Introduction
Have you ever heard of a writer whose stories are still being told over 400 years later? His name is William Shakespeare, and he wrote exciting plays about kings, queens, love, magic, jokes, and even ghosts!
In this WebQuest, you will travel back in time to Shakespeare’s world, explore his stories, and discover why people still love his plays today.
Task
By the end of this WebQuest, you will:
1. Learn who William Shakespeare was
2. Discover his famous plays and characters
3. Explore Shakespeare’s language and cool words
4. Time to act it out
Process
Step 1: Meet William Shakespeare!
Learn about Shakespeare’s life and the world he lived in.
Use the internet to answer the questions below (below are resources to get you started) :
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Shakespeare Biography for Kids
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/history/tudors/william-shakespeare/ -
BBC Bitesize: Who Was Shakespeare?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zrhp34j
Questions to answer:
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Where did Shakespeare live?
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What kind of stories did he write?
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What are some of his most famous works?
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Are there any famous words/phrases he coined?
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How do his works reflect the time period?
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Step 2: Explore Shakespeare’s Plays
Shakespeare wrote plays, which are stories meant to be acted out!
Explore:
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Folger Shakespeare Library for Kids
https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeare-for-kids -
No Fear Shakespeare (student-friendly summaries)
https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/
Now try this!
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Pick one play (like Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Macbeth)
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Read a short summary and identify the main characters
Step 3: Shakespeare’s Funny and Fancy Language
Shakespeare loved playing with words—and he even invented some!
Explore:
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Shakespeare Words for Kids
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-words/ -
Fun Shakespeare Insults (kid-friendly!)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2rjkmn
Now try this!
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Find 3 Shakespeare words we still use today
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Create your own Shakespeare-style sentence
Step 4: Act It Out!
Shakespeare’s plays come alive when we perform them.
Explore:
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Watch a short Shakespeare scene for kids (YouTube or PBS LearningMedia)
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Read a short script with a partner
Challenge Time!
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Act out a short scene or freeze-frame pose from a play
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Use gestures, voices, and facial expressions
Evaluation
| What You Did? | Excellent | Satisfactory | Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding Shakespeare | Shows strong understanding | Shows some understanding | Needs more detail |
| Creativity | Very creative | Some creativity | Little creativity |
| Effort | Clear effort shown | Some effort shown | Needs more effort |
| Presentation | Easy to understand | Mostly clear | Hard to understand |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve explored the world of Shakespeare and learned that his stories are full of adventure, humor, and imagination. Even though Shakespeare lived long ago, his stories are still exciting today!
Credits
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Suitable for Grades 3–6 (can be adjusted)
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Works well for ELA, drama, or enrichment
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Supports reading, speaking, and creativity
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Can be done individually or in groups