THE WINTER'S TALE - SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGIC-COMEDY - UNIT PLANS AND RESOURCES

An unit plan with 5 sessions on prose comprehension of a Shakespearean tragic-comedy, “The Winter’s Tale”.

After completing this unit students will be able to:
SESSION 1: Spot the setting elements and describe the setting.
SESSION 2: Name the characters and make a character sketch.
SESSION 3: Discover the plot elements and develop the plot.
SESSION 4: Analyse the text to make a critical appreciation.
SESSION 5: Examine the lines from the text with reference to context.

Lesson Preview

• Vocabulary Overview
• Author, Introduction, and Setting
• Story Summary
• Shakespeare’s Time – Historical Context
• Shakespeare’s Language – Writing Techniques

SESSION 1: STORY SETTING AND SETTING DESCRIPTION
Discussion:

• Setting Features (Scaffold Notes 1)
• Setting Characteristics (Scaffold Notes 2)
• Setting Elements (Scaffold Notes 3)
  Collaborative Tasks:
• Pair-Share: Inferring the setting
• Ask-Write: Identifying setting elements of the given story
• Write-Advance: Describing the setting of the story

SESSION 2: STORY CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATION
Discussion:

• Character Types (Scaffold Notes 5)
• Character Description Adjectives Based on Senses (Scaffold Notes 6)
• Character Description Guide (Scaffold Notes 7)
• Adjectives to Describe Personality Traits (Scaffold Notes 8)
  Collaborative Tasks:
• Pair-Share: Spotting the traits of the characters in the story
• Ask-Write: Identifying one of the main character’s elements in the story
• Write-Advance: Making a character sketch

SESSION 3: STORY PLOT AND PLOT DEVELOPMENT
Discussion:

• Plot Types (Scaffold Notes 10)
• Conflict Types (Scaffold Notes 11)
• Plot Diagram (Scaffold Notes 12)
• Plot Template (Scaffold Notes 13)
  Collaborative Tasks:
• Pair-Share: Identifying plot elements of the story
• Ask-Write: Identifying plot description elements in the story
• Write-Advance: Developing the plot of the story

SESSION 4: STORY ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL APPRECIATION
Discussion:

• Story Components (Scaffold Notes 15)
• Story Analysis Guide (Scaffold Notes 16)
  Collaborative Tasks:
• Pair-Share: Identifying story elements by answering questions
• Ask-Write: Identifying story elements of the story
• Write-Advance: Making a critical appreciation of the story

SESSION 5: REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
Discussion:

• RTC Template (Scaffold Notes 18)
• RTC Prompt (Scaffold Notes 19)
  Collaborative Tasks:
• Pair-Share: Identifying summary elements
• Ask-Write: Identifying RTC elements for the given lines
• Write-Advance: Explaining the line with reference to context

Here are some possible uses for these in your classroom:

• To challenge early finishers
• For effective tutoring
• As ESL stations and sub tubs
• As holiday work and homework
• For small group collaborations
• For an end of unit assessments
• For reinforcement and enrichment