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Folger Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

Whether you’re new to the Folger Method or a long-time fan, these lessons are for you.

Looking for ways to help all students tackle complex texts with skill, confidence, and joy? Ready to try a lively, language-based approach with texts beyond Shakespeare?  Searching for a core set of effective strategies that your students and you will use over and over again, all year long? Committed to amplifying the voice of every student?

Every lesson explains not just the how and the what but also the why–and provides questions to help you assess your students’ learning and your own teaching.

Pre-reading

Effective pre-reading is really just reading… in bits!

 

Pre-reading: Tossing Words from Romeo and Juliet

Forget a slide deck on Shakespeare’s life and times. Start Romeo and Juliet with the words in your students’ mouths– actively and joyfully!

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The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss

On the first day of school, make your students want to come back to class.

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Richard III: Introducing Language with 2-Line Scenes

Let students encounter the language and start to make inferences about Richard III in this low-stakes, high-energy lesson.

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Pre-reading: Tossing Words and Lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

How to get every single student learning and loving Midsummer from day one!

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Pre-reading: 20-minute Hamlet

Introduce the language and story of Hamlet with this lively 20-minute play.

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Pre-reading Othello: Tossing Words and Lines

Set the tone for a language-focused, student-driven study of Othello.

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Pre-reading: Tossing Words from Their Eyes Were Watching God

Instead of starting your Hurston unit with a slide deck or tons of historical context, let your students connect with the rich language of the novel right from the start.

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Pre-reading: 20-minute 1 Henry IV

Introduce the language and story of 1 Henry IV with this lively 20-minute play.

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Pre-reading: 20-minute Romeo and Juliet

Introduce the language and story of Romeo and Juliet with this lively 20-minute play.

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Choral Reading

Choral reading just might be the most powerful and versatile tool in your Folger toolbox.

 

Choral Reading: Macbeth’s Soliloquy in Macbeth1.7

A riveting speech and the most riveting (and sneakily rigorous) way to teach it: be astounded by Macbeth’s words in the mouths of your students!

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Who is the Moor? Choral Reading American Moor and Othello

What does a black actor at an audition in today’s world have to say to Shakespeare’s Othello? This choral reading mashup will ignite bold discussion.

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Choral Reading: King Lear 1.2

A rousing and rigorous way to get inside Edmund’s monologue in 1.2! Students close-read this speech without any teacher explanation.

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Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech

Find out why Dr. King’s speech should never be studied silently again. What your students do in this lesson will amaze you–and them.

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Choral Reading with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 43 and Imtiaz Dharker’s “The Trick”

An Imtiaz Dharker sonnet talks to Shakespeare’s Sonnet 43 in this close reading lesson.

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Choral Reading: “Seven Ages of Man” from As You Like It

The “seven ages of man” speech–read chorally and physically by your students!

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Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth

What do Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth have in common?

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Choral Reading: Hamlet and August Wilson’s King Hedley II

What if August Wilson’s King Hedley could talk to Shakespeare’s Hamlet? What might these characters say—and share?

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Choral Reading: The Declaration of Independence

An immersive and unforgettable way to understand The Declaration of Independence.

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Cutting a Scene

Sneaky close reading at its best. Students won’t want to stop!

 

Cutting the Opening Scene of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

What might happen if students’ first encounter with a play was one that let them discover it–and edit it–for themselves? Turn the opening of Midsummer over to your class to find out!

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Cutting a Scene: Twelfth Night 2.3

Ask students to cut this rowdy Twelfth Night scene in half, and be amazed at what happens.

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Cutting a Scene: Hamlet 1.3

Start Hamlet 3.1 with this lesson, which asks students to cut this famous scene from Hamlet down to half its length.

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Cutting a Scene: Othello 1.1

Ask students to cut the opening scene of Othello in half, and be amazed at what happens.

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Cutting a Scene: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Students work in small groups to read, evaluate, and edit an early scene from Shelley’s novel. Lively debate ensues!

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Cutting a Text: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Who or what has the power in this scene from Chapter 6? Whose story is it, and how can cutting the text affect that?

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Beyond Shakespeare

Help all students discover the broad sweep of literature and the power of words.

 

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: Introducing Language with 2-Line Scenes

What’s an effective way to launch your students into engaged study of Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage?

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Paired Texts: Boy Willie from Clint Smith’s The Piano Lesson and Othello 1.3

Living inside the language of Clint Smith and Shakespeare, students examine fatherly advice, race, and growing up.

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3-D Literature: Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club

Students discover the “four directions” scene of The Joy Luck Club on their own, without any teacher explanation.

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Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech

Find out why Dr. King’s speech should never be studied silently again. What your students do in this lesson will amaze you–and them.

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3-D Literature: The Opening Scene of Their Eyes Were Watching God

The opening scene of Their Eyes Were Watching God can be challenging for students, but when they get on their feet and perform it, the scene comes alive with amazing clarity.

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Cutting a Scene: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Students work in small groups to read, evaluate, and edit an early scene from Shelley’s novel. Lively debate ensues!

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Any Text

These lessons are designed with any text and every student in mind. Adapt them for whatever you’re teaching.

 

The Monologue Project

A much more exciting, authentic, and rigorous final assessment than an essay or test. Try the monologue project with virtually any text.

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The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss

On the first day of school, make your students want to come back to class.

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2-Line Scenes - General Shakespeare

Introduce any Shakespeare play this way. Trust us– it works!

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Courageous Conversations

Let’s work together to use literature and language as tools for antiracism and social justice.

 

Essential Everyday Bravery

Use literature as a tool for anti-racism. Even if you don’t teach Merchant, this curriculum will help your students think and act with courage.

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Who is the Moor? Choral Reading American Moor and Othello

What does a black actor at an audition in today’s world have to say to Shakespeare’s Othello? This choral reading mashup will ignite bold discussion.

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Choral Reading Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech

Find out why Dr. King’s speech should never be studied silently again. What your students do in this lesson will amaze you–and them.

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Pre-reading: A Snapshot of Othello

Introduce the language and story of Othello and prepare your students for courageous conversations about race and power. A twist on 20-minute plays.

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Paired Texts: Boy Willie from Clint Smith’s The Piano Lesson and Othello 1.3

Living inside the language of Clint Smith and Shakespeare, students examine fatherly advice, race, and growing up.

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