Author: Brendan P. Kelso

Shake Phrase in a Box – Classroom Activity

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Here’s a great idea from @DetroitSamWhite, whom I met in the twitterverse.  A great way to introduce kids to Shakespeare and realize the impact that The Bard’s language had on the rest of the world is to play a little game with your kids called, Shake Phrase.  As many of you know, all of my books are sprinkled with common Shakespeare phrases that kids will hear throughout life.  Well, with Shake Phrase, you write down dozens of these common phrases and words and put them in a box.  BUT, the 2nd part is to put another dozen or so of other common phrases, not done by Shakespeare in the same box.  Now, Shake Phrase: shake the box and pull a phrase, the kids have to guess if they are from Will or not.  As @DetroitSamWhite says, “blows their minds :-)”

Do a few phrases each day and they will quickly “start learning that many of the phrases they hear and use are Shakespeare quotes.”

It’s almost like Catch Phrase for Shakespeare!

Drop me a line and let me know if you have a great classroom activity for engaging kids with the Bard.  I always like to share great ideas like Shake Phrase.

 

Shake Phrase

Shake Phrase in a Box – Classroom Activity was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

13 Words first penned by Shakespeare

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As we all know, Shakespeare wrote a lot of words.  Many of which he made up on the fly, or simply was the first one to actually write them done.  Regardless, he alone added somewhere upwards of 5,000+ words and phrases to the English language.  Some of these, we use every day.  Here’s a list of 13 words first penned by Shakespeare:
13 words penned by Shakespeare

Gloomy

Quote: “Forced in the ruthless, vast, and gloomy woods?” – Titus Andronicus

Laughable

Quote: “Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.” – The Merchant of Venice

Majestic

Quote: “This is a most majestic vision” – The Tempest

Lonely

Quote: “Believe’t not lightly – though I go alone / Like to a lonely dragon that his fen -Coriolanus

Radiance

Quote: “For by the sacred radiance of the sun” – King Lear

Hurry

Quote: “Lives, honors, lands, and all hurry to loss.” – Henry VI Part 1

Generous

Quote: “Free me so far in your most generous thoughts / That I have shot mine arrow o’er the house / And hurt my brother.” – Hamlet

Frugal

Quote: “Chid I for that at frugal Nature’s frame?” – Much Ado About Nothing

Critical

Quote: “For I am nothing if not critical” – Othello

Courtship

Quote: “To courtship and such fair ostents of love” – The Merchant of Venice

Zany

Quote: “Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany” – Love’s Labour’s Lost

Undress

Quote: “Madam, undress you and come now to bed.” – The Taming of the Shrew

Rant

Quote:”I’ll rant as well as thou.” – Hamlet

 

13 Words first penned by Shakespeare was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

Yo! Shakespeare! The Mini Page Archive

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Ok, I had to share this as soon as I heard of it, The Mini Page Archive.  A publication for kids that ran from 1969 – 2007, and it’s all archived and searchable.  It’s a periodical for kids around all sorts of different subjects.  Lucky for us, there are 2 issues focused around Shakespeare: Yo! Shakespeare! –…

Yo! Shakespeare! The Mini Page Archive was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

Hilarious Macbeth Summary Video

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I tripped over this Macbeth summary video on YouTube, it’s pretty funny, and if you have high-schoolers, it’s a perfect quick summary that’ll fit right into their teenage attitude!  Enjoy!

 

YouTube Preview Image

Hilarious Macbeth Summary Video was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

Shakespeare Insult Duels

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shakespeare insult duelsOk, I started the first ever “Insult Like Shakespeare Day” this past April 23rd and, although it never got picked up by Yahoo! or any major press (hint, hint guys!), it was still pretty popular and I got some GREAT feedback during the day.  That being said, there was one, in particular, that was clearly THE BEST.  There is a great 6th-grade teacher out of Rosedell Elementary named Sherri (@singletchr for those of you who want to contact a great mind!) who took my idea of Insult Like Shakespeare to the next level.  She created Shakespeare Insult Duels, that’s right, duels.  (Get your own Shakespeare Insult Generator here!)


Now, how does one perform a Shakespeare insult duel you may ask? Well, it’s pretty simple really. Just grab two kids, give them one of our insult generators, some type of sword, teach them to say stuff with a bit of angst, and stand back. Once they have practiced a few times, then they get in front of the class, face-off, and start firing insults back-and-forth.


Pretty entertaining, I must say!!! And talking about engaging kids with Shakespeare, this takes it to the next level. Well done Sherri and Rosedell elementary sixth-graders, you guys rock!!! See some more of the fun videos below. BTW, the hashtag #ShakespeareBurn is quite appropriate here!


Shakespeare Insult Duels was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

How Many Plays did Shakespeare Write?

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Well, this has been an age-old question, asked throughout the years.  But, no one will ever truly know the exact answer to how many plays did Shakespeare write, because there is always the following arguments:

  • He plagiarized and never really did “write” the plays
  • There are “lost” plays: i.e. “Love’s Labour’s Won”, Cardenio
  • He co-wrote some plays with other authors: i.e. Two Noble Kinsmen
  • Other plays that “experts” are considering written, or re-written by Shakespeare but not originally attributed to the Bard

But, for a number to answer the basic question of how many plays did Shakespeare write? For now, it’s 37. (and you’ll find plenty of arguments for and against this!).  I’ve listed them below, with a link to my melodramatic kids’ versions as well.

Comedies (17):

  1. 37 shakespeare playsA Midsummer Night’s Dream
  2. All’s Well That Ends Well
  3. As You Like It
  4. Cymbeline
  5. Love’s Labour’s Lost
  6. Measure for Measure
  7. Much Ado About Nothing
  8. Pericles
  9. The Comedy of Errors
  10. The Merchant of Venice
  11. The Merry Wives of Windsor
  12. The Taming of the Shrew
  13. The Tempest
  14. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
  15. The Winter’s Tale
  16. Troilus and Cressida
  17. Twelfth Night

Tragedies (10):

  1. Antony and Cleopatra
  2. Coriolanus
  3. Hamlet
  4. Julius Caesar
  5. King Lear
  6. Macbeth
  7. Othello
  8. Romeo and Juliet
  9. Timon of Athens
  10. Titus Andronicus

Histories (10):

  1. Henry IV, Part 1
  2. Henry IV, Part 2
  3. Henry V
  4. Henry VI, Part 1
  5. Henry VI, Part 2
  6. Henry VI, Part 3
  7. Henry VIII
  8. King John
  9. Richard II
  10. Richard III

How Many Plays did Shakespeare Write? was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

Insult Like Shakespeare Day – April 23rd

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Classic Shakespeare InsultsOk, I’m making a bold statement.  Nay, I’m doing what must be done, and I need YOUR help to spread the word!  As you know, I write short, humorous, melodramatic renditions of Shakespeare’s plays, all in an effort to make The Bard easy for children (and adults!) to understand.  Well, since I’m on this mission to make Shakespeare fun and exciting for kids (like Disney says, “kids of all ages”) and, in acknowledgment to The Bard’s birthday, this April 23rd I’m declaring the first annual, “Insult Like Shakespeare Day!”  (go straight to the insult generator here) I’m truly surprised no one has done this before, but, think about it, what better way to engage in The Bards many innuendos, than by embracing what he truly does better than the rest of us, insults!  Let’s review, he came up with these classics:

  • “I desire that we be better strangers.” from As You Like It
  • “Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee.” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • “I do wish thou were a dog, that I might love thee something.” from Timon of Athens
  • “If you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.” from Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • “You have such a February face, so full of frost, of storm and cloudiness.” from Much Ado About Nothing
  • “I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.” from Timon of Athens
  • “Not so much brain as ear wax.” from Troilus & Cressida
  • “Thou art a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver’d, action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mungril bitch.” from King Lear

WOW, on that last one, right?  That was a bleeping, mouthful!  So, in the spirit of all that is insulting, I am declaring Shakespeare’s birthday to be the official first annual Insult Like Shakespeare Day!  I mean, we could talk like Shakespeare, but really, that’s just talking like EVERYONE else from that era, nothing special to Shakespeare.  But, insults, who doesn’t like a nice, quick-witted, stinging, insult from time to time, right?!  And THAT would be really honoring The Bard at his best!  So, don’t be a (here they come…)

  • Artless, tickle-brained, flap-dragon, or a
  • Mewling, fool-born, bugbear, or a
  • Paunchy, elf-skinned, ratsbane, or a

Well, I could go on, and on, with this list!  But, IT’S EASY to create your own.  Just open my insult generator and print out your very own insult generator sheet and get started ripping on your co-worker, or greeting your significant other in the morning with one of these beauties, or, as I have always said, insult your English teacher with this list and you will IMPROVE  your grade!

So, I need your help to the spread the word about the official Insult Like Shakespeare Day, April 23rd.  Please share the love with all you know, and be sure to do it with a juicy insult and a smile!  You can copy this link and paste it to make it easy:

April 23rd is Insult Like Shakespeare Day! Find your insult here and share the love, you rank, elf-skinned, lout! http://ow.ly/vUSKL

(quick thanks to bachelorsDegree.org for providing the list of Shakespeare’s insults bulleted above)

Insult Like Shakespeare Day – April 23rd was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

How old is Shakespeare? Fun activities to engage your kids.

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So this is the 450th birthday of Shakespeare, and what are you doing to engage your children on this momentous day?

Shakespeare's birthdaySome people turn 50 as a milestone, this guy’s turning 450, wow!  Ok, so he doesn’t look as good as someone who is turning 50, but hey, we are still talking about him!

So, to get ready, here are a few fun activities to get in the swing of his 450th birthday!

  • Start a National “insult like Shakespeare day!” (use the insult generator here!)
  • Have everyone bring a known quote or word that Shakespeare coined and use it in a sentence (he has quite a few!)
  • Take the Bard quiz to see how well you know Shakespeare
  • Create a Shakespeare family tree
  • Have fun Shakespeare stuff out and about – like Shakespeare insult bandages!
  • Do 450 tweets about Shakespeare (as a class… that’s a LOT for one person!)
  • You can always just pass out parts and ready one of my hilarious melodramatic 15 minute versions of the Bard’s play!  That’s ALWAYS going to get the kids to like Shakespeare!

So, the next time someone asks, “how old is Shakespeare?”  Your kids will know the answer!

Let me know how it goes!

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How old is Shakespeare? Fun activities to engage your kids. was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books

Behind Barbed Wire, Shakespeare Inspires Syrian Kids

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At the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, thousands of Syrians are seeking refuge from a country torn down by civil war.  They are living in tents, some nights freezing, and in search of just basic needs such as water and food.  In an effort to bring enlightenment and laughter back into their lives, many of these Syrians are kids have decided to perform Shakespeare’s King Lear.  With no stage or costumes, these Syrian kids really know how to use their imagination.  A truly inspiring article by the NY Times Ben Hubbard and an amazing show of how Shakespeare is still touching lives all around the planet, even behind barbed wires during an oppressed time.   Thank you Ben, for opening our eyes to where Shakespeare has reached.

You can read the full article here.

desert

Syrian Kids with Shakespeare in the desert

 

Behind Barbed Wire, Shakespeare Inspires Syrian Kids was originally published on Shakespeare for Kids Books