Romeo & Juliet (L1) Unit & Play Introduction

Romeo and Juliet: Unit Introduction – Essential Question & Learning Goals

How do stories shape our understanding of the world and ourselves?

This engaging introductory lesson sets the foundation for a deep and meaningful study of Romeo and Juliet, guiding students to explore how stories influence our perceptions of the world and ourselves. Designed to encourage critical thinking, this lesson introduces the unit’s learning objectives, essential question (EQ), and final project expectations, ensuring students understand how their learning will develop over time.

What’s Included?

• Full Lesson Plan – A structured guide outlining each stage of the lesson.
• Knowledge Harvest Activity – Students assess their prior knowledge of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, and the themes of storytelling.
• Essential Question Exploration – A detailed activity helping students break down a complex question, annotate key ideas, and form sub-questions to deepen their analysis.
• Unit Learning Goals – A clear breakdown of reading, writing, and speaking objectives to help students track their progress.
• Final Project Overview – An introduction to the final project, where students rewrite a scene from Romeo and Juliet in a form of their choice and analyse their creative decisions.
• Exit Task – A quick reflection activity where students summarise their key takeaways and post their responses before leaving the lesson.
• Homework/Optional Task – A writing prompt encouraging students to reflect on how a favourite book has influenced them.
• **Socratic Circle Pack and Summative Assessment Information

Key Skills Developed:

• Critical thinking through essential question analysis
• Analytical writing and textual interpretation
• Speaking and discussion skills through Socratic dialogue
• Creative writing and personal expression

This lesson is perfect for GCSE English teachers looking to engage students with Romeo and Juliet in a thought-provoking, interactive, and structured way. It can be used as a standalone lesson or as part of a full unit on Shakespeare’s tragedy.

Download now and set your students up for success in studying Romeo and Juliet.

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