Scaffolding upon last week’s foray into the world and culture of Shakespeare, second grade took a step into the tragic world of Macbeth, one of William Shakespeare’s most well-known and beloved plays. Macbeth is full of mystery, mysticism, intrigue and emotion—all elements that excite children of all ages. We began by imagining what it would be like if I read them the actual play of Macbeth. The students noted that plays aren’t meant to be read–they are meant to be watched and to be experienced visually. They also mentioned how hard it is to understand the language of Elizabethan English. Those students that have seen a performance at Shakespeare and Company (or have been in a production themselves!) said that if you can watch the action it helps to understand the language. We all agreed that perhaps a retelling of the story of Macbeth, rather than a reading of the text, might be a good fit for lower school. In turn, I shared Macbeth: A Shakespeare Storyby Andrew Matthews, a British publication that I purchased at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater which is designed for middle school students as an introductory text. Next week, we plan to explore another book in this series…hint: It’s going to lonely on that island…
