Digital Unit Plan: “Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet”

Unit Title: “Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet” Name: Steven Dail

Content Area: English Language Arts Grade Level: 11th and 12th Grade

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4:
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative
meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or
language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.2:
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and
accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.1
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with
diverse partners on grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and
persuasively.

Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

Students will analyze and develop personal responses/understanding to the follow essential questions/concepts while
drawing connections to the text of Romeo and Juliet.

1. How do the concepts of conflict, choice, and consequence affect the story of Romeo and Juliet?
2. How do the various literary devices Shakespeare utilizes within the play affect the overall action/effectiveness of the
story line?

3. Does classic literature, such as Romeo and Juliet, manage to maintain relevance to modern day culture/events? If so,
how?

Unit Summary:

This unit on William Shakespeare's masterpiece Romeo and Juliet will explore in depth the multiple layers of the story
line and the characters of the play. We will analyze various aspects of the play and draw connections to our modern day
culture and our lives today. Additionally, this unit aims to hone students' grasp on literary devices, thematic content, and
character analysis. By bringing Shakespeare's language out of the obscure and difficult to understand, as it is for many
readers today, we will shed light on why Shakespeare's work is so highly regarded to this day. Through various
activities, including a group assignment and several in-class activities, this unit on Romeo and Juliet will explore the
many layers of this masterpiece by the great William Shakespeare.

Assessment Plan:

Entry-Level: Formative: Summative:

1. Brainstorm: What do we already
know about William Shakespeare?
What do we already know about
Romeo and Juliet? What is our prior
knowledge based on? (Film
adaptations, cultural references to the
play, live theatre experience, ect.)
1. Quiz: Literary devices in Romeo and
Juliet.
2. Class Survey: Which character’s
actions/decisions are most
responsible for the tragic outcome of
Romeo and Juliet?
1. Group Presentation:
Small group (3-4 students each)
presentation, using online
collaborative presentation software
(such as Google Slides). Groups will
present their argument for which
character is most to blame for the
tragic outcome of Romeo and Juliet,
 3. Quick-Writes: Following the
assigned reading, a series of three
quick-writes assess students’
opinion/thoughts regarding the action
of the story.
4. Flashcard Game: Romeo and Juliet
character flashcard matching game.
and why.
2. Exam: Final unit exam that tests
student knowledge of the plays events,
characters, and literary devices
discussed throughout the unit.

Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)

Student Learning Acceptable Lesson Activities:

Objective: Evidence:
Students will view the teacher lecture presentation with the “Major
By the end of lesson Through a critical Character Traits” guided notes. Thereafter, students will complete the
one, students will thinking “Key Questions to Consider” handout to reinforce the key concepts of the
develop the ability assignment, lecture and to reinforce the literary devices mentioned in the lecture.
to recognize crucial students will Finally, students will complete the “Class Poll,” providing their personal
decisions made by develop their own opinion as to which character is most responsible for the tragedy of
the major characters opinion as to who is Romeo and Juliet.
within the play and most to blame for
analyze how those the tragedy of
decisions lead to Romeo and Juliet.
dire consequences This assignment
in the story line. aligns with the big
Additionally, idea of actions and
students will consequences, and
develop an the completion of
understanding of the handout “Key
key literary devices Questions to
found within the Consider” serves as
play. acceptable evidence
of student
understanding of
the concepts and
key literary devices.

Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)

Student Learning Acceptable Lesson Activities:

Objective: Evidence:
Students will complete the Webercise activity—effectively exploring the
By the end of lesson Students will provided websites to find and construct responses to the guided
two, students will enhance their questions. The Webercise provides links to websites to explore and find
further develop 21st research skills at the answers concerning the history of the play, the literary concept of word
century digital conclusion of the play, the themes of the play, and literary devices found within the play.
learning skills assignment through The Webercise concludes with a short-response essay that reflects a
through a webercise, a short written chosen aspect of the information found within the Webercise—with one
where students assignment and one required in-text citation, citing the chosen web resource for the short-
explore various required in-text response.
websites to collect citation. Completion
and record of this assignment
information in serves as acceptable
response to guided evidence of the
questions. Students learning objectives.
will further their
ability to properly
cite resource
information.

Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)

Student Learning Acceptable Lesson Activities:
Objective: Evidence:
Students will view the provided video for an explanation of the various
By the end of lesson Completion of the types of literary conflicts: Man vs Man, Man vs Society, Man vs Himself,
three, students will group assignment: Man vs Nature, Man vs The Supernature (fate), and Man vs. Technology.
display the ability, effectively Students will explore the provided website from Literarydevices.com to
through a small identifying six further their understanding of the various types of literary conflicts.
group assignment, different types of Finally, in small groups (of 3-5 students each) students will collaboratively
to locate, identify, literary conflicts complete the graphic organizer/worksheet. Although students are
and analyze six found within the working in groups, each student must hand in his/her own individual copy
different types of play, with specific of the assignment. For each type of literary conflict, students will provide
literary conflicts Scene and Act an example of where that type of conflict occurs in the text of Romeo and
found within Romeo numbers as Juliet. Students are to include specific Act and Scene numbers as support
and Juliet. evidence, serves as for their examples, and provide a brief description of the action presented
acceptable evidence in the scene.
of the learning
objectives.

Unit Resources:

Understanding Shakespeare’s Languge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=tncNNdVTQI8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7q4gjG-ZPk

Romeo and Juliet Character List:

https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/characters/

How to Quote Shakespeare:

http://drmarkwomack.com/mla-style/how-to-quote/quote-shakespeare/

Romeo and Juliet Timeline of Events:

http://www.dodgeclassroom.weebly.com/uploads/7/3/5/9/7359705/rj_timeline

Romeo and Juliet Practice Test:

https://quizlet.com/22488198/test

Google Slides Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYA6GLAzz9A

Useful Websites:

Why do we still care about Shakespeare today?

http://www.utsa.edu/ovations/vol8/story/shakespeare.html

Literary Conflict Explained:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg_10OfdEss

Literary Devices—Conflict:

http://www.literarydevices.com/conflict/

More on Shakespeare’s Language:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwmUNz0hZ_M
Google Slides Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYA6GLAzz9A