To Read or Not to Read Shakespeare? 12 Great Ways to Get to Know The Bard During COVID-19
“There is no darkness but ignorance”
– Twelfth Night
With school closures impacting 50 million children across America, and a challenging transition to remote learning, many parents are seeking supplementary material to enrich their children’s academic experience during COVID-19. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information available to introduce children of all ages and reading levels to, arguably, the greatest literary figure in the English-speaking world, William Shakespeare. Playwright, poet, philosopher, The Bard, as he is known, has been credited with penning nearly 40 plays and over 150 sonnets, and coining 1,700 of the vocabulary words and phrases we use today. Below, we share a mix of accessible biographies, abridged versions of his works, and video tutorials that will cultivate interest in Shakespeare’s life, his Elizabethan era, and the wordsmithing craft that he perfected.
The Shakespeare Stories Collection – 16 Books
Retellings of sixteen of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays. This is a great introduction for young readers age 6 and up.
Who Was William Shakespeare?
Explore the origin story of the world’s greatest playwright, from his time in Stratford to a career in theater in London.
Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare
This nonfiction picture book covering his life, his times, and his theater, is best enjoyed by children ages 4-6.
Shakespeare Stories
Author Leon Garfield carefully transforms twelve of the playwright’s plays into stories, and includes vivid illustrations to capture readers’ imagination.
Shakespeare Stories II
And when the first book leaves your kids clamoring for more, you can move on to the second volume, for nine additional plays: Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Measure for Measure, As You Like It, Cymbeline, King Richard the Third, The Comedy of Errors, and The Winter’s Tale.
Tales from Shakespeare
This volume, first published in 1807, includes accessible adaptations of all of Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies.
And AFTER you have read all of these works with your children, be sure to watch these helpful Sparknotes videos to reinforce concepts, such as character development, plot, setting, and important themes.
Get Our COVID-19 News, Tips & Resources!
Read related content:
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Touro.jpg
378
630
Jamie Gass
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jamie Gass2017-08-10 09:21:322019-08-20 14:46:38Op-ed: Let’s return to educational liberty
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Homeschooling.jpg
832
1248
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-06-22 10:07:032021-11-23 11:01:49Study: States Should Provide Parents With More Information About Homeschooling Options
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/george-c-marshall.jpg
454
837
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-06-02 17:01:112017-06-05 10:49:23Op-ed: Marshall Plan brought U.S. to apex of power
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/WWI.jpg
741
960
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-04-07 16:07:032018-10-12 14:26:54Commemorating The 100th Anniversary Of U.S. Entry Into World War I
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/WWI-Event-Invite-v5-front.jpg
694
956
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-04-03 13:25:482019-07-10 11:28:46Teaching The First World War In Schools Is Topic For Pioneer History Forum
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/WWI-Event-Invite-v5-front-1.jpg
694
956
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-03-30 09:03:462018-10-12 14:26:55“The War to End All Wars”: Teaching the First World War in Schools
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/DecInd.png
339
771
Alex Carlin
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Alex Carlin2017-03-17 11:34:202022-09-14 15:36:23Cursive and Historical Literacy: A Real World Example
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/cicero1.jpg
480
1024
Jamie Gass
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jamie Gass2017-03-15 16:01:182018-10-12 14:26:58Op-ed: The Great Statesman Cicero Presides Over The Ides Of March Forever
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/frederick-douglass-5.jpg
750
900
Jamie Gass
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jamie Gass2017-02-22 14:17:002020-06-26 14:25:38Op-ed: Slaving history must not be forgotten
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Mt-Rushmore.jpg
512
683
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-02-21 14:17:102017-02-22 14:33:07Celebrating Presidents’ Day & K-12 U.S. History Instruction
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MLK.jpg
330
530
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-01-16 11:41:092018-08-28 08:29:33Pioneer Celebrates the Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Rushmore.jpg
3456
5184
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-01-09 17:30:072019-07-10 11:28:47Study Highlights Best Practices For Establishing and Updating K-12 History Standards
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Devos.jpg
401
534
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2017-01-03 16:18:212018-10-12 15:04:56Op-ed: Will DeVos avoid the Beltway education trap?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/stpatrick-newyork1.jpg
524
790
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2016-10-12 08:49:012020-12-11 12:33:44Study Finds Common Core Incompatible With Catholic Education
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MemDay-Pioneer.jpg
310
500
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2016-05-27 17:45:282016-05-27 17:51:51Honoring the Service and Sacrifice of Our Veterans
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/albatross.jpg
773
600
Jamie Gass
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jamie Gass2016-05-09 11:16:462016-05-09 11:16:46Op-ed: Poetry teaches more than rhyme
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Writer.jpg
551
600
Richard Phelps
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Richard Phelps2016-04-28 15:37:452016-05-02 11:06:57The Education Writers Association casts its narrowing gaze on Boston, May 1-3
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Jacksonian-Democracy-Event-Invite.jpg
1313
1838
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2016-04-04 12:49:172019-07-10 11:28:48Pulitzer Prize Winners To Be Featured At Event On Teaching Jacksonian Democracy In Schools
