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Fairyland Art of A Midsummers Night's Dream

Subject: English

Grade Level: 10-12

Materials: Computers with MS PowerPoint and Internet connection; text of Shakepeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

About: Students study the play by Shakespeare, then research art of the Fairyland characters, primarily in the collections of Emory University and the Tate Museum in London. Students then match paintings to the actual quotes in the play, with act, scene, and line numbers, and develop that into a narrated slide show in PowerPoint.

Students narrate their own PowerPoint slide show featuring the artwork they have researched. They discuss each painting, including why they chose it, what they have learned about the artist who painted it, and how it matches with a plot point in the play.

The unit involves learning a Shakespearean play; mastering techniques in PowerPoint such as slide design, timing, animation, formatting, and layout; and using the Internet as a research tool to learn about paintings and artists.

This project adds a visual dimension to a classic play. It synthesizes technology, art, art history, and, of course, Shakespeare's beautiful text.

 Objectives
Students develop an appreciation for Shakespeare's use of language, and demonstrate an understanding of the plot points in the play and the traits of the main characters.
Students demonstrate a mastery of the fundamentals of PowerPoint.
Students show knowledge of the artists who painted the Fairyland characters, and their work.
Students demonstrate ability to use the Internet and familiarity with the collections at Emory University and the Tate Museum of London.

Websites
Emory University; Shakespeare Illustrated
http://shakespeare.emory.edu/illustrated_playdisplay.cfm?playid=20
The Tate Museum
http://tate-images.com/results.asp

Standards
Students read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.
10-12
English
Students read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.
10-12
English
Students read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction.
10-12
English
Students identify and define the uses and parts of a computer.
10-12
Technology
Students know and use technical vocabulary.
10-12
Technology
Students understand basic computer operations.
10-12
Technology
Students are able to manipulate file basics.
10-12
Technology
Students behave responsibly when using computers.
10-12
Technology
Students use age-appropriate electronic resources.
10-12
Technology
Students create products.
10-12
Technology
Students use the Internet.
10-12
Students select appropriate technologies for a given project, using appropriate software, such as Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint.
10-12

Day 1: Writing a Character Analysis of the characters Oberon, Titania and Puck for a children's book
Objectives
Students demonstrate a knowledge of the characters Oberon, Titania, and Puck.
Students use language to inform.
Materials
Text of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Looseleaf paper and pen
Procedures
Elicit characteristics from students about each of three characters. Focus on physical characteristics and motivations for each character.
In groups, have students develop biographies for each of the characters (target audience: children in 4th grade who have never seen the play).
Share with class.
Homework
Find at least one quote that matches with a character trait you have written about. Match a quote in the text to each character.
Assessment
Oral report

Day 2: Introduction to PowerPoint
Objectives
Mastery of creating a file
Mastery of slide design
Creation and manipulation of text boxes
Creating a title
Materials
PowerPoint software
Procedures
Students open program, create file, and save.
Students are taught about views and task pane.
Students create slide design for title slide.
Students learn to place title in text boxes and manipulate the boxes and the content within them.
Students create title slide content, title, and byline.
Students are instructed to review the Shakespeare Illustrated site at Emory University.
Students select one painting for title slide and save work.
Homework
Read about Richard Dadd and his place in Victorian Art in any encyclopedia; write down something you learned and the source of that information.
Assessment
Examination of PowerPoint slide show

Day 3: Matching art with quotes from text
Objectives
Demoinstrating a knowledge of the Fairyland art
Through critical analysis, matching artwork to plot points in the play, and suitable quotes
Copying and pasting into slide show
Using picture tool bar; cropping and re-sizing pictures
Materials
PowerPoint software
Internet access
Text of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Procedures
Return to Emory University site and review works.
Sort pictures into chronological order.
Copy and paste picture into second slide in show.
Use picture toolbar to re-size and crop.
Place artist, title of picture, and year painted into title box of slide.
Find quote that goes along with picture.
Place quote underneath picture.
In notes view, write why you chose this picture.
Save your work.
Homework
Students research and write bio of Victorian Art.
Assessment
Informal assessment of students' PowerPoint work as teacher walks from computer to computer

Day 4: Developing the slide show
Objectives
Matching pictures to chronological plot points and quotes
Animation and slide transitions
Materials
PowerPoint software
Internet access
Text of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Procedures
Students choose pictures for their five-picture slide show.
Students cut, paste, crop, and re-size pictures.
Students set animations transitions and slide designs for each slide.
Students write matching quote in text box below picture.
Homework
Research and write a biography of Joseph Noel Paton.
Assessment
Question: Why do you think Victorian England embraced the Fairyland characters of Elizabethan England?

Day 5: Presentation of Slide Show
Objectives
Mastery of public speaking
Mastering tecnology of presenting a slide show
Relating artwork to text
Materials
Projector
Computer
Email access
Procedures
Students email teacher their projects as attachments, which are then saved.
Students present their shows, advancing slides on the computer.
Students are peer-graded based on content and delivery.
Homework
Assessment
Peer review grade sheets

Joseph Zwerling

jzwerli@schools.nyc.gov

Brooklyn Comprehensive Night High School
6565 Flatlands Ave, 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11236

Mr. Zwerling has been teaching English in Brooklyn Comprehensive Night High School since 1993. During this time, both he and his students have been honored with awards. In 2002, Mr. Zwerling won an award from the Bertelsmann New Media Workshop for Best Lesson Plan on 9/11, and in 1997 he received an award for Excellence in Teaching from the District Superintendent. He has also had essay award winners: in the last two years, his students have won one city-wide and two borough-wide awards in the United Way Essay contests. Mr. Zwerling holds a Masters in English and an undergraduate degree in Speech and Theater from Brooklyn College. He enjoys teaching playwriting, public speaking, and dramatic literature; and was among the first to infuse technology into the classroom. His unit on a Midsummer Night 's Dream includes student slide shows in MS PowerPoint based on "Fairyland" art primarily of the 19th and 20th Centuries currently available at collections online. Before teaching, Mr. Zwerling had been a performer for 15 years, principally as a mime, and the highlight of his career was performing at Carnegie Hall in 1983 with the St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra. He hopes to continue his innovative teaching, for it allows him to bring both his expertise as an English teacher and his talent as a performing artist into the classroom.


Important documents for this lesson plan.

Francis Danby.doc
Richard Dadd.doc
Henry Fuseli.doc
Sir Joseph Noel Paton.doc
William Blake.doc

 

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