Students will be able to break down the complex language used in Othello.

Students will function as part of a team working towards a common goal.

Students will contribute creatively to a product of drama.

Step 1

After reading Act I of the play as a class, the students will be separated into four groups. Ideally the class size will be betweeen 23 and 32 students for the best results. Students should be separated into groups including high achievers and low achievers, creative and non creative and include at least one member who can act as a supervisor or task master.

Step 2

Each group will be assigned an Act of the play. Students will be instructed (with teacher as a guide) to "translate" Othello into modern language (i.e. slang, easier to understand words, etc.).

Step 3

After the translation, students will then decide which of them will play which role in the re-enactment. Students may have to take on more than one role in each scene depending on the size of the group. It is important to let students know that gender should not relegate them to a specific role as Shakespearean actors often played women as they were all men. Additionally, costuming will be effective in altering the appearance of those who must take on more than one role.

Step 4

The students will then use costumes that they create together and bring in to school as well as any material provided by the teacher to film their Act of the play.

Conclusion

Students will gain knowledge of the play by actively breaking down each scene and then viewing performances by other production teams in class. As long as the instructor insures accuracy in the writing, the students will understand the theme of the play (jealousy and reputation) as well as have fun in performing Shakespeare thereby removing the negative stigma of The Bard.