Least Tern > Shakespeare > Midsummer Home

Shakespeare Theme Park

Ye are summarily charg-ed with the responsibilite for advising ye Teacher on one important aspect of the new
Shakespeare Theme Park.

Essential Question ~ Task ~ Topics/Groups

Questions to Research ~ Other Resources

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Proceed thusly, swiftly and truly,

And duly submit thy work timely and fully

At the close of class on assignment day

To the Mistress or Master of ye Classe.

Translation: You are assigned the full responsibility for advising your teacher on one important aspect of the new Shakespeare Theme Park. You must use the resources assigned to your task.

Essential Question: What attraction would best teach the history & amuse and interst the modern visitor?

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Task: Theme Park Features - You will be assigned to a group that will develop one of the below features at the park. Working with your group, you must design on paper/computer and describe in a PowerPoint presentation your theme park features:

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Topics/Groups:

Medicine - Research medicine and dentistry in Shakespeare's time.

The Court - Research life, rules, intrigue, plots at Elizabeth's court.

Crime & punishment - Research both, including "family crimes."

Food - Foods and food preparation of the Court & in the everyday house.

Weddings - Ceremonies, how "matches were made," engagements, divorce.

Music, entertainment & dancing - How did the nobles and the common folk entertain themselves, and where?

The Plague - Research this disease in England, 1550-1625

Shakespeare and Elizabeth - Research the biographies of both important figures, learn what was happening elsewhere

Fashion - Research what people wore, when they wore it, at the Court, middle and working class everyday

Globe Theater - Research the theater where Shakespeare's plays were performed

Education - Research the content of education for the nobles & the commoners

Games - Research games played by all classes of people in Shakespeare's times, including gambling games

Language, pronunciation, insults - EVERYONE WILL BE DOING THIS

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You will be responsible as a group for a printed answer to all of the Questions for your task.

 

 

Questions:

Medicine:

  1. What are the "humours" and how should we explain them to visitors?
  2. What tools used in medicine should we have on display?
  3. What "medicine or treatments" did you learn about? Where did they come from? Be specific.
  4. What did "dentists" do during Shakespeare's time?
  5. What other interesting things did you learn?
  6. What should the "Medicine" section of the Park look like and what props and notices should it contain?
  7. Resources:

Weddings:

    1. Describe the "engagement."
    2. Who decided who you would marry?
    3. Describe the wedding ceremony.
    4. Describe what the bride and groom might wear.
    5. Who else was at the ceremony?
    6. What should the "Marriage" section of the Park look like and what "fake actors" and props should it contain?
    7. Resources:

Games:

  1. What were the games played by children (and known by adults)?
  2. What gambling games were played?
  3. Were any games played that might help learning?
  4. Where were games played?
  5. What should the "games" section of the Park look like and what props should it contain?
  6. What specific game can we teach the children who visit the Park?
  7. Resources:

Music , Dancing & Entertainment:

  1. Locate and play some music for the class (online)
  2. Describe at least 4 musical instruments.
  3. What did traveling entertainers/musicians add to society? Who did they work for? How were they paid?
  4. What other entertainments did Shakespeare's audience enjoy? Describe them.
  5. What should the Music/Entertainment section of the Park look like and what props (or real living things) should it contain?
  6. What dance can we teach to the visitors to the Park? Be prepared to teach the class.
  7. Resources:

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The Plague:

    1. First make sure you are reading about the right Plague.
    2. Describe the disease's effects on the sick and on the communities.
    3. What spread the disease?
    4. How many died?
    5. What was done with the bodies?
    6. What medicine was used?
    7. How did the Plague effect the laws or rules in the cities?
    8. What did people do to avoid catching the disease?
    9. What should the Plague section of the Park contain? What should be the setting? What signs might be posted there?
    10. Resources:

Shakespeare & Elizabeth - these will be the tour guides

  1. Summarize what is known of his life and her life.
  2. Make sure everyone sees a good picture of each.
  3. Explain at what point in his career Shakespeare wrote Midsummer Night's Dream.
  4. What were Elizabeth's years of rule?
  5. What was going during their lifetimes in:
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • France
    • China
    • North America
    • India
    • North Africa (Egypt or Libya would be good)

    6. What should the tour guides say? Write at least 2 sentences for each guide, remembering that this is the Shakespeare Theme Park.
    7. Resources:

Globe Theater:

      1. Locate a picture of the theater, as we think it looked.
      2. Explain Shakespeare's relationship to the Globe.
      3. Explain who sat where in the theater.
      4. Find out what you can about the props and "mechanical devices" used in the theater.
      5. What can you tell us about the actors?
      6. Where do you think the visitors to the Park should sit?
      7. Resources:

Food & Drink:

      1. Describe a feast, probably at Court or for a noble's wedding
      2. Describe "everyday food" of the common man
      3. What are some of the spices and flavorings that would have been used?
      4. How would a table have been set (plates, cups, utensils)?
      5. What drinks would be served to adults? To children?
      6. How could you create a space for both low-paying and high-paying customers in the same restaurant at the Park? Describe the spaces.
      7. Resources:

The Court of Queen Elizabeth:

      1. Describe some of the activities that might have taken place during a day at court. Include evening entertainments.
      2. Who would have been at Court?
      3. What "rules" would have applied in the company of the Queen?
      4. Who protected the life of the Queen?
      5. What were some of the "plots" against the Queen?
      6. Did Elizabeth's court have a "fool"? What can you find out about him?
      7. What should the Court in the Park look like? What rules should be posted for visitors? Who will enforce the rules and how?
      8. Resources:

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Fashion:

      1. Describe the clothes worn by the nobility (wealthy).
      2. Describe the clothes worn by the middle class (merchants).
      3. Describe the clothes worn by the working class & the poor.
      4. Describe the clothes worn by children.
      5. Describe men's and women's hairstyles.
      6. Describe some "accessories" worn by men and by women.
      7. What costumes do you suggest for the "street people" and for the "nobility" of the Park?
      8. Resources:

Education:

    1. What would have been the main topics of an English upper class or noble class education?
    2. What would have been the content of a middle or lower class girl's education?
    3. How were girls educated?
    4. How many people in England could read? What did they read?
    5. Tell us about "printing" in Shakespeare's time.
    6. How can we put "book sellers" into the Park? What should be sold?
    7. Resources:

Crime & Punishment:

      1. Describe 5 crimes and their punishments.
      2. What happened to the people who could not pay their debts?
      3. How did people react to public executions?
      4. Describe The Tower (of London). Who went there? Who were some of the famous people who were locked up there?
      5. What happened to a man who beat his wife?
      6. Were there any lawyers?
      7. What kind of "lock up" should we include in the Park? What representative people might be in the cells? (be specific)
      8. What punishment tools or machines should we include?
      9. Resources:

Language:

      1. How did the Elizabethans pronounce words?
      2. What were some favorite insults?
      3. Why did they write in a rhythm they did not speak? Or did they speak it?
      4. Provide at least 10 good phrases for our "peace keepers" to learn.
      5. Resources:

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Least Tern

Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain 8/19/02