Twelfth NIght

Twelfth Night (ages 12-13)

This scheme of work introduces students to Shakespeare’s popular and accessible play. The class learns to interpret key scenes and develop their understanding by rewriting and performing them using their own words. Abridged extracts are included to help condense the play into manageable segments.

This scheme of work contains 6 drama lesson plans.

Lesson 1: Overview of Twelfth Night. “If music be the food of love, play on!” Students use a summary of the play and discuss elements of the plot, miming a shipwreck. The Duke’s speech is developed using modern language and performed.
Lesson 2: Olivia and Viola. The plot between the two ladies is discussed using two extracts from the play, with students understanding deepened as they re-write this in their own words.
Lesson 3: Malvolio is Tricked! Malvolio’s role in the tangled plot is made clear as the students hotseat each other while playing the roles of the protagonist, Maria and Sir Toby Belch in Act 2, Scene 5.
Lesson 4: Shakespeare Workshop. The tale is recapped, with volunteers reading the parts in a further extract before being workshopped using a forum theatre approach.
Lesson 5: Twelfth Night Remake. An extract from the final part of the play is read by volunteers before groups devise their own condensed version of the play, using split scenes, thought aloud, mime and slow motion.
Lesson 6: Assessment Lesson. Students perform and film their versions of Twelfth Night for assessment.

Supporting Materials include

Twelfth Night Summary
The Duke’s Opening Speech (Act 1, Scene1) handout and PowerPoint slide
Act 1, Scene 5 (abridged)
Viola’s Ring Speech (Act 2, Scene 2)
Malvolio’s Speech (Act 2, Scene 5)
Act 3, Scene 4 (abridged)
Act 5, Scene 1 (abridged)

Additional resources are included in the Appendices

Basic Drama Skills Sheet
End of Unit Assessment Form

The document is supplied as a ZIP file containing a PDF file, readable on most computers, and a PowerPoint slide.

More Lesson Plans

Vocal Exercises

Developing vocal delivery through fun exercises and a little Shakespeare (Year 8)

Murder Mystery

One night over dinner the Earl is found dead. A classic whodunnit? (Year 8)

Improvisation

Learning to think quickly and creatively with an Olympian Improvisation finale (Year 8)

Melodrama

Victorian stage fun, stock characters and villainous intent (Year 8)

Fairytales

Exploring classic storytelling, stock characters and key elements (Year 8)

Commedia Dell’Arte

Improvised comedy using stock characters and masks (Year 8)

Homelessness

Understanding the plight of the homeless and their families (Year 8)

The Minotaur

Greek tragedy with Theseus, Ariadne and a labyrinth (Year 8)

Aboriginal Dreamtime

Drama inspired by Aboriginal Dreamtime art and music (Year 8)

Twelfth Night

Shakespeare introduction with Olivia, Viola and Malvolio (Year 8)

Hats

Creating characters using props, improvisation and text (Year 8)

Music and Media

Using music to create tension, mood and atmosphere (Year 8)

The Matchgirls

Annie Besant and the famous match workers strike of 1888 (Year 8)

Roman Theatre

An ancient take on comedy, tragedy and pantomime (Year 8)