Hamlet (Raft)
For grade(s) 9-12.
R.A.F.T. Activity- 1. Read Hamlet in class. 2. Assign R.A.F.T.Activity. 3. Students choose their role, audience, format and topic that best suits their learning style, interest level and understanding of the text. 4. Students may create their own options or choose from this list: Hamlet, class, trial, mother’s betrayal- a group of students would conduct a mock trial. Polonius, class, video, advice for the future- students could create a video or power point presentation that would include key pieces of advice to his son Laertes. Laertes, doctor, application, sister’s illness- students would try to explain the cause and nature of Ophelia’s illness. Ophelia- Hamlet, love letter or poem, forbidden love- students would write a letter or poem professing Ophelia’s love for Hamlet and explaining her behavior. Gertrude-class, diary, new husband and son’s reaction- students would create diary entries for Gertrude depicting key moments in the play. Students could work independently or in groups and present their final projects to the class.
Subject & Standards
English Language Arts:Needs Assessment/Rational
Students enjoy reading Hamlet but are challenged by the language and plot. I hope to help them understand the main themes of Hamlet and recognize that by looking at the text more closely they have the ability to grasp these ideas and share them with others.  They will appreciate the universality of Hamlet. Students enjoy having choices to work independently or in a group. They also like to have the option to utilize technology. To explore in greater depth the characters and their relationships to one another. To practice pre-writing techniques to generate ideas and organize thoughts. To determine one’s audience. To work within a group setting. To utilize media for powerpoint or video presentation. Assessment- Trial- I will develop a rubric to evaluate their content- Did they cover the main points of concern? Delivery- Do they make their questions and arguments clear? Video- Did they involve the group? Did they effectively communicate the main pieces of advice? Did they use creativity when directing each scene? Application- Did they communicate the feelings of Ophelia and the challenges she has faced? Letter/Poem- Does the letter or poem explain the relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet and her father’s directive? Diary- Students should cover a minimum of 4 events in the play and communicate Gertrude’s emotions.
Equipment/Materials Needed
text- Hamlet, computer and powerpoint program, projector, video equipment
Understandings & Goals
Students can learn to appreciate the timelessness of Hamlet while improving their writing and communication skills.
Questions Answered
What are the universal themes of Hamlet? What are the relationships between the charactes in Hamlet?
Instructional Strategies
R.A.F.T.
Lesson Created By
This lesson was created by Justin Wageman. Learn more about Justin Wageman on their profile page.