Exploring the life and times of William Shakespeare is a great way to look at the social differences between the rich and poor in Tudor Times
While there are a multitude of resources for teaching the Tudors at Key Stage 2, many are aimed at Years 3 and 4. However, teaching this period to Year 6 instead ensures that the children are able to better grasp the more complex issues surrounding religion and politics of the time. Additionally, Shakespeare’s writing is often introduced in literacy in upper KS2. By researching the history of entertainment during the period, children will have a better idea of who Shakespeare was, when they come to explore his writing. The activities outlined below suggest ways to get children involved in this topic, while also developing biographical writing skills.
Don’t forget…
to download the Activity sheets that accompany these activities.
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Published 16 April
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Today we watch stories through TV, computers or on phones. But years ago, people could only watch stories acted in front of them on the streets or in theatres.
People loved watching plays. They were as popular then as TV shows are now and some of the actors became just as famous.
One of these actors was William Shakespeare.
He's still famous today. Not for acting but because he was, and still is, one of the best known writers in the English language.
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He went to school there and learned Latin and Greek. He got married at 18 and had children.
Shakespeare moved to London, and became a rather famous actor there.
He also wrote plays which everyone, rich and poor, even royalty, paid to watch.
Soon Shakespeare was rich enough to help build a new theatre, called ‘The Globe’.
Shakespeare wrote many different types of plays. Sad tragedies like Romeo and Juliet, funny comedies like A Midsummer Night's Dream and important histories about kings like Henry V.
They were fun, scary, exciting and serious!
He also wrote poetry and invented new words like 'eyeball' and 'bedroom'. He truly changed the way
William Shakespeare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Shakespeare | |
|---|---|
William Shakespeare | |
| Born | (baptized) Stratford-upon-Avon, England |
| Died | 23 April Stratford-upon-Avon, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Playwright, actor |
| Known for | Plays and poetry |
William Shakespeare (26 April (baptised) – 23 April ) was an Englishauthor who wrote 37 plays and also two long poems in his lifetime. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard")
Shakespeare wrote his works between about and He lived in Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, England. His plays are still performed today. He is often quoted in modern writing.
By he was an actor in The Chamberlain's Men acting company.
His plays are of different genres: histories, tragedies and comedies. They are among the best known in English literature and have been translated into every major living language. Shakespeare's plays are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
LEAH: Who was William Shakespeare? We know he looked something like this, but because he lived so long ago we don’t know a huge amount about his life.
RICKY: But what we do know is that he is one of the greatest writers of plays the world has ever known…
LEAH: Shakespeare wrote plays about almost everything.
RICKY: He wrote about funny things.
EXTRACT A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – BOTTOM ENTERS + ACTOR FAINTS
LEAH: He wrote about scary things.
EXTRACT MACBETH – WITCHES CALL “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!”
RICKY: And he wrote about very sad things.
EXTRACT ROMEO AND JULIET – ROMEO: “Death that hath sucked the honey of thy breath and had no power yet upon thy beauty.
LEAH: But in everything he wrote William Shakespeare explored what it’s like to be a human being, what it’s like to be alive…
RICKY: And, even now, when we watch his plays, we can learn a lot about the world and about ourselves.
LEAH: Shakespeare was born in the year in the town of Stratford upon Avon. All those years ago it was just a small town surrounded by countryside. This is the farm just outside Stratford where William’s mother Mary Arden used to live when she was young.
RICKY: When Mary grew up and marr
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