William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Lesson plans and other teaching ideas

For introductory, background and other resources, try Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age . For links to other plays, try the Shakespeare Main Page.

How might students use storyboards to demonstrate and to extend their learning? Check the resources here. Includes plot diagram and summary, essential questions, plot diagram, themes, symbols, and motifs, character analysis, vocabulary, more. Note: Storyboard That helps sponsor this site.

On this page, a tabloid-style summary of the play from the BBC. Follow links to learn how your students can produce something similar.

This video (3:54) from Knowmia provides biographical information. It's intended as an introduction to A Midsummer' Night's Dream , but it will work well with any play.

The play in a 7-minute cartoon updated for contemporary audiences. Includes introduction of major themes. A great pre-reading activity!

If you want your students to get up and perform Shakespeare, here are some abridged scripts: The Merchant of Venice , A Midsummer Night's Dream , Macbeth , Romeo and Juliet , and The Tempest .

Summary, analysis, and related links.

Short videos introduce the characters, history, conflicts, and setting. Includes teaching tips, discussion questions, online vocabulary flash cards, and a student handout (graphic organizer on plot). Designed for grades 5-9.

Writing prompts and study guide questions.

Theme: Love and Magic. Summary, theme openers, crosscurricular activities, research assignments from McDougal Littel.

Background, graphic organizers for active reading, questions for response and analysis, vocabulary, and more. This document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

Plot summary, themes, imagery, discussion questions, more.

A variety of reading strategies, including an anticipation guide and a KWHL strategy.

Designed for use before and after students see a live performance of the play, this guide includes a plot summary, a character map, pre- and post-viewing questions, practice with Shakespeare's language, discussion of elements of comedy and fairies, and discussion of Elizabethan culture. Learning activities include the characters on Facebook and Twitter (on paper), creating a comic book, finding contemporary music related to the play's themes, writing a character backstudy, practice with language and exaggeration, practice with critiquing a performance. This 48-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.

Short video (1:30) on Puck's role in the play, 10 online vocabulary flash cards.

Students explore the power of words in a soliloquy. Includes a handout; Adobe Reader required to access the handout.

Students figure out stage directions by analyzing dialogue.

Overview with scene-by-scene synopsis; suggestions for activities before, during, and after reading the play; study questions; questions regarding characterization and themes; bibliography. This extensive document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

tudents will engage in Socratic questioning to further their analysis of the mechanicals in the play. They will use research to enhance their understanding of the scene and will synthesize research and text to draw conclusions about the characters and their purpose in the play.

Comparison with Romeo and Juliet , analysis of Shakespeare's presentation of the nature of love, and Shakespeare's stagecraft. This web page is intended for students who are following the AQA/NEAB GCSE syllabuses in English Language (1111/1112) and English literature (1121). Follow the link to an extensive guide covering several other topics.

Words are presented in context and with definitions. Click on a word for pronunciation, examples of recent use, more.

Students learn elements of theater and poetry through Antigone and A Midsummer Night's Dream .