Introduction
The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and is often considered a golden age in English history. It was an age considered to be the height of the English Renaissance, and saw the full flowering of English literature and English poetry. In Elizabethan theater, William Shakespeare, among others, composed and staged plays in a variety of settings that broke away from England's past style of plays. It was an age of expansion and exploration abroad, while at home the Protestant Reformation was established and successfully defended against the Catholic powers of the Continent.
The Elizabethan Era is viewed so highly because of the contrasts with the periods before and after. It was a brief period of largely internal peace between the English Reformation, with battles between Protestants and Catholics, and the battles between parliament and the monarchy that would engulf the seventeenth century. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement settled the Protestant Catholic divide, for a time, and parliament was still not strong enough to challenge royal absolutism.
Task
You and a partner will research one area of life in Elizabethan England (Queen Elizabeth reigned from 1558–1603; William Shakespeare lived from 1564-1616) and present your findings in a dynamic 3-to-5-minute presentation next week. You should focus on the six most interesting facts from your research and prepare a speech in which you educate and entertain your audience.
Your speech must include a visual aid, in the form of either a Powerpoint or Prezi. Requirements:
- Visual aid must include at least six slides (or “clicks,” if using Prezi)
- No more than 50 total words on the visual aid (the bulk of the info. should come from you, not the slides)
- Each person may use one notecard with a few key phrases written on it – no more than 25 words per card
- A properly formatted works cited page needs to be given to me on the day of your presentation
- Presentation needs to be between three and five minutes in length (inability to hit the time window will result in the loss of 20 points, or 10 percent of possible points)
Process
Students will choose one of the following topics to present
Life in Elizabethan England Speech Topics
1. Dentistry
2. Hairstyles
3. Men’s/boys’ fashion
4. Women’s/girls’ fashion
5. Food and drink
6. Medicine
7. The Black Plague
8. London’s sewers
9. Education
10. Scientific beliefs/discoveries
11. Astrology
12. Marriage/Wedding customs
13. Crime and punishment
14. Weapons
15. Recreation and sports
16. Occupations/social classes
17. Queen Elizabeth
18. William Shakespeare
Listed below are a few websites to get you started on your research. You are not required to use them on your project but allow them to be a starting point to begin. Please follow the directions, read the rubric, and most importantly have fun!
- Explore the world of Elizabethan England http://www.elizabethan.org/
- Elizabethan Times http://www.elizabethan-erorg.uk/elizabethan-times.htm
- Encylopadeia Britannica https://www.britanniccom/biography/Elizabeth-I
Evaluation
Elizabethan Era Presentation
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Did introduction grab the audience’s attention?
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Did the team present six facts?
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Did the facts “wow” the audience?
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Did the team thoroughly explain the facts, to leave no questions in the minds of the audience?
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Did team members control nervousness while speaking?
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Did team members use good voice volume, storytelling techniques, eye contact?
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Did the team take the assignment seriously/work hard during lab time?
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Quality of the team’s visual aid and how well the team met the requirements for the visual aid (six slide min.; 50 word max.) |
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Conclusion
Students will engage in research, collaborative work, and presentation skills by researching life during the Elizabethan Period in England. By researching specific topics and listening to presentations by other students, they will learn about the time period and the influence on society.
Students will gain knowledge of the lives of those living during the Elizabethan Era by learning about different elements of life during the time period. By learning the history of this time students will be able to better understand what Shakespeare was experiencing while he wrote his works and also what characters were experiencing.
Students will gain knowledge and understanding of different areas of Elizabethan society while researching this project and will then share their information with other students through their presentation.
Credits
Credits
All links provided in this webquest have authorized access to materials.
Permissions
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial • Share-Alike license for details.
Teacher Page
By Nicha Henry and Jennifer Edwards
This webquest seeks to direct students into a discussion about the Elizabethan Era.
- Be able to give an organized and informative presentation over their topic of research.
- Help students develop a life-long skill of extracting information for a specific purpose.
- Guide students in using the internet and online resources safely and effectively, with emphasis on observing the websites’ credibility.
- Encourage students to seek assistance from library personnel and/or their teacher when necessary.