If you’re looking for an engaging way to introduce Shakespeare to your primary class, this Shakespeare activities pack is a fantastic resource designed to make the Bard’s work accessible, interactive and fun.
Packed with worksheets, activities and display materials, this pack is perfect for KS2 teachers who want to bring Shakespeare’s plays and language to life in the classroom.
What’s inside?
The pack includes a variety of resources that cover key aspects of Shakespeare’s life and work:
William Shakespeare fact sheet
This provides a concise but informative biography, covering his early life, career and lasting influence. It highlights key details such as his work in London, his role in building The Globe Theatre, and the different types of plays he wrote. This is an excellent starting point for class discussions or research tasks.
Shakespeare’s plays categorising activity
This worksheet helps pupils identify the different genres of Shakespeare’s plays: comedies, tragedies, and histories. Pupils cut out play titles and match them to the correct category, reinforcing their understanding of Shakespearean theatre.
Shakespearean phrases activity
Even pupils who have never studied Shakespeare will recognise many of the phrases he introduced to the English language. This activity challenges them to match famous expressions, such as “Break the ice” and “In a pickle”, to their meanings and original plays.
Romeo and Juliet activities
A set of worksheets focused on one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Pupils summarise the story, explore character traits, and even create their own dialogue for the iconic balcony scene. This is an imaginative way to help them engage with the play’s themes.
Sonnet 18 analysis and writing task
Pupils analyse the rhyme scheme of Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”), then attempt to write their own version. This is an excellent way to introduce poetry and the structure of sonnets in a meaningful way.
Well-known quotes display
A collection of famous Shakespearean quotes to display in the classroom. They will help to familiarise pupils with Shakespeare’s language and inspire curiosity about his works.
Why use this pack?
This Shakespeare activity pack is a brilliant way to make the playwright relatable and enjoyable for primary pupils. Activities like play categorisation, phrase-matching and character exploration encourage deeper thinking while keeping lessons engaging.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, curriculum-friendly way to introduce Shakespeare, this pack is a must-have.
Busy Things offers a huge collection of interactive, curriculum-linked games and activities. Discover 1600+ games and children’s mental health activities to develop and support maths, literacy, phonics, science, art, music, coding and more. Browse more activities for Shakespeare Week.
