Webquest on Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Every year I direct a Shakespeare play with my middle schoolers, and I use this webquest to introduce my students to the world of Elizabethan theatre. Right now, I use it with sixth graders, though I have used it with 7th and 8th grades in the past as well, and it would also be appropriate for high school students who are new to the study of Shakespeare’s world.

This webquest is extensive: it includes four sources (one from Britannica, one from the personal travel blog of a university librarian, and two from extensive non-scholarly sites devoted to basic Shakespeare study. For each source, the students answer anywhere from 6-14 fact-based reading-comprehension questions. For each source, students also answer the question “What kind of website is this? Do you think it is a reliable source? Why or why not?” This is part of my ongoing effort to teach my students a habit of skepticism about online sources, to look for the names, biographies, and credentials of authors, and generally evaluate the sources they read.

The webquest includes a total of 43 questions. I give my class two 45-minute periods to work on it in class. Any students who don’t finish in that time period (and many don’t) complete the assignment for homework.

A very detailed answer key is provided.

In addition to a wealth of information on the Globe Theatre in Shakespeare’s day, this activity also includes facts about the discovery of the Globe in 1989, the construction of the replica that currently stands in London, and photographs of the modern Globe. Some questions are tailored to encourage students to make connections between past and present.

Thank you for your interest in this activity. If you have any questions that aren’t covered here, please feel free to contact me directly!