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Shakespeare in a Snap! A Two Day Way to Teach Julius Caesar

written by: Sarah Degnan Moje • edited by: Tricia Goss • updated: 10/26/2015

Want to cover one more work of Shakespeare in your high school curriculum? English and History teachers, team up for two days of exciting and engaging fun as you begin a quick study of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.

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    Two-Day Julius Caesar Lesson Plan 

    You will need two and a half hours a day to complete this study in two days; however you can always expand the two-day lesson plan so that it covers a period of three to five days if you wish. The best way to teach Caesar is by combining a literary and historical approach, so team up with your partner in the respective department and get busy!

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    Day One

    Open with the overview PowerPoint presentation on Julius Caesar provided here. Then, show the 45-minute National Geographic Documentary on Caesar and spend time reading Act I and Act II aloud in class. Next, show the five-minute History Channel Video “Coroner’s Report on Caesar" and assign a 30 minute writing task that students can email directly to you. Round out day one with assigning study questions for homework.

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    Day Two

    Begin your second day by reading Act III aloud. Then, show students two video clips: Marlon Brando as Marc Antony and Charlton Heston as Marc Antony. Give another half-hour writing task based on the clips. Move on to a technology-focused assignment creating a storyboard. Finally, read the last two acts and give the questions for homework. It will be a two-day experience your students will never forget.

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    Review

    Day One: Julius Caesar

    • Open with overview PowerPoint slide show on Julius Caesar

    • 45-minute National Geographic Documentary on Caesar

    • Read Act I and Act II aloud

    • 5 minute History Channel Video: Coroner’s Report on Caesar

    • Writing Task One: Why does Shakespeare choose to depict the life of Caesar as the life of a tragic hero? How does that conflict with what you learned in the documentary? Thirty minutes to write and email to teacher

    • Complete Act I and Act II study questions.

    Day Two: Julius Caesar

    • Open by reading Act III aloud. Breakdown of themes in Mark Antony’s speech.

    • Video clip of Marlon Brando as Marc Antony

    • Video clip of Charlton Heston as Marc Antony

    • Writing Task Two: Imagine you were a citizen of Rome during the assassination of Caesar. Which Marc Antony speech, Brando’s or Heston’s, would motivate you to rise up against the action of the Senate? Reflect on your mood as you heard the speeches and the tone created by each actor. Thirty minutes to write and submit by email to teacher.

    • Technology Focus: Create an interactive storyboard that tells the story of Julius Caesar in six panels. Use one quote per panel. Use the online tool, storyboardthat.com.

    • Read Act IV and Act V.

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