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Lesson 3 of 3
  • Year 7

Adding movement to Shakespeare

In this lesson, pupils will learn about the mechanical plot and the characters involved. They will explore the difference between poetry and prose and how each is used in Shakespeare's plays. Pupils will act out Bottom's Dream and learn how Shakespeare added secret stage directions in his dialogue.

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View unit
Lesson 3 of 3
  • Year 7

Adding movement to Shakespeare

In this lesson, pupils will learn about the mechanical plot and the characters involved. They will explore the difference between poetry and prose and how each is used in Shakespeare's plays. Pupils will act out Bottom's Dream and learn how Shakespeare added secret stage directions in his dialogue.

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Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by the end of the Spring Term 2026.

These resources below were created for lockdown learning during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching. You may want to download these resources to save them and check any links you've saved or shared. See our help article for more information.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Students will learn about the mechanicals plot and the characters involved. Emphasis on the difference between poetry and prose and how each is used in Shakespeare's plays will follow, and tips on adding movement to Shakespeare. Students will learn and act out Bottom's Dream.

Content guidance

  • Physical activity required.

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
In iambic pentameter, how many beats per line are there?

2
3
4
Correct answer: 5
6

Q2.
True or false: a monologue is a long speech delivered by one actor?

Correct answer: False
True

Q3.
In Shakespeare’s plays, what type of characters speak in poetry?

Correct answer: Characters of high importance in society
Characters of low importance in society

Q4.
In the play A Midsummer Night's Dream, how does Puck get involved in the plot of the lovers?

Puck places a love potion in all the characters' eyes meaning they all fall in love with someone else.
Correct answer: Puck places a love potion in the eyes of Demetrius to make him fall in love with Helena.
Puck places a love potion in the eyes of Hermia to make her fall in love with Demetrius.
Puck places a love potion in the eyes of Lysander to make him fall in love with Hermia

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
In Shakespeare's plays, prose is spoken by which type of character?

Characters of high status
Correct answer: Characters of low status

Q2.
Which of these statements best describes the keyword, prose?

Prose is a heightened form of language that often takes the reader on an emotional or intellectual journey.
Correct answer: Prose is the way we speak to each other in everyday language.

Q3.
Finish the sentence: status is used to describe how _________ a character is.

distant
Correct answer: important
poor
slow

Q4.
Could shrugging your shoulders be considered a gesture?

No
Correct answer: Yes

Q5.
How did Shakespeare communicate stage directions to his actors?

He didn't write any stage directions, he let his actors decide for themselves
He wrote long stage directions for his actors
Correct answer: He wrote secret stage instructions by including them into the words the actors spoke.