PLAY ON EDUCATION

Shakespeare for all

Why Play On?

Are you a teacher dealing with a hectic workload, disengaged students and the pressure of delivering the best outcomes with very few resources?

Even though the internet is teeming with lesson plans, resources and translations, a lot of what is out there doesn’t do what we need it to. What’s the point downloading one-off lesson plans that you then have to spend your time re-designing to work for your students or for your school policy?

In response to this, we decided to create a framework that would allow us and the students to explore any scene from any Shakespeare play in a rigorous yet engaging way. We thought that using a common framework in both Drama and English would allow students to develop their interpretive and analytical skills across the two disciplines and would also encourage them to begin looking at scenes independently using the tools they have developed in lessons.

The Play On Toolkit is something that any school can use, regardless of resources, budget or cohort. Since starting to use this framework in school, it’s revolutionised the way we plan and work together, and we’re seeing some amazing results from our students.

The Play On Method

We have divided the Play On Method into two strands:

-          A set of key teaching approaches to use with any text

-          Planning materials for each key scene

After developing a secure grounding in each of these, you’ll be able to mix-and-match your teaching approaches to suit the class while also ensuring that key content and ideas are covered. When students become familiar with this approach, they’ll be far less afraid of Shakespeare’s work and, once the fear is gone, the joy begins.

We’ve tried hard to ensure that we never dumb Shakespeare down. Students are able to access language in ways we never thought possible if we give them the chance and the security to do so.

 

The Play On Toolkit

Key features:

  • Designed to be accessed by anyone teaching English and Drama at Key Stages 2/3, GCSE, A Level and IB. From NQT to experienced classroom teacher, Middle to Senior Leader. 

  • The Play On Toolkit will enable ALL students to accelerate their engagement with Shakespeare’s dramatic world, deepen their understanding of the plays and achieve their full potential in public exams. 

  • Pupil Premium students will gain the confidence to approach complex characters and Shakespeare’s language. High Prior Attaining students will be stretched and challenged to imagine the text in a way that unlocks the potential for enhanced exam performance. 

Click here to discover more about our unique, free-to-access digital learning resources:

 

tEACHER cpdl AND sCHOOLS WORKSHOPS

Project Macbeth delivered three full day CDPL sessions working with a blend of 15 teachers and PGCE students to share our 5 step approach over the year with Cheek by Jowl's Associate Director Marcus Roche. Teacher’s from Compass School Southwark, Elm Green, City Heights Academy and St Thomas Apostle worked along PGSE students from University of Roehampton School of Education to develop classroom tools for approaching the play. Compass School demonstrated that in one class of 30 students each one made an average 10-15% increase on their year 10 mock grade having worked with the new approach.

We offer a blend of CPDL for teachers and live workshops for students delivered by the Play On team. Click on the link for more information.


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