Shakespeare Plays for Teachers of Ages 9–12
All of the below plays are included at no additional charge with the purchase of Stage It: Making Shakespeare Come Alive in Schools, which is the main professional development guide.
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These age-appropriate Shakespeare adaptations are short, easy to stage, and included at no additional cost. Each play runs about 40 minutes and is divided into five flexible acts of 4–6 minutes each. They are:
Field-tested
Royalty-free
Designed for whole-class participation
Available as downloadable PDFs
Packed with practical teaching, language-learning, and staging tips
Unlike traditional Shakespeare scripts written for professional adult actors, these adaptations are designed for elementary and middle school classrooms, featuring clear storytelling, manageable scenes, flexible casting, and minimal technical requirements.
They are ideal for reluctant readers, English language learners, and students who learn best through movement and collaboration.
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" but not for long! Hamlet will soon set things right. That is, if he doesn't spend too much time talking to the ghost of his murdered father. Some of the most famous quotations in the English language appear in Hamlet and they give students a lot to think about. “Brevity is the soul of wit,” “To be or not to be,” and “Though this be madness; yet there is method in’t” are just a few.
Hamlet for Students Aged 9-12
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1. Introduction
Who Is This Book For?
What This Book is Not
2. Use of Language in Hamlet
Adjectives
Verbs
Similes
Metaphors
3. Notable Quotations
4. Interpreting the Play
5. Cast of Characters
6. Contemporary English Version
(Teacher’s Guide to Student Paraphrasing Worksheets)
7. Plot Synopsis
8. Acting Scripts
Differences Between Stage It and Full-Length Scripts
How Are Scripts Organized?
Use of Soliloquy
Complex Characters and Archetypes
Acting Scripts
9. Instructor and Student Resources
Student Paraphrasing Worksheets
Shakespeare Certificate
Culminating Performance Program Template
10. Glossary
11. References
“Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more!” we hear before the great battle of Agincourt. Beware! Conspiratorial snakes hide in the grass waiting to strike and undermine our beloved king. Will King Henry and his “band of brothers” defeat the French in battle and assume the throne? Will he marry the French Princess? Not even a muse of fire can answer those questions. Stage it to find out!
Henry V for Students Aged 9-12
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1. Introduction
Who Is This Book For?
What This Book is Not
2. Use of Language in Henry V
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relishing Repetitions
Metaphors
Use of French
3. Notable Quotations
4. Interpreting the Play
5. Cast of Characters
6. Contemporary English Version
(Teacher’s Guide to Student Paraphrasing Worksheets)
7. Plot Synopsis
8. Acting Scripts
Differences Between Stage It and Full-Length Scripts
How Are Scripts Organized?
Use of Soliloquy
Complex Characters and Archetypes
Acting Scripts
9. Instructor and Student Resources
Student Paraphrasing Worksheets
Shakespeare Certificate
Culminating Performance Program Template
10. Glossary
11. References
Julius Caesar for Students Aged 9-12
“Beware the ides of March” warns the soothsaying Chorus in one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Will Julius Caesar discover the conspirators who plot his demise before the dreaded date of March 15? What fate awaits Caesar in the senate chamber? Friendship, betrayal, and murder take center stage in this classic story.
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1. Introduction
Who Is This Book For?
What This Book is Not
2. Use of Language in Julius Caesar
Adjectives
Verbs
Nouns
Synonyms for "Press"
3. Notable Quotations
4. Interpreting the Play
5. Cast of Characters
6. Contemporary English Version
(Teacher’s Guide to Student Paraphrasing Worksheets)
7. Plot Synopsis
8. Acting Scripts
Differences Between Stage It and Full-Length Scripts
How Are Scripts Organized?
Use of Soliloquy
Complex Characters and Archetypes
Acting Scripts
9. Instructor and Student Resources
Student Paraphrasing Worksheets
Shakespeare Certificate
Culminating Performance Program Template
10. Glossary
11. References
A classic tale of jealousy -- the green-eyed monster that devours Othello's soul! Othello, a general in the army, loves his wife, Desdemona, “not wisely, but too well". The villainous Iago manipulates Othello into believing that Desdemona has a boyfriend on the side. Othello's jealousy and mistrust lead to a tragic conclusion that reveals a terrible truth.
Othello for Students Aged 9-12
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1. Introduction
Who Is This Book For?
What This Book is Not
2. Use of Language in Othello
Adjectives
Verbs
Metaphors
3. Notable Quotations
4. Interpreting the Play
5. Cast of Characters
6. Contemporary English Version
(Teacher’s Guide to Student Paraphrasing Worksheets)
7. Plot Synopsis
8. Acting Scripts
Differences Between Stage It and Full-Length Scripts
How Are Scripts Organized?
Use of Soliloquy
Complex Characters and Archetypes
Acting Scripts
9. Instructor and Student Resources
Student Paraphrasing Worksheets
Shakespeare Certificate
Culminating Performance Program Template
10. Glossary
11. References