If you’ve never seen Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, you are in for a treat. Despite being written more than 400 years ago, the play’s themes – love, loss, family, anxiety, power – mean it is an action-packed thriller - and this March, the National Theatre is putting on a version of the play especially adapted for audiences aged eight to 12; the perfect Shakespeare KS2 introduction! This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior magazine, along with a sheet of activities designed to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Oracy
Is this Shakespeare worship getting a bit much? It feels like we have an obligation to adore his works without question. Isn’t it time we got over him and focused on stories that are more relevant to life today? Or would you be happy to watch one of his plays if given a modern twist? Surely, if so many people still love his work, there must be something in it. What do you think?
Writing skills
Shakespeare was famous for his extravagant insults. Write a letter of complaint to a shop or restaurant using all of the following Shakespearean slurs: A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse. You juggler! You canker-blossom! Thou hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows.
OR
Write a four-line verse about any subject you like in iambic pentameter.
Investigate
Write a brief fact-file about William Shakespeare including where and when he was born, where he worked and the titles of some of his most famous plays. Challenge: can you write a brief summary of the plot of one of his plays?
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download in our Topical Tuesdays collection.
What is the Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to The Week Junior website.