Shakespeare Part 1

"When Shall We Meet Again, In Thunder, Lightning, Or in Rain?"

The opening line in Macbeth and we certainly hope that it does not bode true for the next part of our journey when the whole of year 5 descend upon the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust at the end of February.
 

 It has to be said that the chosen guides within year 5 had a fantastic day taking in the life and times of William Shakespeare.

On a windy day with a chill in the air we embarked on the school transport at 8:30 (a shock for some of the pupils to be in so early) with lunches and staff at the ready the trip passed quickly and the children were in good spirits as they exited the bus within the town of Stratford.

A short walk later brought us to the venue and the day began...

A walk between Shakespeare birthplace, 

New Place (Shakespeare's home)

Mind's Eye

Knot Gardens of Shakespeare

Tudor Banquet 

Also Hall's Croft (his daughters home) provided many opportunities for the upcoming guides to see how they should act. 

Tudor Bedroom in Hall's Croft

Also the information that could be passed on to the others within year 5 as well as the general public. 

Surgical Instruments of Tudor Times

A quick walk back and lunch was followed by some quill writing and seal making (these are the skills that  they will be teaching the other children to do on our next visit) before some acting "The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe" from A Midsummer Night's Dream (a play within a play). Children were picked to play the key parts with resident actors reading the monologue and the children acting along. 

Well done to Thisbe (D'Angelo) and Pyramus (Nehemiah) for their amazing acting skills in the key roles along with "The Wall" Tiffany, Geneza and Adheem. Never forgetting the Moonshine trio of Ibrahim, Afsana and Rihma while J'uan Andras was Lion and his growl.

The children came away with a beginning of understanding of whom Shakespeare was and how important he was.