William Shakespeare Facts For Kids: Unit Study

As a parent, you know how crucial it is to teach your children about the influential individuals who have shaped history. William Shakespeare is one of the most renowned writers in history. His life and work should be included in your children’s studies. From plays to poems, this unit study guide covers all the fascinating and entertaining facts kids should know about William Shakespeare. As a bonus, they also will gain an understanding of the history, culture, and lifestyle of the Elizabethan era in which he lived.

Have Fun with William Shakespeare Facts for Kids.

William Shakespeare leads a life full of interesting facts for kids. His unique life is fun and enjoyably educational. Are your kids watching films based on his works or are your high schoolers studying the legendary playwright and poet? There are some sure-to-be useful facts about William Shakespeare included here.

Anne Hathaway married William Shakespeare in 1582 when she was age 26 and he was 18. Their first child was born six months later – Susanna – followed by twins in 1585; Judith and Hamnet (who died at age 11 in 1596). William Shakespeare’s sonnets written between 1593-1609 (there were 154 sonnets published) are now widely studied in literature classes across the world. His best-known plays, including ‘Romeo & Juliet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Othello’, Hamlet, and King Lear were written between 1590-1610.

One thing that makes William Shakespeare stand out amongst any other writer is his influence on the English language which he helped evolve as one of its greatest masters. Where would we be without his wonderful words? Many authors nowadays still rely heavily on his work for inspiration so even today, Shakespeare’s influence continues to shape our modern society and language.

So don’t be intimidated by this literary genius – dive right into Shakespeare’s works and his world with factoids about him and his contemporaries. With a little bit of encouragement, your kids soon find that learning more about the secrets of William Shakespeare is surprisingly enjoyable.

Creative Ways To Engage Your Children With Shakespeare

Shakespeare can be difficult to understand at any age. There are so many ways to go about studying William Shakespeare and his famous plays, and poems. However, finding creative ways to engage your children with Shakespeare in your homeschool and have fun learning about ‘The Bard’ is not as hard as you may think! 

Without further adieu, here are 7 Awesome Ways To Learn About Shakespeare In Your Homeschool.

Get Familiar With William Shakespeare: History Facts for Kids & Teens

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is a world-renowned English playwright and poet who wrote some of the world’s most beloved plays, including Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a young man, Shakespeare began performing in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theater troupe. He eventually became their lead actor, writer, and lead shareholder when the troupe obtained its own theater.

As his plays began to gain popularity in England and beyond, so did his fame as an actor and playwright. With the help of three friends—Henrick Ibsen, John Fletcher, and John Hall—Shakespeare was able to publish 36 of his plays (now traditionally known as “the First Folio”) posthumously in 1623. This collection includes some of his most famous works including The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and much more.

Shakespeare has left a lasting legacy on storytelling culture throughout generations by writing stories that transcend culture and time periods. His plays often contain intricate language that portrays complex human themes such as love, betrayal, and revenge; conveying powerful emotions that do not go unnoticed by modern audiences even centuries later. While people from around the globe may not understand all of Shakespeare’s words or concepts initially due to historical references or accents of English spoken centuries ago—his presence lives on today through film adaptations or dramatic performances at various venues worldwide.

From the humble beginning of John Shakespeare (William’s father) humble beginnings in England to being widely regarded as one of history’s greatest writers nearly 500 years later—all students should have a chance to learn more about this influential artist as they further delve into history both past & present through engaging William Shakespeare unit studies & lesson plans.

Wars

There were so many battles going on, it was hard to keep them straight!  But understanding the ones that changed the course of history is valuable in understanding the time and place of Shakespeare’s plays.  Remember, it was the Age of Exploration, and Elizabeth I would defeat the Spanish Armada. There was also the aftermath of the English civil war thanks to Henry VIII’s (Elizabeth I father) decision to leave the Catholic Church. And, so much more! It was an exciting and complicated time in history

Rulers

Studying Shakespeare is also a great time to dig deeper into the history of the English Monarchy.  Yes, it can be complicated and a bit gruesome. Yet, that seems to be what appeals to boys and those naturally passionate about history.

Geography

Late medieval England, also known as the Elizabethan Era, is a time of massive exploration & discoveries. Grab your maps (online or paper) and explore what the world was like and how it changed throughout the life of William Shakespeare.  

Shakespeare Insult Generator

Studying the Life of William Shakespeare: Facts for Kids

William Shakespeare has been referred to as one of the greatest writers in the English language and is often called the Bard of Avon. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England in April 1564 and died in 1616. While not much is known about his life, there are some facts about his life that can be uncovered by studying his works and the area in which he lived.

Shakespeare’s father, John Shakespeare, was a glove maker and wool dealer who became one of Stratford’s leading business figures by the time William was born. His mother, Mary Arden Shakespear was from a well-known family from Wilmcote just outside Stratford. This family helped him finance New Place which he bought for £60 in 1579 for use as a home for himself and his family until he passed away in 1616.

Shakespeare’s First Plays

As far as early plays go, William’s first written play performed is thought to be The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1590 but The Comedy of Errors performed shortly afterward is believed to be his first stage play at an unknown date between 1590 and 1594 which began showing at The Curtain theater. His most renowned work includes Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, and Romeo & Juliet written during the years until 1600. Most of his diverse collection comes from this period of time – some critics suggest that these are among his greatest works yet!

Shakespeare’s legacy lives on today through not only his plays but also through poems such as Sonnets 116 – 126 amongst other stories such as Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Henry IV parts 1 & 2 which completed what we recognize today as “The Oxfordian Canon” where numerous adaptations have made these works immortal within theatrical history! There are many questions still unanswered in regard to who William was & what inspired him to become one of England’s most beloved writers. Studying the life of William Shakespeare offers us more than just mere facts but the opportunity to share knowledge among generations providing an everlasting appreciation for arguably one of our culture’s greatest minds.

William Shakespeare Facts For Kids & Teens

William Shakespeare led a relatively normal, middle-class life in the late 1500s, but what does that mean?  Resources that will explore what day-to-day living was all about are perfect to engage kids in the wonder of medieval life and how it was so very different than the life we live today.  

• Where Did Shakespeare go to school?
• What did his dad do to earn money?
• Was life in London different than life in Stratford-upon-Avon?

These types of questions can be answered with library books, digital resources, history & literature curricula, and even short unit studies on the life of William Shakespeare in late medieval era England. 

Learn about William Shakespeare’s Customs & Lifestyle: Facts for Kids.

When learning about William Shakespeare and his influence on English literature, understanding his customs, interests, and lifestyle can be both educational and entertaining for kids and teens. His family background is useful to know in order to understand what such a young individual could have achieved in the sixteenth century. He was born in the small town of Stratford-on-Avon in England and was the oldest son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. His father had strong connections with town’s people involved in theater, which may explain William’s later career success.

William had three older sisters – Joan, Margaret, Maria – and three younger brothers – Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund. During his childhood, there were constant rumors he furtively attended some plays by famous playwright Christopher Marlowe while still a child. But we could hardly be sure if that was true or even feasible at that time due to a shortage of documented evidence or personal diary.

William’s first recorded play was performed around 1592-1594 before Queen Elizabeth I for whom he wrote several lyrics and poems over the years as well as acted himself in some of them like Henry VI or Richard III. Later on, after marrying Anne Hathaway, he joined an ever-evolving group called Kings’ Men which became the most popular London-based acting group at that time thus becoming close friends with King James I from Scotland who granted him financial support like no other writer had known before. Then, William was able to financially secure the Globe Theatre for staging plays surrounded by a host of apprentices that helped print new editions adding new words never heard before into the English language forever. Nevertheless, the lost years between 1585 and 1592 remain unknown leaving mysteries behind yet unsolved.

William Shakespeare Facts for Kids & Teens: Hands-on, Interactive Learning

Make Food

The food of this era has such variety! What Elizabeth might have for dinner would have been very different than what a typical family in Stratford-upon-Avon would have eaten.  Find recipes, plan a cooking day, and have fun experiencing a bit of what life was like for Shakespeare. 

Explore Fashion

Elizabethan fashion is either regal, royal or sometimes ridiculous.  Have fun learning all about what elegant dress of the royal court and the modest, ordinary dress of the lower class. 

Learn About Diseases & Medicine

The Plague was no laughing matter. Learn about how it spread, who it killed, and how life continued in new and different ways because of it.

Understand The Medieval Class (Feudal) System

Learning the structure of government and society will certainly bring up questions and conversations with your kids. Dive in! It’s a great time to learn about how other countries lived and organized governments in such an interesting historical time period.

Learn About Other People Alive During Shakespeare’s Lifetime

Throughout William Shakespeare’s lifetime, many other people were alive who contributed to the ideas which whom Shakespeare worked with. Knowing who else was living during his time can help students gain a better understanding of the context of the works he created.

The local Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon, where he was baptized and is presumed to have been buried, provides evidence of his life in England. Gile Allen was a wealthy man who wrote some of the earliest accounts of William Shakespeare, while also supporting Elizabethan theater as well as financing Christopher Marlowe’s plays.

Hamnet Shakespeare, William’s only son, lived in Stratford before dying suddenly at age 11 or 12, two years before William left for London. Francis Bacon and Galileo both wrote works that heavily influence Shakespeare’s characters and thoughts such as ‘The Tempest’.

Meanwhile, rival Ben Jonson publicly commented on how influential some works of literature were becoming under King John in 1592 which could have been aimed at William’s first use of his pen name when joining a group called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men around that time.

With all these different influences happening at once from people alive during this era, it helps bring more perspective as to what ideas shaped the plays we know today from one of the greatest writers ever: William Shakespeare.

There were so many influential people alive during the life of Shakespeare. Learning about Shakespeare’s plays is only part of the story. The Let’s Study Shakespeare unit study focuses on Shakespeare’s time period, including Elizabethan life in a market town as well as the different ways he influenced the modern world in the last half of his career.

How to best understand history with William Shakespeare facts for kids & Teens

Sometimes getting hyper-focused on a person, place or event is a good way of learning and understanding a single topic. However, there is so much value in looking around at the other people alive during the same time period.  Middle and high schoolers are especially suited for this activity as they take previous knowledge and expand on it in new and exciting ways. Encourage your teens to look at other cultures and places in the world and see what was going on at the same time.  Who were the important people and events in Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond? It’s intriguing and exciting to expand your worldview of history by looking at it from the vantage point of someone else’s life.

Participate Or Create Your Own Shakespeare Production.

Whether it’s a single scene with your family, a complete act with your co-op or learning community, or a full-fledged production. 

Attend a live performance of a Shakespeare play

Once you have spent some time studying the life and works of Shakespeare, it’s time to go to the Theatre!   Don’t be put off by the idea (or expense) of taking your family to the theatre. There are plenty of YouTube videos of live productions available, It’s not quite the same, but at least you don’t have to try and keep kids super quiet 

Learn About The Music, Games & School Environment Shakespeare Would Have Experienced.

Music, art, customs, entertainment (besides theatre-going), and the everyday life of Shakespeare are all very exciting and enjoyable ways of really getting to know and understand what it was like to live during this pivotal time period of history.

Visit England To Learn About Shakespeare In Your Homeschool

Of course walking where Shakespeare walked, sitting at his school desk, and seeing a play in his famous Globe Theatre are just a few of the ways that you can inspire kids to love Shakespeare and create great memories while using the world as your classroom. Including walking tours, museums and other activities that help you explore the life of Shakespeare will cement a deeper understanding and appreciation for Shakespeare.    

Let’s Study Shakespeare’s Medieval England: A Perfect Companion Study for Your British Literature lessons. 

Now pulling all those resources together in one place can be quite overwhelming. With the right resources, studying Shakespeare can be thoroughly enjoyable for everyone in the family.  The Let’s Study Shakespeare’s Medieval England self-paced course is the perfect unit study to look at the life, history & culture of medieval England (and other parts of the world too).

Have fun learning about Shakespeare’s life, customs, and historical moments. Includes copy work, daily/weekly assignments, exciting projects, and a variety of resources to engage every middle schooler or high schooler. 

Involve the entire family as you study Shakespeare in your homeschool.

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