Activity Library
Theater in Focus: Henry V
Explore the activity library below to discover classroom activities related to Henry V. Each activity is stored in a single downloadable PDF, including all handouts and materials. If your students are viewing the filmed performance, look for the suggested pause points in the introduction to select activities for guidance on connecting the activity with the film.
Activities
Table of Contents
Activities at a glance
Pause Points
Curriculum overview and pause points
Temperature Check
Warm-up activity: Explore Shakespeare and Henry V
Shakespeare Embodied: “O for a Muse of Fire”
Speak and embody the words of the chorus
Listen and Respond: Shakespeare in a Diverse World
Reflect on how Shakespeare speaks to our diverse society
Speaking Shakespeare: Scansion and Meter
Dive into Shakespearean verse
Creative Activity: Write Your Own Iambic Poem
Try out iambic pentameter
Comic Wordplay: The Taming of the Shrew
Speak and analyze comic wordplay
Social Hierarchies: Henry V
Analyze and categorize social hierarchies in Henry V
Social Hierarchies: Church vs. State
Reflect on the relationship between church and state in Henry V
Debate: Claim to the Throne
Analyze and interpret the context of the Hundred Years’ War
Image Analysis: Henry V
Use iconography to analyze and embody images from Henry V
Stage a Scene: The Captains
Analyze textual and directorial choices and adapt a scene
Creative Activity: Character Profile
Meet the characters of Henry V
Analyze and Visualize: The King’s Responsibility
Close reading to analyze arguments in a key thematic debate
Connecting Past and Present: War and Loss
Reflect on the conflicts of war represented in Henry V
Writing Activity: Holding Out for a Hero
Argue for or against the idea of Henry as a “hero”
Exploring Nationalism: Leagues and Leeks
Scrutinize nationalist symbols in Henry V and in the modern world
Design a Costume: Henry V
Design a costume for a character from Henry V
Henry V the Musical!
Re-imagine Henry V as a jukebox musical
What Happens Next?: Henry V
Imagine your own sequel to the play
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