Classroom Activities
Classroom Activity #1- Multiple Hamlets
Classroom Activity #2 - Making a Scene
Classroom Activity #3 - Contribute to the Database
This activity is not exclusive to the character Hamlet, but since he has an abundace of characterizations, it would be best to pick him or a smililar character.
For this activity:
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Assign your students a specific characterization (i.e. "power" Hamlet or "sweet" Hamlet) and then assign them a scene to either read or perform.
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Ask the students to explore and research their characterization as much as possible and to incorporate it into their specific scene.
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As each student performs, have the other students take notes on all the character variations.
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Finally, have your students write a 250- 500 word reflection on the activity and how seeing all of the variations of that character back to back changed, or reinforced, their interpretation of that character.
This activity works for whichever Shakespeare play you are covering in your classroom. Memorizing the lines is not a must. The students can always act with the script in their hand if you choose.
For this activity:
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Pick a specific scene from the play. Make sure that the scene has enough characters so that your class may be evenly divided into groups.
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Have your students work within their groups to stage the scene in whatever way that they would like to. Emphasis the fact that they are allowed to make choices and executive decisions about the scenes. Have them be creative.
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Finally, have them perform the scene back to back in front of the class.
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After the performances, have a class discussion on their staging choices, the variations of the scene, and of the variations of the play as a whole.
For this activity have the entire class watch a production (film or stage, live or screened) of any Shakespeare play.
After watching the play:
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Go to the "Contact & Contribute" page.
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Read the rules for submissions carefully.
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As a class, come up with an analysis of each character (or only one) within the production. Determine how the characters were played and give examples from the production.
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Then split the class into 3 groups. Have one group find pictures of the charcters from the production, have the second group find video clips from the production, and have the third group find reviews from the play.
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Then submit your entry!
Classroom Activity #3 - Hamlet's Dumb Show
This activity focuses on the play Hamlet - specifically on the play within a play in Hamlet. Use this activity to teach about performance variations.
For this activity:
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Split the class into equal groups and have each of them pick roles.
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Instruct the students to not speak during the performance. They will only be allowed to act out the play.
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Have each group take turns performing their production in front of the class.
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After each performance, have a discussion about specific choices that each group made within their performance. Talk about what works and what doesn't work and why.
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(Optional) - Have each student write a reflection on the activity and discuss how they would stage the dumb show if theyr were directing it professionally.