EAL Nexus: Teachers’ notes
MACBETH ACT 1
KEY STAGE(S): 3-4
SUBJECT(S): English
TOPIC: Macbeth
LANGUAGE LEVEL: New to English - Early
acquisition
RESOURCE CONTENTS
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Scene-by-scene summaries of Macbeth Act 1 in accessible English
Two lists of key words or phrases to accompany each scene summary
Set of pictures to accompany first list for each scene (second list is words or phrases
for translation)
DARTs activities to go with each scene summary
Answers to the DARTs activities so learners can correct their own work
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES
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To understand the plot of Macbeth
To become familiar with the main characters and the motivation for their actions
To reflect on the main themes of the play
Language functions
Useful Language
Describing
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Simple past tense
Time connectives: before, during, after
Predicting
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Future tense
One day … will …
… will become …
… will never become …
Comparing
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More than / less than
____er than / not as … as
Vocabulary
Language used in the scene summaries and accompanying key words/phrases is as
simple as possible in terms of structure, but includes vocabulary that is fairly unusual but
likely to be frequently used in class in relation to this text, e.g. prophecy, thane, dagger.
PREPARATION
You will need:
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a copy of the set of flashcards for the EAL beginner(s)
copies of all worksheets for each EAL beginner in the class.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: Teachers’ notes
You will need to:
•
make flashcards by printing out the PowerPoint file as two-to-a-page handouts
(recommended) or six-to-a-page for smaller cards and then cutting them up. These can
be laminated for reuse.
IDEAS FOR USING THE RESOURCE
What to do
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Scene summaries are provided for the learner to read instead of the text. Learners can
be given the scene summary to read in advance of work in class on that scene / before
watching any film version that is being used. Scene summaries can also be read in
advance with a teaching assistant.
If the EAL learner has a family member with good English literacy they may be able to
help them read the scene summary at home before the lesson, or re-read it afterwards to
check understanding and ensure the translations are accurate.
EAL learners can be paired with a supportive peer who can provide a good model of
English and can read the scene summary with them.
EAL learners who share a first language can work together to read the scene summaries
and translate key words and phrases.
DARTs activities are provided on the scene summaries to make sure the EAL learner
understands the plot. These activities focus on plot, character and the main themes of
the play.
Speaking and writing activities are included that highlight specific features of English
explicitly. These activities focus on language needed for describing, predicting and
comparing.
The visuals in this resource pack are useful to provide a context and to reduce the need
for key words and phrases to be translated. This means that translation can be focused
on the more abstract language needed to understand the plot and main themes of the
play, e.g. power and corruption.
The EAL learner can be given a highlighter pen to highlight unfamiliar words in the scene
summaries as they read them. As these words are explained they can write the
translation of the word or phrase on the sheets.
Each scene summary has a list of key words or phrases to translate. This can be done
by the learner themselves, a family member, a teacher, teaching assistant or student
who shares the language, with the use of a bilingual dictionary or translation software.
Other ideas for making the best use of this resource
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Some of the activities in the pack, for example predicting what will happen later in the
play or creating sentences based on the substitution table for Scenes 5 and 6, can be
carried out as collaborative group or pair work. Early stage EAL learners could be
grouped with supportive peers who can provide good models of English for them.
Learners who share a language may find it helpful to discuss themes of the play in their
first language before trying to talk about them in English. e.g. predicting what will happen
at the end of the play.
If a piece of extended writing is required, learners with good L1 literacy skills may find it
helpful to write in their first language first and then translate it with support from a family
member, a teacher, teaching assistant or supportive peer.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: Teachers’ notes
POSSIBLE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Some of the DARTs activities generate sentences that can be used to scaffold a more
extended piece of writing. For example, the substitution table for Scenes 5 and 6.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs
Macbeth Act 1: Scene Summaries
Scene 1 On the heath
There is thunder and lightning. Three witches come in. They decide to meet
again on the heath before sunset. They are going to meet Macbeth there.
Key words or phrases with pictures
the heath
sunset
three witches
thunder and lightning
three witches
Macbeth
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to decide
to meet
before sunset
Scene 2 An army camp near Duncan’s palace at Forres
The King of Scotland, Duncan, and his sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, are
waiting for news about a battle. A soldier tells them that two Scotsmen,
called Macbeth and Banquo, have won the battle. Macbeth fought very
bravely. In the battle Macbeth and Banquo fought against Duncan’s
enemies, the King of Norway and a traitor, the Thane of Cawdor. (A Thane
is a powerful and important man in Scotland.) The Thane of Cawdor is now
a prisoner. Duncan says the Thane of Cawdor should be killed and
Macbeth will become the new Thane of Cawdor because he fought so
bravely in the battle.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Key words or phrases with pictures
Banquo
a battle
to fight (fought)
Malcolm
Donalbain
the King of Norway
a prisoner
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation
Duncan
Macbeth
a soldier
Meaning
an army camp
to become
bravely
to be killed
king
enemy
powerful and
important
Thane
A powerful and important man in
Scotland
a traitor
to wait for news
to win (won)
Scene 3 On the heath
Macbeth and Banquo are coming back from the battle when they meet the
three witches on the heath. The first witch calls Macbeth ‘Thane of Glamis’.
This is not surprising because ‘Thane of Glamis’ is Macbeth’s title. The
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
second witch calls Macbeth ‘Thane of Cawdor’. Macbeth is surprised
because he does not know that Duncan has given him the title of Thane of
Cawdor. The third witch says that one day Macbeth will become king.
The witches also talk to Banquo. They say three things to him.
▪
He is not so important as Macbeth, and more important.
▪
He is not so lucky as Macbeth, and luckier.
▪
He will not become king, but his sons will become kings.
Ross and Angus come in. They tell Macbeth that the Thane of Cawdor has
been killed and that Duncan has given him the title. Macbeth realises that
the witches’ first prophecy has come true. He begins to wonder if their
second prophecy will come true and he will become king.
Key words or phrases with pictures
to become king
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation
Meaning
to call
to come true
first, second and
third
luckier
more important
not so important
not so lucky
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
one day (in the
future)
a prophecy
to realise
surprised
surprising
Term of respect added to a person’s
name, e.g. Mr, Mrs, Prince, Queen
title
to wonder
Scene 4 Duncan’s Palace at Forres
Malcolm tells his father, King Duncan, that the Thane of Cawdor has been
killed.
Macbeth and Banquo arrive. Duncan thanks Macbeth and Banquo for
fighting bravely in the battle. Duncan then tells everybody that he is giving
the title of Prince of Cumberland to his son, Malcolm. He makes it clear
that Malcolm will be King of Scotland after Duncan dies.
Macbeth realises that, for the witches’ prophecy to come true and for him
to become king, Malcolm will have to die as well as Duncan. Duncan says
he will visit Macbeth’s castle.
Key words or phrases with pictures
a castle
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
a palace
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation
Meaning
after he dies
as well as
father
to make it clear
prince
to realise
to thank
to visit
Scene 5 Macbeth’s Castle at Inverness
Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, is reading a letter from her husband. The
letter tells Lady Macbeth about Macbeth’s meeting with the witches and
about the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth decides that Macbeth must kill
Duncan, but she is worried that he will not do it. She decides she must
give her husband the courage to murder the king.
A messenger arrives from Macbeth warning his wife that Duncan is coming
to stay at their castle. Macbeth arrives and talks to his wife. They decide
that Macbeth must kill Duncan that night, while he is staying at their
castle.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Lady Macbeth
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
letter
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation
Meaning
courage
husband
to murder
to warn
wife
worried
Scene 6
Macbeth’s castle at Inverness
Duncan and his sons arrive at Macbeth’s castle. Lady Macbeth welcomes
them politely.
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to arrive
politely
to welcome
Scene 7 Macbeth’s castle at Inverness
Macbeth is alone. He tries to decide if he should murder Duncan or not. He
decides he will not because Duncan is his king, his relative and his guest.
Lady Macbeth arrives. She persuades Macbeth to murder Duncan. Lady
Macbeth has made a plan. She will make sure the two grooms who guard
the king are drunk. Macbeth will kill Duncan, using the grooms’ daggers.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Then he will smear blood on the grooms so everybody will think they have
killed Duncan.
Key words or phrases with pictures
a dagger
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation
Meaning
alone
blood
drunk
grooms
The men guarding Duncan
to guard
a guest
to make a plan
to make sure
to persuade
a relative
to smear
to try
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Act One: Scenes 1 and 2
What do we find out about Macbeth?
Put the words in the hexagons in the right order to make sentences
about Macbeth.
is
Macbeth a
soldier
brave
want
Three
Macbeth
to meet
witches
fought
lives
Macbeth
Macbeth
enemies
Scotland
Duncan’s
and
Macbeth
of Norway
against
Banquo
the battle
King
Duncan
the
won
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
in
Macbeth
Thane
Cawdor
of
make
will
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Act One: Scene 2
The battle
Fill in the names of the characters:
____________________ is the King of Scotland.
Duncan’s friends
Duncan’s enemies
_______________
(a brave soldier)
The King of ____________
_______________
The _________ of _________
(another Scotsman)
(a traitor)
Before, during and after the battle
Choose a word from the box to complete the sentences:
before
during
after
Macbeth became Thane of Cawdor _______ the battle.
___________ the battle three witches met on the heath.
Macbeth and Banquo fought bravely ___________ the battle.
__________ the battle a soldier brought Duncan and his sons
news.
_________ the battle the Thane of Cawdor fought against Duncan.
The Thane of Cawdor was killed ___________ the battle.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs
Act One: Scene 3
What the witches say to Macbeth
Match the witch with what she says to Macbeth:
One day you will be King
Hello Thane of Cawdor!
First witch
Second witch
Third witch
Hello Thane of Glamis!
What the witches say to Banquo
Match the two halves to form three sentences:
You are more
You are not as
but also
important
lucky as
luckier than
than Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth.
But your sons will
You will never
But also less
become
become King
important than
Kings of Scotland
of Scotland
Macbeth.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs
Act One: Scene 4
Copy the table below and sort the thoughts into what Duncan is
thinking and what Macbeth is thinking.
Duncan’s thoughts
I can’t become king
unless Malcolm and
Duncan both die.
Macbeth’s thoughts
I want my son, Malcolm,
to become King when I
die.
He is a brave soldier
and I can trust him.
I will reward him by
making him Thane of
Cawdor.
If he comes to my
castle I will have a
chance to kill him.
I will be safe at his
castle because I
can trust him.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs
Predicting what will happen in the play
Fill in the table putting things that you think will happen in the Very
likely column and things that you think won’t happen in the Not very
likely column. You can use the suggestions below and add more of
your own.
Very likely
Not very likely
• Lady Macbeth will kill Duncan.
• Macbeth will kill Duncan.
• Duncan will kill Macbeth.
• Macbeth will kill Lady Macbeth.
• Macbeth will become king.
• Banquo will become king.
• Malcolm will become king.
• All of the witches’ prophecies will come true.
• Some of the witches’ prophecies will come true.
• None of the witches’ prophecies will come true.
What do you think?
Write three sentences about what you think will happen in the play:
1. I think …
2. I also think that …
3. At the end of the play I think …
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Act One: Scenes 5 and 6
True or False?
Put a tick (✓) by the true statements and a cross (×) by the false
ones.
✓ or ×
Lady Macbeth wants her husband to kill Duncan so
he will become king.
Lady Macbeth does not believe the witches
prophecies.
Lady Macbeth is worried her husband will want to
kill Duncan and become king.
Lady Macbeth is worried her husband will not have
enough courage to kill Duncan.
Use the substitution table below to make some sentences about
what Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are thinking and doing during
these two scenes.
politely.
Macbeth
reads the letter
When
he
she
they
arrive at the
castle
must kill
Duncan.
thinks
Lady Macbeth
welcomes
is worried
arrives at the
castle
talks to
decide to
talk together
Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
her husband won't kill
Duncan.
kill Duncan
Duncan and
his sons
his wife
she
about
what to
do.
must give
him
courage.
that
night.
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Act One: Scene 7
• Colour in the clouds that show what Macbeth is thinking in blue.
• Colour in the clouds that show what Lady Macbeth is thinking in
red.
• Arrange Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s thoughts in the table
according to if they are thinking about whether to kill Duncan or
how to kill Duncan.
I shouldn’t kill him
because he is my king.
If I kill him I
can become king.
I shouldn’t kill him
because he is my relative.
I will make sure the
two grooms are drunk.
I shouldn’t kill him
because I am his host.
He should use the
grooms’ daggers.
He should smear the grooms
with Duncan’s blood.
Whether to kill Duncan
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
How to kill Duncan
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EAL Nexus: DARTs
Conclusion
Fill in the gaps to complete the two sentences:
1.
At the end of Act 1 Macbeth is trying to decide
__________ to kill Duncan.
2.
At the end of Act 1 Lady Macbeth is trying to decide
_______ to ___________ ____________ .
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Act One: Scenes 1 and 2
What do we find out about Macbeth?
Put the words in the hexagons in the right order to make sentences
about Macbeth.
Macbeth is a
brave soldier
Macbeth
fought
Duncan’s
Three witches want
to meet Macbeth
Macbeth lives
in Scotland
enemies
Macbeth and Banquo won the
Duncan will make
battle against the King of
Macbeth thane of
Norway
Cawdor
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Act One: Scene 2
The battle
Fill in the names of the characters:
_____Duncan____ is the King of Scotland.
Duncan’s friends
Duncan’s enemies
_____Macbeth___
(a brave soldier)
The King of ___Norway___
____Banquo___
The _Thane_ of __Cawdor_
(another Scotsman)
(a traitor)
Before, during and after the battle
Choose a word from the box to complete the sentences:
before
during
after
Macbeth became Thane of Cawdor _after_ the battle.
_Before_ the battle three witches met on the heath.
Macbeth and Banquo fought bravely _during__ the battle.
_After_ the battle a soldier brought Duncan and his sons news.
_During_ the battle the Thane of Cawdor fought against Duncan.
The Thane of Cawdor was killed __after__ the battle.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Act One: Scene 3
What the witches say to Macbeth
Match the witch with what she says to Macbeth:
One day you will be King
Hello Thane of Cawdor!
First witch
Second witch
Third witch
Hello Thane of Glamis!
What the witches say to Banquo
Match the two halves to form three sentences:
You are more
You are not as
but also
important
lucky as
luckier than
than Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth.
But your sons will
You will never
But also less
become
become King
important than
Kings of Scotland
of Scotland
Macbeth.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Act One: Scene 4
Copy the table below and sort the thoughts into what Duncan is
thinking and what Macbeth is thinking.
Duncan’s thoughts
•
•
•
•
I want my son, Malcolm, to become
king when I die.
I will reward him by making him Thane
of Cawdor.
I will be safe at his castle because I can
trust him.
He is a brave soldier and I can trust
him.
Macbeth’s thoughts
•
•
I can’t become king
unless Malcolm and
Duncan both die.
I can’t become king unless Malcolm
and Duncan both die.
If he comes to my castle I will have a
chance to kill him.
I want my son, Malcolm,
to become King when I
die.
He is a brave soldier
and I can trust him.
I will reward him by
making him Thane of
Cawdor.
If he comes to my
castle I will have a
chance to kill him.
I will be safe at his
castle because I
can trust him.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Predicting what will happen in the play
Fill in the table putting things that you think will happen in the Very
likely column and things that you think won’t happen in the Not very
likely column. You can use the suggestions below and add more of
your own.
Very likely
Not very likely
Lady Macbeth will kill Duncan.
Macbeth will kill Duncan.
Duncan will kill Macbeth.
Macbeth will kill Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth will become king.
There are no right or
wrong answers to this
activity – you are being
asked your opinion.
Banquo will become king.
Malcolm will become king.
All of the witches’ prophecies will come true.
Some of the witches’ prophecies will come true.
None of the witches’ prophecies will come true.
What do you think?
Write three sentences about what you think
will happen in the play:
1. I think …
2. I also think that …
There are no right or
wrong answers to this
activity – you are being
asked your opinion.
3. At the end of the play I think …
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Act One: Scenes 5 and 6
True or False?
Put a tick (✓) by the true statements and a cross (×) by the false
ones.
✓ or ×
Lady Macbeth wants her husband to kill Duncan so
he will become king.
Lady Macbeth does not believe the witches
prophecies.
Lady Macbeth is worried her husband will want to
kill Duncan and become king.
Lady Macbeth is worried her husband will not have
enough courage to kill Duncan.
✓
×
×
✓
Use the substitution table below to make some sentences about
what Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are thinking and doing during
these two scenes.
politely.
Macbeth
reads the letter
When
he
she
they
arrive at the
castle
must kill
Duncan.
thinks
Lady Macbeth
welcomes
is worried
arrives at the
castle
talks to
decide to
talk together
Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
her husband won't kill
Duncan.
kill Duncan
Duncan and
his sons
his wife
she
about
what to
do.
must give
him
courage.
that
night.
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
There are lots of different sentences you could make using the
table. Here are some examples:
• When he arrives at the castle, Macbeth talks to his wife about
what to do.
• When they talk together, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth decide to
kill Duncan that night.
• When she reads the letter, Lady Macbeth is worried her
husband won’t kill Duncan.
• When they arrive at the castle, Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan
and his sons politely.
Act One: Scene 7
Colour in the clouds that show what Macbeth is thinking in blue.
Colour in the clouds that show what Lady Macbeth is thinking in
red.
Arrange Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s thoughts in the table
according to if they are thinking about whether to kill Duncan or
how to kill Duncan.
I shouldn’t kill him
because he is my king.
If I kill him I
can become king.
I shouldn’t kill him
because he is my relative.
I will make sure the
two grooms are drunk.
I shouldn’t kill him
because I am his host.
He should use the
grooms’ daggers.
He should smear the grooms
with Duncan’s blood.
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk
EAL Nexus: DARTs answers
Whether to kill Duncan
How to kill Duncan
• If I kill him I can become
king.
• I will make sure the two
grooms are drunk.
• I shouldn’t kill him because
he is my king.
• He should use the grooms’
daggers.
• I shouldn’t kill him because I
am his host.
• He should smear the grooms
with Duncan’s blood.
• I shouldn’t kill him because
he is my relative.
Conclusion
Fill in the gaps to complete the two sentences:
1.
At the end of Act 1 Macbeth is trying to decide
___whether_ to kill Duncan.
2.
At the end of Act 1 Lady Macbeth is trying to decide
__how__ to _kill_ _Duncan_ .
EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
www.bell-foundation.org.uk