Browse lesson plans

Oedipus the King: Personal letter-writing assignment

Students will work in groups to evaluate the personality of various characters from Oedipus the King. Each student will write two personal letters in the role of one character from the play responding to the events of the play and the various relationships within it.

Format: lesson plan (grade 10 English Language Arts)

By Greg Townsend.

Oedipus the King reader's theatre

Students will rewrite the Greek tragedy in a modern context in order to review and analyze the plot. This assignment is designed as a final project in a Greek Theatre unit. It is expected that the literature has already been read and analyzed as a class. I have found that this project is an innovative way to review for a unit test on the play and Greek Theatre.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

Defining tyranny

Students will focus on gathering support for and elaborating on ideas for an essay of definition on tyranny. Students will use examples from history and from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

By Bethany Hill.

Differences across the curriculum: Part 2

This set of lessons can be used with "Differences across the curriculum: Part 1" as an integrated approach to exploring diversity with eighth graders. The unit will revolve around the use of the drama version of "The Diary of Anne Frank." Students will learn how diversity creates bias, which leads to conflict, where students confront their bias and practice tolerance. These parts reflect the four core curricula in an interwoven approach to teaching students to confront their biases, learn tolerance, and infer the impact of these on today's society. This activity, Part 2, is meant to augment the pre-reading activities completed in Part 1 in a Social Studies class.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

By Lynn Carter.

Modern folk tales: Playwriting

Working in teams, students will rewrite short folk tale or fable plays, modernizing them. Then, they will present the old and new versions of the play.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

By Dayle Payne.

Romeo and Juliet: The Balcony Scene (Act 2, Scene 2)

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Lesson will help struggling readers to comprehend figurative language and overall meaning in the famous balcony scene. It will also compare text to two media depictions. This lesson has been created with exceptional children and limited English proficient (novice low) students in mind.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Elizabeth Mackie and Vicki Moats.

Romeo! Why do you have to be a doggone Montague?

Students will interpret and comprehend Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Act 2, Scene 2 (the balcony scene) through translating the original text and preparing a dramatic presentation of the scene for the class.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts)

By Amanda Rowland.

Setting and Symbolism in A Doll's House

This lesson is designed as a follow-up to the reading and discussion of the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. An understanding of the two literary terms setting and symbolism, and their impact on a work of literature, are essential to students' success in following the guidelines outlined in the North Carolina English Language Arts Standard Course of Study. This lesson has been modified for English Language Learners at the intermediate high proficiency level, but would also be adaptable for learners at the novice or advanced levels.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Guy Hill and Crystal Brown.

The Trial of Hamlet

In this lesson students have the chance to research courtroom procedure to try Hamlet for the murder of Polonius. Then, with some students in the roles of characters from the play, the class will conduct the trial of Shakespeare's most famous anti-hero.

Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 English Language Arts)

By Ross White.

Resources on the web

Broken worlds

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students explore the similarities and differences between Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape and Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Students will:... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Eugene O'Neill on page and stage

Plays are “living” art forms, existing not only on the page, but in performance. Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night is a masterpiece of American theatre; the powerful words of the text take on even more weight and impact when performed.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Uncivil Civilization in The Hairy Ape

Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape presents a disheartening assessment of the impact of living in the industrialized society of the early 20th century. This lesson explores the ways O'Neill portrays a world in which spiritual, communal,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge