Five books included with Stage It: Making Shakespeare Come Alive in Schools including main professional development guide and four developmentally and age-appropriate Shakespeare adaptations for teachers of students ages 9-12.

Shakespeare plays for elementary and middle school students.

Stage It: Making Shakespeare Come Alive in Schools is designed for teachers of students ages 9-12.

This step-by-step guide and its downloadable Support Material are designed for busy teachers with and without drama experience to engage primary / elementary and middle school students in a school play of varying lengths. The approach has been shown to be effective even for students who struggle in the classroom.

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  • “This book is possibly the most useful resource around. Stage It is student-centered and encourages us to let our students do first and understanding will follow”.

    Lynne Collinson, Editor, Word Matters, Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama

  • “Stage It is the most practical and engaging approach to teaching younger students Shakespeare—or any literary content— that I have seen in over two decades as a drama educator”.

    - Jennifer Shirley, Drama Curriculum Specialist at The Juilliard School

  • “Push back the desks and get your students engaged in learning in a way that they will never forget! Stage It is a brilliant and thoroughly researched guide that brings the magic of theater into the classroom”.

    - Maureen Dillon, Retired Teacher, Croton-Harmon Schools

  • “Stage It not only dispels the misconception that Shakespeare is inaccessible to younger students but also provides invaluable techniques that significantly enhance language acquisition and comprehension”.

    - André Del Valle, Head of School, Mary McDowell Friends School

  • “Stage It is an essential tool for the classroom. It provides a detailed map of how to “stage” a play from beginning to end and demystifies the notion that Shakespeare’s plays have to be done in a certain classical style”.

    - Albert R. I. Elias, Founder, Director of Creative Stages NYC, LLC

  • “Stage It stands as a meticulously crafted roadmap for our frontline educators, illuminating the transformative power of arts education”.

    - Jennifer Wintzer, MFA, Former Stages of Learning Master Teaching Artist; Program Manager, Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis

Four Plays Included!

  • Developmentally, age-appropriate adaptations for ages 9-12

Stage It Hamlet book cover: Shakespeare acting script and teaching resources for students aged 9-12.
Stage It Henry V book cover: Shakespeare acting script and teaching resources for students aged 9-12
Stage It Julius Caesar book cover: Shakespeare acting script and teaching resources for students aged 9-12
Stage It Othello book cover: Shakespeare acting script and teaching resources for students aged 9-12
Learn more about each play
Learn more about each play

More Resources

In addition to the four plays, the following downloadable resources are included:

  • Student Paraphrasing Worksheets for students to put Shakespeare into their own words

  • Culminating Performance Program Template for school community members who attend the culminating performance

  • Shakespeare Certificate to dub students “Shakespeare Thespians”!