Understanding Shakespeare: Hamlet ACT 1 

Lesson Plan for Grade 12, English Literature, 80 minute period 

Prepared by Mr. Ehrman 

OBJECTIVE 

Students will begin Reading Chapter 3 in their textbooks. Hamlet Act 1 (pg.76), to develop 
their core Literature standards. As a class, the students will take turns contributing 
information to fill out the attached concept map on the overhead projector. 

EDUCATION STANDARDS 

● CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1 - Key Ideas and details 

● CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4 - Craft and structure 
● CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.10 - Range of text complexity 

WARM UP 

Have students do the daily sentences on the whiteboard, correcting the punctuation and 
spelling errors. 

DIRECT INSTRUCTION 

Guide students through understanding Shakespeare's antiquated writing style and 

themes. Assess their ability to comprehend material via chapter questions and 
completing the concept map as a class. Urging students to critically think about what the 
writer is trying to convey and imply with his words. 

GUIDED PRACTICE 

Call on students at random to summarize after each portion is read aloud and have them 
fill in the concept map as you go, if they struggle, help guide them through key phrases 
and lines to piece together what has transpired by themselves. If they continue to 
struggle have another student volunteer to lend a hand. Chapter questions will also help 
with assessment. 

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ACTIVITY 

Pre-activity: (3 minutes) explain the days lesson and get out materials needed. 

1: (25 minutes) have the students take turns reading aloud and summarizing in the 
concept map that will be projected on the screen in front of class. 

2: (20 minutes) have class answer chapter questions on page 92. #1-6 (due. Fri) 

3: (2 minutes) Wrap-up, remind students that the assignment is due by Friday. 

Total: 50 minutes (class is 55 minutes, so 5 minutes of leeway) 

INDEPENDENT 

● Advise them when needed but try to have them independently comprehend. 
● Make sure to call on everyone at some point to keep them engaged. 
● Answer chapter questions on page 92 of textbook. Questions 1-6. 

MATERIAL RESOURCES 

● Computer (login info is on post-it attached to monitor) 

● Overhead projector 
● Internet connection 
● Mind Meister (base concept map) 
● Projector screen 

CLOSURE/HOMEWORK 

Please remind the students that the assignment questions will be due on Friday. They 
should have plenty of time to finish it up in class, but this will roll over as homework if 
they need to.  

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