By: Addie Gansauer
Students are taking a creative approach to understanding Shakespeare through the
Modern “Romeo and Juliet” Project. This assignment focuses on Act 3 of the play, where
students work in groups to translate a selected scene into modern English.
After rewriting the scene, they perform it and create a quiz along with study guide
questions to help others better understand the material.
“The project is about helping students break down Shakespeare’s language into
something they can understand and connect with,” English teacher Patty Heiman said.
By translating and acting out the scenes, students gain a deeper understanding of the
characters, conflicts, and themes in the play.
While performing is part of the assignment, the video itself is only a small portion of the
overall project. Students are expected to focus more on analyzing the script and making it
relatable.
They are also encouraged to use props and costumes to enhance their performances and
bring their modern versions of the scenes to life.
“The video is the smallest part of this project, but using props and costumes helps
students engage more with what they’re learning,” Heiman said.
The inspiration for this assignment comes from Heiman’s own high school experience.
She shared that her teacher once assigned a similar project, and it left a lasting impression on her.
It not only helped her better understand “Romeo and Juliet” but also made learning more
interactive and memorable.
Through this project, Heiman hopes students will develop more than just an
understanding of Shakespeare. She wants them to build important life skills such as teamwork,
communication, and problem-solving.
Students are also challenged to stay focused and committed over a longer period of time,
allowing them to see a project through from start to finish.