Activity 1: Recite the Story Information
- Before and after reading or listening to the story, recite aloud the title and author of the play.
Activity 2: Narrate the Story
- After reading or listening to the story, narrate the events aloud in your own words.
Activity 3: See the Playwright and Poet William Shakespeare
- Study the controversial 'Cobbe portrait' below, which may be a real-life portrait of Shakespeare.
- The portrait contains the Latin phrase 'Principum amicitias!' which means 'The alliances of princes!'
Activity 4: Map the Play
- 'Othello' takes place in Venice, Italy, and a Mediterranean island named Cyprus.
- Find the city of Venice on the map of Italy.
- Find the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean (off the coast of Turkey).
- Point to the locations of Italy and Cyprus on the map of the world.
Activity 5: Can You Find It?
During the week, zoom in to study the painting, 'Othello and Desdemona,' by Daniel Maclise. Find the following:
- Othello
- Desdemona
- Emilia
- Someone Eavesdropping
- Pillars
- Dragons
- The Fateful Handkerchief
- Curtain
- Turban
- Bladed Weapon
Activity 6: Cast the Characters
- Serve as the casting director and audition actors and actresses for parts in your play.
- Reuse the same laminated actors and actresses you employed for prior plays.
- Color, cut out, laminate, and attach the names of the characters found on page 61 of 'Fourth Grade Shakespeare Theater Pages.'
- Using what you know from reading the story, cast each character by Velcroing a label to the box under the actor or actress you feel is best suited for the role.
Activity 7: Create a Character Map
- Cut out the relationship connectors on page 61 of 'Fourth Grade Shakespeare Theater Pages.'
- Using what you know from reading the story, place the relationship connectors between the characters to show their relationships.