Teacher Resources and Study Guides
Within this section, you will find study guides created by our staff for use in the classroom. They are all in downloadable PDF files. Unless otherwise noted, the following information is copyrighted by Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Inc. and must contain the following quote on all pages if used in any hard copy, web-based, soft copy or other use by other individuals or companies:
© 2026, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Inc.
Teacher Resources
Field Trip and School Day Matinees
Inspire your students with the magic of live performance. We offer student matinee performances for Pre-K through Grade 12!
In-School and On-Stage Workshops
Our Education Department offers dynamic workshops for your class. Let us ignite your students’ imaginations as we make your curriculum exciting and accessible to learners at every level.
Book an In-School or On-Stage Workshop for your class:
Study Guides, Scripts and Handouts
Teachers are encouraged to use our corresponding study guides in the classroom. All guides are available in a convenient and downloadable PDF format.
2025-2026 Season Resources
Activities
Status Walk
This 10-20 minute activity may be used to explore status in the school environment or in a novel being studied.
Page to Stage
This 10-20 minute activity may be used to compare drama to fiction by turning narrative into dialogue.
Character Motivation
This 10-20 minute activity may be used to explore what motivates characters to act the way they do using active verbs.
Iamb Game
Introduce basic Shakespearean scansion with this active game.
Discovery Zone
Discovery Zone is a collection of free resources designed to support individual and classroom explorations of Shakespeare’s texts. Suitable for students of a broad range of ages, experience levels, and learning styles, Discovery Zone invites individuals to bring their own unique identities and perspectives to their understanding of Shakespeare.
Use this handy curriculum planner to see how these resources will serve your classroom needs. Detailed curriculum alignment documents and rubrics are on their way!
The Discovery Zone resources are provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license. You may copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, on condition that you credit Mary Hartman and Bard on the Beach Theatre Society, your use is non-commercial, and that you do not distribute any derivative works. Learn more about this creative commons license.
Making Shakespeare Your Own
These resources provide entry points to explorations of Shakespeare’s plays that are inquiry-based and student-centred. These activities focus on the language and the myriad ways it can resonate, and each corresponds to a section of A Shakesperience, Bard’s free video introduction to Shakespeare’s plays.
Speak what we feel: The emotions behind the lines
Speak what we feel: The emotions behind the lines Guide
Explore an expanded list of quotes with our free flashcard version.
Language/Vocabulary | Critical thinking | Drama-based activity | Text analysis
Speak freely what you think: Being silenced and speaking out
Speak freely what you think: Being silenced and speaking out Guide
Language/Vocabulary | Critical thinking | Drama-based activity | Text analysis
Not an easy matter: Contrasting attitudes towards warfare
Not an easy matter: Contrasting attitudes towards warfare Guide
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Critical thinking | Creative writing | Text analysis | Drama-based activity
To truths translated: Shakespeare in other languages
To truths translated: Shakespeare in other languages Guide
Language/Vocabulary | Critical thinking | Creative writing | Text analysis
Exploring Shakespeare’s Characters
This collection invites students to explore specific characters and create their own ideas about who these characters might be. We embrace a broad understanding of the characters in Shakespeare’s plays so that anyone can identify with them and see themselves reflected, if they so choose.
Character | Language/Vocabulary | Drama-based activity | Critical thinking | Creative writing | Text analysis
Exploring Shakespeare’s Characters
From A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
Character Explorer: Puck
Character Explorer: Titania
From Hamlet:
Character Explorer: Hamlet
Character Explorer: Ophelia
From Macbeth:
Character Explorer: Macbeth
Character Explorer: Lady Macbeth
Character Explorer: The Weird Sisters/Witches
From Romeo & Juliet:
Character Explorer: Juliet
Character Explorer: Romeo
A Closer Look At… Speeches!
These resources take a deep dive into selected speeches from a variety of plays. They break down the thoughts, illuminate the images, inspire text analysis, and invite personal connections.
A Closer Look At… Speeches!
From A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
“How happy some o’er other some can be…”
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“These are the forgeries of jealousy…”
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
From Hamlet:
“I have, of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth…”
Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity | Mature Topics
“…This above all, to thine own self be true…”
Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
From Macbeth:
“If it were done when ‘tis done…”
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
From Romeo & Juliet:
“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks…”
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds…”
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse…”
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
From other plays (and a sonnet!):
“All the World’s a Stage…” from As You Like It
Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“Friends, Romans, Countrymen…” from Julius Caesar
Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“O, for a muse of fire…” from Henry the Fifth
Imagery | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“O, hateful hands to tear such loving words…” from The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“…Our revels now are ended…” from The Tempest
Imagery | Character | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing | Drama-based Activity
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day…” Sonnet 18
Imagery | Language/Vocabulary | Text Analysis | Critical Thinking | Creative Writing
Acknowledgements
The resources in Discovery Zone were created by Mary Hartman, with the support of the wonderful Bard Education Administrative Team: Katie Johnstone, Santana Berryman, and Samantha Levy. Special acknowledgement goes to former team member Melanie Hiepler, for fantastic graphic design, insightful feedback, and masterful wrangling of the myriad elements of this complex project. We’re grateful for the input of schoolteachers from across BC, especially Cheryl Angst, Robert Manery, Sharlene Prasad, and Katrina Thomson. Big thanks also to our awesome volunteer proofreader Gillian Walker. The project was supported by the extraordinary professionals from Project Management Volunteers, Tolu Oloruntoba, Bernadette Andrade, Harla Sidhu, and David Nimmo. We are grateful for the community spirit and collaborative efforts with which Discovery Zone is built.
Discovery Zone was primarily created in Metro Vancouver on the ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and other Coast Salish First Nations. We acknowledge, too, that many of our collaborators made their contributions from the ancestral lands of other First Nations.