Enchanted Vocabulary Escape: Shakespeare's Figurative Language

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Enchanted Vocabulary Escape: Shakespeare's Figurative Language

Grade 8English1 days

The project "Enchanted Vocabulary Escape: Shakespeare's Figurative Language" is designed for 8th-grade English students to explore figurative language and character motives in Act 1 of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' through an interactive escape room experience. Students engage in activities such as a mystical character portal, figurative language scavenger hunt, character motive investigations, and collaboratively design escape room challenges. These activities aim to deepen students' understanding of Shakespeare's use of language and improve their analytical and collaborative skills, aligning with Common Core Standards such as RL.8.4 and RL.8.3.

Figurative LanguageShakespeareEscape RoomCharacter AnalysisCollaborationA Midsummer Night's Dream

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we use figurative language to enhance meaning and express character motives in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' through an enchanted escape room experience?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

What is figurative language and how does it enhance the meaning of a text?
How do Shakespeare's characters in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' use language to express their personalities and motives?
How can understanding figurative language improve our interpretation of Shakespeare's plays?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will be able to identify and interpret figurative language in Act 1 of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream'.
Students will analyze characters’ language to understand their motives and development.
Students will collaborate effectively to solve puzzles, demonstrating comprehension of the play’s figurative language and character development.

Common Core Standards

RL.8.4

Primary

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.Reason: Analyzing figurative language in 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' directly aligns with understanding and interpreting the meaning and tone of the text as described in this standard.

RL.8.3

Primary

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.Reason: Understanding character development through dialogue in Act 1 of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' aligns with this standard focused on character analysis.

SL.8.1

Secondary

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.Reason: The escape room experience emphasizing discussion and collaboration aligns with this speaking and listening standard.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Mystical Character Portal

Kick off the project by transforming the classroom into a mystical forest from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', complete with props and ambient sounds. Students receive a mysterious letter from a Shakespearean character seeking their help with deciphering enchanted figurative language scattered across the forest to unlock the hidden secrets of Act 1. This immersive setup connects students directly to the play and sets the stage for engaging with the text's language creatively.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Figurative Language Scavenger Hunt

Students will navigate through 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Act 1, identifying and interpreting figurative language devices such as metaphors, similes, and personifications. They will uncover hidden meanings and connect them to the play’s larger themes and characters.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Introduce the concept of figurative language with examples from the text.

2. Assign students specific passages from Act 1 to analyze.

3. In groups, have students identify figurative language and discuss its impact on meaning and tone.

4. Compile a list of figurative devices found, with their interpretations.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA class-generated compilation of figurative language examples and interpretations from Act 1.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with RL.8.4 by focusing on determining and interpreting figurative language.

Activity 2

Character Motive Investigator

In this activity, students delve into the dialogue of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Act 1 to analyze character motives and development. By picking apart the characters’ language, students will unearth deeper insights into their personalities and intentions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a character from Act 1.

2. Task each group with analyzing the dialogue and actions of their assigned character.

3. Discuss as a class how each character's language impacts the play’s action and development.

4. Each group presents their character analysis to the class.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityGroup presentations on character motives and development, supported by text evidence from Act 1.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with RL.8.3 by analyzing dialogue to reveal character aspects and motives.

Activity 3

Escape Room Challenge Design

Students will work collaboratively to design escape room challenges using their knowledge of figurative language and character analysis from previous activities. These challenges will form an engaging escape room experience inspired by Act 1.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Review the findings from the previous activities on figurative language and character motives.

2. In groups, brainstorm escape room challenges that incorporate these elements.

3. Design and develop puzzles that will require peers to interpret language and character cues to solve.

4. Set up the classroom with these challenges for the escape room event.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn immersive escape room experience with challenges based on figurative language and character analysis.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with SL.8.1 as students engage in collaborative discussion and implementation.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Enchanted Escape Room Rubric

Category 1

Figurative Language Analysis

Evaluates students' ability to identify and interpret figurative language in the text, understanding its impact on meaning and tone.

Criterion 1

Identification of Figurative Devices

Measures the student's ability to accurately identify and catalog figurative language from the text.

Exemplary

4 Points

Identifies all major figurative devices accurately and comprehensively with a keen understanding of nuance.

Proficient

3 Points

Identifies most figurative devices accurately, showing a good understanding of their presence.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies some figurative devices but with several inaccuracies or omissions.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to identify figurative devices, showing limited understanding.

Criterion 2

Interpretation and Impact

Assesses how well the student explains the effects of figurative language on meaning and tone.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides deep, insightful interpretations that explore multiple levels of meaning and tone impacts.

Proficient

3 Points

Offers clear and accurate interpretations with a solid understanding of meaning and tone influences.

Developing

2 Points

Gives basic interpretations with limited exploration of impacts on meaning and tone.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to interpret or understand tone and meaning impacts of figurative language.

Category 2

Character Analysis and Presentation

Assesses the ability to analyze character motives and deliver effective presentations.

Criterion 1

Character Analysis

Evaluates the student’s ability to analyze character motives and development.

Exemplary

4 Points

Analyzes characters with deep insight, providing strong, text-based evidence that reveals complex motives.

Proficient

3 Points

Analyzes characters clearly, providing good quality evidence of basic motives.

Developing

2 Points

Offers limited analysis with basic evidence and surface-level understanding of motives.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to provide a coherent analysis of character motives.

Criterion 2

Presentation Skills

Assesses how effectively students present their character analysis findings.

Exemplary

4 Points

Delivers a highly engaging, well-structured presentation with clear articulation of ideas.

Proficient

3 Points

Delivers a clear and structured presentation, effectively articulating ideas.

Developing

2 Points

Presentation lacks clarity and structure, impacting the communication of ideas.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles significantly with delivering a coherent presentation.

Category 3

Collaborative Escape Room Design

Evaluates teamwork and the application of learned concepts to create escape room challenges.

Criterion 1

Collaboration and Teamwork

Measures the students’ ability to work effectively within a group setting.

Exemplary

4 Points

Demonstrates excellent collaborative skills, often leading discussions and contributing substantial ideas.

Proficient

3 Points

Contributes positively to group discussions and effectively shares ideas.

Developing

2 Points

Participates in group work but with limited contributions or inconsistent involvement.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to engage in group activities, barely contributing to the process.

Criterion 2

Application of Figurative Language and Character Analysis in Design

Assesses the integration of figurative language and character analysis into escape room puzzles.

Exemplary

4 Points

Expertly integrates figurative language and character insights into original and challenging puzzles.

Proficient

3 Points

Effectively uses learned concepts to create engaging and appropriate puzzles.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to apply concepts in puzzle design with limited success.

Beginning

1 Points

Shows difficulty applying concepts to puzzle design, resulting in underdeveloped puzzles.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflect on how using figurative language in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' enhanced your understanding of the characters' motives and the play's themes during the escape room activities.

Text

Required

Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how effectively did the escape room activity enhance your knowledge and interpretation of figurative language and character development in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?

Scale

Required

Question 3

Which aspect of the escape room challenge design did you find most engaging, and why?

Text

Optional

Question 4

How confident are you in your ability to identify and interpret figurative language in Shakespearean texts after participating in this activity?

Scale

Required

Question 5

In what ways has collaborating with your peers in the escape room design influenced your perspective on Shakespeare's use of language?

Text

Optional