Is that English?
English during the Renaissance
Grade Level(s): 10
Subject(s): English/Language
Arts, Social Studies
Learner Outcomes: The
students will
find
similarities and differences between Elizabethan English and modern English
utilize
Elizabethan words and phrases
use
the Internet
speak
words in the Elizabethan dialect
create
a piece of fiction using Elizabethan words and phrases
Duration of Lesson: Four
class periods (approximately 45-50 minutes each)
Materials:
paper
and pencil for note taking and class work
copies
of text written in Elizabethan English (i.e., page from King James version
of Bible)
overhead
slides
overhead
pens
copies
of Language Shakespeare Used worksheet
copies
of Insult Contest worksheet
Technology Tools/Courseware:
overhead
projector
word
processor
Internet
Teacher Notes:
Make sufficient copies
of an example of Elizabethan English for Day One
Make
sufficient copies of the worksheets Language
Shakespeare Used and Insult Contest for use
on Days One and Two, respectively.
Make
sure that Internet
consent forms are on file for each student.
Schedule
the computer lab, if necessary.
Have
certificates and/or prizes for the students who win the Insult Contest.
Make
sufficient copies of the fiction rubric.
Make
sufficient copies of the lesson rubric.
Procedures:
Day One
-
Teacher will distribute copies of text
written in Elizabethan English (i.e., King James version of the Bible).
-
Students will read text and make a list
of the similarities and differences between this English and the English
spoken today.
-
Teacher will facilitate class discussion
of the similarities and differences (i.e., What words are used today?
What words are not? Why is this difficult to understand?). Teacher
should put these items on the overhead.
-
Teacher will distribute copies of the
worksheet Language Shakespeare Used.
-
Students will develop their own definitions
for the terms on the worksheet.
-
Teacher will give students the definitions
to the terms on the overhead projector. Teacher may want to give
the students context clues to help them come up with the correct answers.
Day Two
-
Teacher will distribute copies of the
worksheet Insult Contest. (Note: Allow students
several minutes to read through the list; they will find it quite humorous.)
-
Teacher will explain to students that
insults were taken seriously during the Renaissance, as a person's name
and/or reputation was highly prized.
-
Students will develop fifteen insults,
based on the instructions on the worksheet.
-
At completion of worksheet, students
are to pick their best insult to share with the class.
-
One at a time, students will read their
insults to the class. (Note: Students may want to pick a partner
and insult each other as part of the contest.)
-
Students vote for the best insult; the
winner is recognized with a certificate and/or prize.
-
Students will go to the Personalized
Shakespearean Insult Service to get an insult for themselves.
Days Three and Four
-
Students will go the the Pronunciation
Page of the Renaissance Faire web site and listen to each of the eleven
words.
-
Students will pick four words to practice
then share with the teacher.
-
Students will create an original piece
of fiction which contains a minimum of thirty Elizabethan words and/or
phrases used in context. Fiction must be a minimum of 500 words,
completed on the word processor, completed in MLA format,
and be free from grammatical errors.
Modifications:
Exceptional students
may need extended time or teamed with a partner.
Enrichment Activities:
Students
may learn and share with the class an Elizabethan phrase.
Students
may learn and share with the class an Elizabethan song.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Participation
in class discussion
Language
worksheet Answer Key attached
Fiction
assignment Rubric attached
Entire
language lesson Rubric attached
State and National Standards:
West
Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives
English 10
Listening/Spelling 10.1,
10.7
Reading Vocabulary 10.35
Writing Skills 10.39, 10.44,
10.45, 10.49, 10.51
Computer/Technology 10.81, 10.82,
10.83, 10.86
Social Studies 10
History 10.38, 10.54
Computer/Technology 10.63, 10.64
National
Standards
Language Arts 1. Uses
the general skills and strategies of the writing process
Language Arts 2. Uses the stylistic
and rhetorical aspects of writing
Language Arts 3. Uses
grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions
Job/Career Clusters: Fine
Arts/Humanities
References:
Authors:
Duval
High School
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