Much Ado About Nothing GCSE – Scheme of work

What's included?

Two PowerPoints and Word doc

Key Stage

KS3, KS4

Age

Years 9-11

Subjects

Created for a high attainment Year 9 class working at GCSE level, this Much Ado About Nothing GCSE scheme of work contains a student-led week of work with resources. It includes a writing and reading assessment. You will also use the film to help students analyse the play.

Much Ado About Nothing GCSE learning objectives

Learn details about the personalities of the main characters of the play, including Hero, Claudio, Beatrice, Benedick, Don John and more
Understand the tone of the play and compare it to a performed version
Understand the context of Much Ado About Nothing
Apply understanding of euphuism to write a modern-day exchange of insults
Create a witty exchange of insults, inspired by the play
Secure understanding of language analysis within the play
Understand the humiliation and damage to Hero’s honour in Act 4, Scene 1
Analyse and evaluate Leonato’s reaction to Hero’s public shaming
Analyse and interpret the theme of pride and honour within key scenes of the play
Consider four areas of film analysis and comment on how films present characters
Evaluate the progression of themes through character in Much Ado About Nothing
Create a structured plan for controlled assessment

Writing assessment

Sentence variety
Technical accuracy and punctuation
Appropriate and effective vocabulary

Reading assessment

Deducing, inferring and interpreting information from the text
Relating the text to social, cultural and historical traditions

Controlled assessment question

How does Shakespeare show the importance of pride and honour to one or two characters in Much Ado About Nothing?

You will use Act 4, Scene 1, the wedding scene, to explore the importance of pride and honour to the characters of Claudio and Hero, comparing it to the wedding scene in the film.

Kat Howard is an English teacher and founder of LitDrive.org.uk (@LitdriveUK) which helps English teachers connect and share resources. Read her blog at saysmiss.wordpress.com and follow her on Twitter at @saysmiss.