Lesson Plan 1—Introduction to Unit
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
2.
Students will use paraphrasing and organizational skills to retain information about
Shakespeare and the Elizabethan era.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Time
10 minutes
Bell Work
Activity
List in journals what you know about William Shakespeare.
Materials
Journals
10 minutes
25 minutes
Review outline for unit Handout
5 minutes
Give background on Shakespeare and Elizabethan era.
Othello text
Review Assignment
Evaluation: Lecture while walking around the classroom to ensure that students are taking notes and staying on task.
Adaptation: Over the course of this unit, the teacher will be available in class sixty minutes before school and sixty minutes after school for students who have questions.
Assignment: If you had the opportunity to live in England during Shakespeare’s time, would you? Why or why not? Responses will be due during the next class period.

Lesson Plan 2 — Background Information and Introduction to Othello
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will identify the characteristics of dramatic verse.
2.
Students will examine Elizabethan terms that occur throughout Shakespeare’s play.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
4.
Students will analyze the basic plot of the play and make predictions about the text.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 3: The student expands vocabulary.
Standard 2: The student responds to a variety of texts.
Benchmark 1: The student uses literary concepts to interpret and respond to texts.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Time
10 minutes
Bell Work
20 minutes
Activity
Write in journal about whether you
think Shakespeare should still be
taught in school. Why or why not?
Define characteristics of dramatic verse Handout and identify examples of literary elements and literary techniques.
Materials
Journals
10 minutes
30 minutes
15 minutes
Discuss worksheet featuring
Elizabethan terms.
Students will participate in “brief improvised role-plays” of situations from the basic plot of Othello .
Handout
Class Discussion
Draw a “Play Map” on the board and tell
Class Discussion students the basic plot of the play, without telling the ending. Ask for predictions about what students think will happen.
5 minutes Review Assignment
Evaluation: Class participation
Accommodations: Students with special needs will be given a copy of the Play Map, a copy of class notes created by the teacher, and textual aids for the play if necessary.
Assignment: Read Act 1.1. Take notes and indicate parts that are hard to understand. Write a reader response entry in journal.

Lesson Plan 3 – Othello , Act 1.1-1.2
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and
contexts.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes
Activity
Describe how your reading of
Act 1.1 went at home.
Materials
Journals
Bellwork
25 minutes Discussion of Act 1.1 Class Discussion
35 minutes Students will take turns acting out
Act 1.2
5 minutes
15 minutes
Assign groups
Evaluation: Class participation
Review drama based research project and oral presentations
Handout
Adaptations: Groups will be assigned by the teacher to ensure that groups are diverse, which will help to ensure that each project will be distinctive in message and content.
Accommodations: An audio recording of Othello will be made available to students with special needs who struggle reading the text. Conduct listening checks during discussion and during the review of the research project to authenticate comprehension. Special needs students are not required to answer the journal entry prompts, instead they can summarize what they read.
Assignment: Finish reading Act 1.2 for the next class.

Lesson Plan 4 – Othello , Act 1.2
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse. .
3.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
4.
Students will strengthen their ability to collaborate successfully with other students through assigned pair/group work.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive). conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw
Time
30 minutes
20 minutes
Benchmark 1: The student writes narrative text using the writing process.
Indicator 5: Applies appropriate strategies to generate narrative (e.g. brainstorming, listing, webbing, working in pairs or cooperative groups and identifying information from print sources).
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Activity
Discussion of Act 1.2
Group meeting time to discuss ideas for research project/presentations
Materials
Othello text
Class Discussion
Othello text
Evaluation: Class participation
Adaptations: Repeat directions for the drama based research project and presentation. Ask groups if they have any questions about the assignment, and then assist struggling groups accordingly.
Assignment: Read Act 1.3 for next class.

Lesson 5 – Othello , Act 1.3
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 1: The student writes narrative text using the writing process.
Indicator 5: Applies appropriate strategies to generate narrative (e.g. brainstorming, listing, webbing, working in pairs or cooperative groups
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes and identifying information from print sources).
Activity
State who your favorite character
Materials
Journals
Bellwork
30 minutes is so far and explain why.
Discussion of Act 1.3 Class Discussion
50 minutes “Close Reading in Groups” of
1.3.343-447 and answer questions on handout.
Othello text
Handout
Evaluation: Class participation and the “Close Reading in Groups” handout.
Accommodations: Conduct listening checks during discussion and “Close Reading in Groups” to verify comprehension.
Assignment: Finish the “Close Reading in Groups” handout as homework if students don’t finish it in class. Read Act 2.1 for next class.

Lesson 6 – Othello , Act 2.1
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 1: The student writes narrative text using the writing process.
Indicator 5: Applies appropriate strategies to generate narrative (e.g. brainstorming, listing, webbing, working in pairs or cooperative groups
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes and identifying information from print sources).
Activity
Compare Iago’s soliloquy at the end
Materials
Journals
Bellwork
30 minutes
30 minutes of Act 1.3, with his soliloquy at the end of Act 2.1.
Literature Circles Group Discussion
20 minutes
Students will take turns acting out parts of Act 2.2.
Meeting time for group research project/presentations
Turn in journals for informal evaluation
Othello
Othello
text
text
Evaluation: Class participation and Literature Circle Worksheets
Accommodations: If any special needs student struggles with understanding class discussion, then the teacher can make students a copy of notes and important points from each class.
Assignment: Finish reading Act 2.2, and write a journal entry identifying any significant literary elements and literary techniques evident in the play so far.

Lesson 7 – Othello , Act 2.2
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
5 minutes
Activity
Journals returned to students
Materials
20 minutes
20 minutes
Discussion of Act 2.2
Students will take turns acting out
Act 2.3
Class Discussion
Othello text
5 minutes Review homework worksheet
Evaluation: Class participation
Handout
Accommodations: If a special needs student suffers from a writing disability then they can complete their journal entries verbally by speaking into a tape recorder.
Assignment: Read Act 2.3 for next class and complete “In Other Words” worksheet.

Lesson 8 – Othello , Act 2.3
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes
Activity
Write a journal entry analyzing
Materials
Journals
Bellwork how Iago manipulates other characters to serve his own selfish purposes.
Hand in homework assignment.
Class Discussion 30 minutes
25 minutes
Discussion of Act 2.3
Watch Act 2.3 performed in the 1995 feature film Othello starring Laurence
Fishburne and Kenneth Branaugh.
25 minutes Discussion of film clip
Evaluation: Class participation and "In Other Words” worksheet
Othello (film)
Class Discussion
Accommodations: For students with hearing impairments, subtitles can be programmed to run at the bottom of the screen.
Assignment: Read Act 3.1-3.2 for next class.

Lesson 9 – Othello , Act 3.1-3.2
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in an assignment journal.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes
Bellwork
25 minutes
Activity
Is assigning two scenes to read as homework, too much for you to complete? Explain your answer.
Literature Circles
Materials
Journals
Group Discussion
25 minutes
30 minutes
Discussion of Act 3.2
Students will take turns acting out parts of Act 3.3
Class Discussion
Othello
Evaluation: Class participation and Literature Circle worksheets
Accommodations: During class discussion, use listening checks to verify student
comprehension.
text
Assignment: Read Act 3.3 for next class.

Lesson 10 – Othello , Act 3.3
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in an assignment journal.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 1: The student writes narrative text using the writing process.
Indicator 5: Applies appropriate strategies to generate narrative (e.g. brainstorming, listing, webbing, working in pairs or cooperative groups and identifying information from print sources).
Time
10 minutes
Bellwork
20 minutes
Activity
Pretend you are Othello and explain how you think you would react to Iago’s
“suspicions” of Desdemona’s infidelity.
Discussion of Act 3.3
20 minutes
Evaluation: Class participation
Meeting time for group research project/presentations
Materials
Journals
Class Discussion
Othello text
Adaptations: Give students different examples for their projects to help spark their individual creativity. Each group must choose a different scene and time period, and the scene must be approved by the teacher.
Assignment: Read Act 3.4-4.1 for next class.

Lesson 11 – Othello , Act 3.4-4.1
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in an assignment journal.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes
Activity
Explain what you think the handkerchief symbolizes in the play.
Materials
Journals
Bellwork
25 minutes Discussion of Act 3.4 Class Discussion
25 minutes
30 minutes
Discussion of Act 4.1
Students will write a two page essay where they will describe one of the main symbols or motifs in Othello
Evaluation: Class participation explain why it is significant.
, and
Class Discussion
Paper
Othello text
Accommodations: Special needs students may write a one page paper that just lists a few of the symbols and motifs found in the play.
Assignment: Work on essays and read Act 4.2

Lesson 12 – Othello , Act 4.2
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice editing and revising as they learn to assess their own skill level as a writer.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive). contexts.
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and
Benchmark 7: The students use a writing process that includes preparing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing to produce a written text.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
30 minutes
Activity
Edit and revise essays
Materials
Essays
30 minutes
30 minutes
Discussion of Act 4.2
Students will take turns acting out parts of Act 5.1
Evaluation: Class participation
Class Discussion
Othello text
Adaptations: The teacher will work one on one with any special needs student that is struggling with their essay.
Assessment: Finish writing essays and read Act 5.1 for next class.

Lesson 13 – Othello , Act 5.1
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in an assignment journal.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes
Bellwork
20 minutes
Activity
Make predictions about what you think will happen in the last scene.
Turn in essays
Discussion of Act 5.1
Materials
Journals
20 minutes Students will take turns acting out parts of Act 5.2
Class Discussion
Othello text
Evaluation: Class participation and essays.
Accommodations: During class, the teacher will conduct listening checks to verify student comprehension.
Assessment: Finish reading Act 5.2 for the next class.

Lesson 14 – Othello , Act 5.2 / Start Research for Drama Based Research Presentation
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will read Shakespeare’s tragedy
Othello .
2.
Students will analyze Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello using the information they learned about dramatic verse.
3.
Students will practice writing by making entries in their daily journals.
4.
Students will develop increased skills in reading, writing, viewing, listening, and speaking.
Standard 1: The student reads and comprehends texts across the curriculum.
Benchmark 2: The student reads fluently.
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety of texts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive).
Indicator 5: Uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 1: The student writes narrative text using the writing process.
Indicator 5: Applies appropriate strategies to generate narrative (e.g. brainstorming, listing, webbing, working in pairs or cooperative groups
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Time
10 minutes and identifying information from print sources).
Activity
Respond to the end of the play.
Materials
Journals
Bellwork
25 minutes
25 minutes
30 minutes
Discussion of Act 5.2
Discussion over Othello relevance, then and now
Meeting time for group research project/presentations.
’s cultural
Class Discussion
Class Discussion
Othello text
Turn in journals for evaluation.
Evaluation: Class participation and journal evaluations
Accommodations: Teacher will meet with special needs students and talk with them about what they want to do for their presentations. Instead of completing the class assignment, special needs students can choose their favorite passage from the play and tell the class why it’s their favorite.
Assignments: Groups need to choose a section of the play for their projects and have that scene approved by the teacher by the next class period.

Lesson 15 – Research for Project/ Presentations
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will demonstrate that they perform ethical research practices by properly paraphrasing research information, citing all direct quotations and listing all contributing sources.
2.
Students will practice editing and revising as they learn to assess their own skill level as a writer.
3.
Students will explore different mediums of research for their drama based research projects.
4.
Students will compare the societies and cultural views of Othello with those of today through their research projects.
Standard 2: The student responds to a variety of texts.
Benchmark 1: The student uses literary concepts to interpret and respond to texts.
Indicator 2: Analyzes the historical, social, and cultural contextual aspects of the setting and their influence on characters and events in the story or literary text.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 7: The students use a writing process that includes preparing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing to produce a written text.
Time
30 minutes
60 minutes
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Benchmark 1: The student uses effective research practices.
Indicator 2: Locates appropriate print and non-print information using text and technical resources, periodicals, and book indices, including databases and internet.
Benchmark 2: The student uses ethical research practices.
Activity Materials
Tell students they will be conducting research in the library for their projects, but before we go downstairs each group must get their scene approved by me.
Conduct research in the library and work on projects.
Evaluation: Participation points based on conduct performed in groups.
Adaptations: Check with groups to make sure they are choosing appropriate sources for their projects.
Assignments: Students are to meet outside of class to work on their presentations because they will only have one more class period to work on their presentations.

Lesson 16 – Research for Projects/ Presentations
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will demonstrate that they perform ethical research practices by properly paraphrasing research information, citing all direct quotations and listing all contributing sources.
2.
Students will practice editing and revising as they learn to assess their own skill level as a writer.
3.
Students will explore different mediums of research for their drama based research projects.
4.
Students will compare the societies and cultural views of Othello with those of today through their research projects.
Standard 2: The student responds to a variety of texts.
Benchmark 1: The student uses literary concepts to interpret and respond to texts.
Indicator 2: Analyzes the historical, social, and cultural contextual aspects of the setting and their influence on characters and events in the story or literary text.
Standard 3: The student writes effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 7: The students use a writing process that includes preparing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing to produce a written text.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Benchmark 1: The student uses effective research practices.
Indicator 2: Locates appropriate print and non-print information using text and technical resources, periodicals, and book indices, including databases and internet.
Time
50 minutes
Benchmark 2: The student uses ethical research practices.
Activity Materials
Students are to finish work on research projects/presentations.
Evaluation: Participation points will be awarded based on conduct performed by students in groups.
Accommodations: Special needs students are allowed to present on the second day of presentations, which will give them more time to work on their projects.
Assignment: Be ready for fun presentations!

Lesson 17 – Drama Based Research Projects/ Presentations
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will present their completed drama based research projects that incorporate multimedia and/or visual aids, to the class.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Indicator 5: Presents organized statements, reports, and speeches using visuals or media to support meaning, as appropriate.
Time
90 minutes
Activity
Student projects/presentations
Materials
Student generated
Scripts
Evaluation: Student presentations and their scripts
Adaptations: Students that are nervous about performing in front of other students can tape their performance and show the video or dvd to the class.
Assignment: Students who did not perform today, be ready to go for next class.

Lesson 18 – Drama Based Research Projects/ Presentations
Unit – Shakespeare Reincarnated
Objectives:
1.
Students will present their completed drama based research projects that incorporate multimedia and/or visual aids, to the class.
Standard 4: The student applies reading and writing skills to demonstrate learning.
Indicator 5: Presents organized statements, reports, and speeches using visuals or media to support meaning, as appropriate.
Time
90 minutes
Activity
Student projects/presentations
Materials
Student generated
Scripts
Evaluation: Student presentations and their scripts
Adaptations: Students that are nervous about performing in front of other students can tape their performance and show the video or dvd to the class.
Assignment: Enjoy your weekend!