Shakespeare Set Free: Hamlet and Henry IV, Part 1

I love this series so much. Have used it in the classroom to great success. The underlying idea is very simple: take the plays off the page and they make sense to all students -- the high flyers and the ones with reading difficulties. Within these books are activities and projects that are bite-sized. They allow the script to be performed and/or analyzed and/or experienced WITHOUT the students having to undertake a full-blown performance. AND there is no dumbing down of the text. AND you can do a little of these books or every page. BUT your students need to have the skills to work in groups.

I found this book to be useful in getting across the ideas in Hamlet and Henry IV. The activities are directly related to understanding the text. Instructions are written out to the letter, and a number of outside resources are suggested. This has been one of the most useful aid I have used in teaching either play. The ideas are clear and inventive. My students responded positively to the activities that I used from this book and came away with a clear understanding of plot, characterization, and language. The only negative comment I have is O'Brien can get a little flighty once and awhile. In truth, however, she gets to and stays with the point better in this book than in any of her others. I find myself going back to this text to supplement her others. She stretches a bit too far into the artistic than my taste allows, and I don't feel that she goes into enough detail in some parts of Hamlet, but these are things that are easily supplemented. Nevertheless, this book sets up the premise for teaching in a very effective way.Once again, this is learning through movement and acting. No wallflowers or shrinking violets allowed.

I found in teaching Shakespeare that this book was very valuable. It allows the teacher to combine both drama and literature into one lesson. Students have a remarkable response to its techniques. They seem more interested and have longer retention of the material. The variety of exercises that are written out for you appeal to a number different kinds of learners; especially my resource students. I find the book a valuable aid either as supplemental material, or as a lesson planner in-and-of itself.