A deep exploration into the language of Shakespeare is important to Watkinson’s eighth graders. It’s a tradition, a rite of passage in fact.
For almost thirty years, the study and performance of Shakespeare’s plays on Shakespeare Day has been a hallmark of the Watkinson middle school experience. This year, students applied new and refined skills with technology to create a presentation on their play of choice. In groups, students summarized their play, translated their character’s Shakespearean lines, annotated and analyzed Acts and scenes, and created a video presentation to tell the story of their play.
Middle School Head Jenny Esposito remarks, “Our eighth graders’ Shakespeare films reflect their understanding of and facility with Shakespeare’s plays, emerging teamwork skills, and the joy they experience in making sense of challenging material through a creative endeavor.”
Eighth-grade English teacher Anna Alferi adds, “While some shy away from delving into Shakespeare with middle schoolers, our 8th graders meet the challenge each year. This unit gives students the opportunity to explore high level language, develop skills in extrapolating meaning from complex plot structures, and find joy in the figurative language and imagery.”
See a digital gallery of their creations.
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