Remix! Romeo & Juliet
Remix! Romeo & Juliet
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Unit Summary
Unit Summary
I wanted my 7th graders first interaction with Shakespeare to be fun and accessible. We explored the story of Romeo and Juliet through a variety of texts, including graphic novels and a historical sci-fi narrative. Along the way we discussed how different mediums impact the storytelling and the audience's understanding. Each week, students also had the opportunity through a quick-write session to use their own creative imaginations to rewrite the scene we were studying.
Our standard focuses for this unit were narrative writing (W.7.3) and how literary forms / mediums contribute to meaning (RL7.5). Our final project was for students to expand one of their quick-writes into a full narrative using all of the narrative techniques we had practiced, and to create something to accompany their narrative and build audience understanding using an alternate medium (poetry, painting, animations, etc.). Eventually, these were compiled into an anthology and published on amazon (W.7.5, W.7.6).
This was an ELA-focused project, although we made some history connections by simultaneously studying the Renaissance standards for 7th grade history (CA HSS-7.8).
Process
Process
Building Background Knowledge
For homework, students watched a version of Romeo and Juliet. This ensured that parents were involved and that their children watched a version they were comfortable with, since some versions are meant for more mature audiences.
With their assigned lit circle group, students completed the "Exploring Our Text" slide deck together. (see "Text Overview: Slide Deck Activity" linked on this page)
Weekly HW:
Students read assigned scene from assigned medium/text. Groups rotate texts each week.
Students take notes on theme, vocabulary, and medium impact as they read, then write a summary of the scene upon completion. (see "Weekly Homework" linked on this page)
Thursday Quick Writes:
Students completed narrative quick-writes on Thursdays where they got to rewrite the scene we read that week--- with a twist. They could change the characters, the setting, the genre, the point of view.... As long as it retained the key elements of the scene, it counted! There was always a challenge option that invited students to practice the narrative skill we were working on that week.
Remix Slides (see "Thursday Remix!" linked on this page)
Friday Lit Circle Discussions:
Students meet with their lit circle group and discuss the week's scene, differences in the various texts they engaged with that week, and the impacts of different mediums used to tell the story. (see "Lit Circle Slides" and "Discussion Notes" linked on this page)
Discussions graded as a quiz, individually or as a small group.
Grade Scale: 0 = ; 1 = ; 2 = ; 3 = ; 4 = ; 5 = ; 6 =
Final:
Final:
To show their exhibit their learning from throughout this unit, students turned in a two-part project as their final.
Part 1: A completed narrative that retells a portion of Romeo and Juliet. Students could build off of one of the quick-writes we had already done, or create something new from scratch. They should use the narrative techniques we learned and practiced in class.
Part 2: An additional media piece to add to the reader's understanding of the story. This could be (for example) a song, poem, painting, animation, comic strip, etc... Students turned this in along with a defense of their alternate medium piece, explaining how techniques in that medium would build the reader's understanding.
Final description, rubrics, and planning documents (see "Unit Final" linked on this page)
link models / examples from students
Text Overview: Slide Deck Activity
Text Overview: Slide Deck Activity
Weekly Homework
Weekly Homework
Thursday Remix!
Thursday Remix!
Lit Circle Slides
Lit Circle Slides
Discussion Notes (example)
Discussion Notes (example)
Unit Final
Unit Final
Overview of Guiding Elements
Overview of Guiding Elements
CA State Standards:
History Social Studies
7.8 Students analyze the origins, accomplishments, and geographic diffusion of the Renaissance
Reading Standards:
RL7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.7
Writing: Narratives (remixing scenes from Romeo and Juliet)
W.7.3
EQ:
How does a community effectively create a lasting contribution?
Does Romeo and Juliet primarily revolve around themes of loyalty or passion?
How do the techniques of different mediums impact the telling of a story?
Class Text: Romeo and Juliet (Act 1 Scene 5; Act 2 Scene 2; Act 3 Scene 1; Act 5 Scene 3)
"Romeo and Juliet: No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novel", medium: graphic novels, images, bubble writing
"Folger Shakespeare Library: Romeo and Juliet", medium: script; to practice engaging in high-level texts
Various video clips of Romeo and Juliet scenes, medium: film; to observe audio and visual impact on understanding
"These Violent Delights", medium: narrative writing; to consider historical context impact
Themes/Topics:
Using different mediums to tell stories
Love vs Obsession
Rewrite a scene from Romeo and Juliet as a narrative, putting your own spin on it.
Create an additional media piece to add to the reader's understanding of the story. Defend your use of techniques in that medium.
All Unit 1 Slides:
These are my complete slides for the unit. They are imperfect, since they have been edited many times over the years for shifting class needs and lessons, but can serve as a guide if you would like more detailed direction.
24/25 Hum - Unit 1 PptComplete Unit 1 Overview:
An overview of my entire unit, including key dates and lesson plans. You'll notice that some of my plans changed along the way, but it may still be a helpful starting point if you are using this project in your own classroom!
Unit 1 Overview: HumanitiesPage updated
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