-15 mins)
Review of Act 2: Open Question Period (15 mins)
In-Class Writing: Speculation Paragraph (Act 3) (20 mins)
Homework: Review for Exam 2

Class 15: Exam 2 (Act 2)

(50-55 mins)
Homework: Read Act 3.1-3
Reading Guidance for Act 3.1-3

Class 16: Motherhood in the Renaissance

Comprehension Check for Act 3.1-3 (10 mins)
Lecture Topic: The Problem of the Nurse (20-30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Small Group Activity: Metaphors and Similes (25-30 mins)
Homework: Finish metaphors and similes; read Act 3.4-5
Reading Guidance for Act 3.4-5 (5 mins)

Class 17: Realism Versus Idealism (Act 3)

Comprehension Check for Act 3.4-5 (10 mins)
View Integration for Act 3 (Supplemental Activity – 20-25 mins)
Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs vs. Actual Events for Act 3 (10 mins)
Lecture Topic: Realism Versus Idealism (20-30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Homework: Preparing for Password Game

Class 18: Irony

Vocabulary: Password Game (30-40 mins)
Literary Device: Introduction to Irony (10-20 mins)
Homework: Irony

Class 19: Love and Myth in Act 3

Discussion of Irony Findings (15 mins)
Lecture Topic: Religion of Love and the Role of Myth (30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Preparing for Small Group Presentations: Myths and Meanings (10-15 mins)
Homework: Researching Assigned Myths

Class 20: Group Work on Myth and Meaning Presentations

Group Work on Myth Projects
Homework: Finish Myth Projects

Class 21: Myth and Meaning Presentations

Myth Project Presentations (3-4 groups, 10 mins each)
Review of Act 3: Open Question Period (20-30 mins)
Homework: Review for Exam 3

Class 22: Exam 3 (Act 3)

(50-55 mins)
Homework: Read Act 4
Reading Guidance for Act 4 (5 mins)
Speculation Paragraph for Act 4

Class 23: The Friar (Act 4)

Comprehension Check for Act 4 (10 mins)
Video Integration for Act 4 (Supplemental Activity – 25-30 mins)
Lecture Topic: The Friar and Occultism (20-30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (Supplemental Activity – 15-20 mins)
Homework: Vocabulary Definitions

Class 24: Language and Puns in Act 4

Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs Versus Actual Events of Act 4 (10 mins)
Illustrated Vocabulary (45-50 mins)
Literary Device: Introduction to Puns (10 mins)
Homework: Shakespearean-Inspired Advertising Slogans

Class 25: Cross-Curriculum Exercise on Human Error (Act 4)

Small Group Exercise: “We Regret the Error” (40-45 mins)
Review of Act 4: Open Question Period (10 mins)
Homework: Review for Exam 4
Speculation Paragraph for Act 5

Class 26: Exam 4 (Act 4)

(50-55 mins)
Homework: Read Act 5
Reading Guidance for Act 5 (5 mins)

Class 27: Love-Based Marriages (Act 5)

Comprehension Check for Act 5 (5 mins)
Video Integration for Act 5 (Supplemental Activity – 20-30 mins)
Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs Versus Actual Events of Act 5 (10 mins)
Lecture Topic: Advocating Love-Based Marriages? (20-30 mins)
In-Class Writing Prompt (Supplemental Activity – 15 mins)
Small Group Exercise: Law and Order (Special Lover-Suicide Unit) (10 mins)
Homework: Vocabulary Definitions

Class 28: Group Work on “Characters on Trial”

Small Group Exercise: Law and Order (Special Lover-Suicide Unit) (60 mins)
Homework: Finish Work on Trial Project

Class 29: Group Project Presentations

Trials (5-6 groups, 10 mins ea.) (50-55 mins)
Review of Act 5: Open Question Period (10 mins)
Homework: Review for Exam 5

Class 30: Exam 5 (Act 5)

(50-55 mins)
Assign Items to Bring for End of Unit Feast (5 mins)

Class 31: End of Unit

Renaissance Feast!