Choose !

Please take a look at your classmates' videos - and pick ONE video as your favourite.

[No, you cannot choose your group's video as your favourite. ]

Answer the following questions to tell me what do you like about it. Of course, you can expand beyond the questions.

a. Do you like how the characters were presented? Do you like the emotions demonstrated through the characters? Why? Does it make you understand the characters (why they do the things they do) better?

b. Do you like the costume/settings? Is it accurate? Detailed?

c. Why is this better/not as good as your own group's video?

d. Remember your responses for the homework in Week 1. Will you still have the same answer now? Why?

POST YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS.

Words come alive !

We have come to the end of the play. Now, it’s your turn to transform the still pages into motion! This exercise is to take place over the next 2 weeks, and you have to do it in your own time. Our focus is on the pivotal scenes in the last Acts (4 and 5).

1. In your groups, choose 1 out of the 6 scenes listed on the page.

Give life to the words on the pages! How are you going to do that? There are 3 ways.

A. Storyboarding: Create a storyboard of the scene and upload your images onto the blog. Or you can take pictures and post them here. You can do it in any format (comic strip, manga style, proper storyboard) but the important thing is to focus on the ACTIONS and EMOTIONS of the characters. I need to see it on their faces.

B. Puppet show: dramatize the scene using a puppet. Record it (using your phone, camcorder, anything as long as it’s in the form of a movie), and upload onto the blog.

C. Act: Perform the scene yourselves ! Record your performance and upload onto the blog.

(IMPORTANT)

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR?

1. Setting. Based on your research in Week 1, you should have an idea as to the kind of clothes the people during Shakespearean period wore. Use it !

2. Character emotion! Show me how Lady Macbeth must have felt when she went mad ! Or when Macduff learned that his whole family had been killed ! Don’t just recite the lines – dramatize !

3. Clarity. I must be able to see your images/ videos clearly. Don't upload a blurry mess.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO UPLOAD YOUR PICTURES/IMAGES/VIDEOS?

1 . Log onto this blog. Create a new post - using your group name.

2. Upload via the icons in the POST box. Do NOT duplicate. This is a common space shared by everyone in this class - show some respect to you and your fellow classmates. Keep it NEAT and TIDY.

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY. GO!

WEEK 4

You have seen how the witches create their magic potion in their bubbling cauldron.
Using the template provided, create a recipe of a potion you would like to make. Your recipe should contain the following information:


•The name of the potion.
•The purpose of the potion. What does it do? What will happen to the person who drinks/ eats it?
•The tools, cutlery needed (eg. One mixing bowl, one egg beater etc)
•The ingredients
•The reasons behind the choosing of these ingredients (brief) (eg: the cotton candy was added to add a hint of sweetness and romantic pink.) Be creative.
•The procedure of creating such a potion. Outline the steps involved explicitly.

WEEK 3

Answer these questions, in at least 300 words. Answer in the most honest manner you are capable of. We are not looking for political correctness but authentic, sincere answers.
(a) Macbeth killed Banquo because he wanted to be king.
What would you do for power? Do you think it is an important resource to own? If so and not, why?
(b) What are the things you think are important in life? To what extent would you go to get these things you yearn to own? Would you mind sacrificing the happiness of others to do so?

Homework

Look at the picture of the three witches. If they were to appear in front of you while you were on your way to school and gave you a prediction on your future, would you believe them? Explain your answer. Your response must be at least 200 words.

William Shakespeare Scavenger Hunt

Find the answers to the following questions and upload your answers onto the blog. Be as creative as you can when presenting your answers on the blog. Include relevant pictures in your presentation. You will need to share your findings to the class at the end of the activity.


Basic Information of Shakespeare

1. Describe Shakespeare’s childhood. Include details about his parents, siblings and education.

2. Give details of his marriage(s).

Shakespeare’s Works

1. Find out the total number of plays written by Shakespeare. What was his first play and when was it published?

2. Name the monarchs that Shakespeare wrote about in his history plays.

3. Name four common themes in Shakespeare’s plays and give the names of the plays in which the themes occur in.

4. Find out the total number of sonnets written by Shakespeare. What was his first sonnet and when was it published?

5. Name three characteristics of Shakespearean sonnets.

6. Approximately how many different words did Shakespeare create in the English Language?

Shakespeare and the Theatre

1. What was the name of the theatre where most of Shakespeare’s plays were made famous?

2. What was the name of the acting group that Shakespeare joined in 1594 with Richard Burbage and Will Kempe?

3. What were some special effects that Shakespeare and his company made on stage during some of his plays?

4. What was the name of the group of people who stood on the ground in front of the stage to watch plays?

5. Who played the female roles in Shakespearean plays?

Shakespearean Images

Find images of the following:

1. William Shakespeare

2. The interior and exterior of a Shakespearean theatre

3. The weapon used to murder King Duncan

4. The item which claimed to prove Desdemona's infidelity

5. The symbol of justice, likely to be used by Shylock to ensure that Antonio’s debt is paid in full

6. Clothes worn by male characters in the play 'Macbeth'

Quotes from Shakepeare

In which plays do you find the following lines?

1. Fair is foul, and foul is fair

2. If I be waspish, best beware my sting

3. The quality of mercy is not strain’d

4. False face must hide what the false heart doth know

5. To be, or not to be: that is the question

6. Come not between the dragon and his wrath

Teaching Macbeth

How are we suppose to teach a lit text using a blog? We don't really know, but we will explore (or at least attempt to). Our timeline for their activites (for this assignment) is 5 weeks. Let's see what we can do to liven up the otherwise (somewhat) tiresome Shakespearean text.