
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.
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