1. Teacher Guide
This lesson is designed to teach kids to ask a critical thinking question that you can’t just put into a search box to solve. To do that, we encourage them with smaller questions that search can help them answer. Make sure that you read the notes for each slide: they not only give you teaching tips but also provide answers and hints so you can help the kids if they are having trouble.
Remember, you can always send feedback to the Bing in the Classroom team at You can learn more about the program at bing.com/classroom and follow the daily lessons on our Partners In Learning site.
Want to extend today’s lesson? Consider using Skype in the Classroom to arrange for your class to chat with another class in today’s location. And if you are using Windows 8, you can also use the Bing apps to learn more about this location and topic; the Travel and News apps in particular make great teaching tools.
Ja'Dell Davis is a Los Angeles native who currently divides her time between New York City and Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, pursing a PhD in Sociology. Ja’Dell previously taught high school in Philadelphia public schools, and implemented college access and academic enrichment programming in Chester, Pennsylvania and New York City in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood. Ja’Dell received her B.A. from Swarthmore College with a special major in History and Educational Studies, and a minor in Black Studies. She completed her M.S.Ed in Secondary School Education at the University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to her studies and work in the education field, Ja’Dell is a dancer, musician, avid people watcher, and Scrabble enthusiast.
This lesson is designed to teach the Common Core State Standard: Reading: Informational Text
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

2. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall?
© Franco Cogoli/4Corners Images
Having this up as kids come in is a great settle down activity. You can start class by asking them for thoughts about the picture or about ideas on how they could solve the question of the day.

3. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall?
William Shakespeare must have really liked Verona, Italy. He set three of his plays here: “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
If that’s not enough to draw you to this northern Italian gem, consider it as an alternative to Rome. Much of Verona’s first-century architecture is still standing. Even today, the ancient coliseum in Verona is used for opera and other public performances.
And like Venice to the East, Verona is highly walkable. No cars are allowed in the central urban areas, making it easy for visitors and locals to get around town and take in the sights and sounds at a leisurely pace.
Depending on time, you can either have students read this silently to themselves, have one of them read out loud, or read it out loud yourself.

4. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 1
Web Search
Search for reasoning for why work of Williams Shakespeare is still admired today. Do you believe this reasoning is valid? 2
Thinking
What do you know about William Shakespeare? Have you read or seen any of his plays? What movies have you seen based on his work? 3
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “Romeo and Juliet” about? 4
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “The Taming of the Shrew” about? 5
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” about?
There are a couple of ways to use this slide, depending on how much technology you have in your classroom. You can have students find answers on their own, divide them into teams to have them do all the questions competitively, or have each team find the answer to a different question and then come back together. If you’re doing teams, it is often wise to assign them roles (one person typing, one person who is in charge of sharing back the answer, etc.)

5. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 5
Minutes
You can adjust this based on how much time you want to give kids. If a group isn’t able to answer in 5 minutes, you can give them the opportunity to update at the end of class or extend time.

6. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 1
Web Search
Search for reasoning for why work of Williams Shakespeare is still admired today. Do you believe this reasoning is valid? 2
Thinking
What do you know about William Shakespeare? Have you read or seen any of his plays? What movies have you seen based on his work? 3
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “Romeo and Juliet” about? 4
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “The Taming of the Shrew” about? 5
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” about?
You can ask the students verbally or let one of them come up and insert the answer or show how they got it. This way, you also have a record that you can keep as a class and share with parents, others.

7. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 1
Web Search
Search for reasoning for why work of Williams Shakespeare is still admired today. Do you believe this reasoning is valid?
Possible queries: “work of william shakespeare” “why shakespeare”
From Asia One Education (
Five reasons why Shakespeare is still relevant
The language is now archaic, 500 years since the plays were first performed in Elizabethan England. Why is the average Singaporean student still studying Shakespeare today?
The Bard has not become obsolete because he wrote about human issues that have remained unchanged over the years.
Here are five reasons why Shakespeare is still well-loved.
1. His plays touch on timeless themes such as love, friendship and vengeance
Who has not heard of one of the most classic love stories of all times, Romeo And Juliet? This story about the star-crossed lovers, doomed to separation by their feuding families, has been adapted countless times for stage, film, musicals and opera.
The 1996 adaptation by Baz Luhrmann, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet gave the story a modern twist. Of course, the eye candy in the form of Leonardo DiCaprio did not hurt.
2. The characters are fallible and real
The characters in Shakespeare are like you or me, even though they may be kings, queens or noblemen and women.
They are fallible in many ways, like Macbeth, who comes to grief because of ambition, or Hamlet, who struggles with the death of his father.
3. His plays are full of quotable quotes
One common lament of students is that they cannot understand the 'gibberish' of Elizabethan language.
But rather than look upon his words as Greek, try to learn from the master. Impress your teachers and friends by dropping quotes from the Bard in your essay: The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. (Merchant Of Venice)
4. Repository of commonly used phrases and words today
It is no fluke that Shakespeare is the most quoted author in the Oxford Dictionary.
Some of his phrases are so well known that we have forgotten the man who first said it. Like 'a rose by any other name', or 'parting is such sweet sorrow', or 'the world is my oyster'.
5. Gave voice to the marginalised in society
Shakespeare was quite forward-thinking for his time, especially in an age when women were not even allowed to perform on stage.
His female characters (then played by men) were not sidelined; in fact, many of them had critical roles to play in his dramas.
In Twelfth Night, Viola, while disguised as a man, uses her intelligence to integrate herself into a foreign court and win the affection of Duke Orsino.
And who could forget the infamous Lady Macbeth, the shrewish Katherine or the wise Portia, among so many others?

8. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 2
Thinking
What do you know about William Shakespeare? Have you read or seen any of his plays? What movies have you seen based on his work?
Students should share any experience they have had with Shakespeare

9. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 3
Web Search
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “Romeo and Juliet” about?
Possible queries: “summary romeo and juliet” “what is romeo and juliet about”
From No Sweat Shakespeare (
On a hot morning fighting by young servants of the Capulet and Montague families is stopped by the Prince who tells them that the next person who breaks the peace will be punished with death.
Capulet plans a feast to introduce his daughter, Juliet, who is almost fourteen, to the Count Paris who would like to marry her. By a mistake of the illiterate servant Peter, Montague’s son, Romeo, and his friends Benvolio and the Prince’s cousin Mercutio, hear of the party and decide to go in disguise. Romeo hopes he will see his adored Rosaline but instead he meets and falls in love with Juliet.
Juliet’s cousin Tybalt recognises the Montagues and they are forced to leave the party just as Romeo and Juliet have each discovered the other’s identity. Romeo lingers near the Capulet’s house and talks to Juliet when she appears on her balcony. With the help of Juliet’s Nurse the lovers arrange to meet next day at the cell of Friar Lawrence when Juliet goes for confession, and they are married by him.
Tybalt picks a quarrel with Mercutio and his friends and Mercutio is accidentally killed as Romeo intervenes to try to break up the fight. Romeo pursues Tybalt in anger, kills him and is banished by the Prince for the deed. Juliet is anxious that Romeo is late meeting her and learns of the fighting from her Nurse. With Friar Lawrence’s help it is arranged that Romeo will spend the night with Juliet before taking refuge at Mantua.
To calm the family’s sorrow at Tybalt’s death the day for the marriage of Juliet to Paris is brought forward. Capulet and his wife are angry that Juliet does not wish to marry Paris, not knowing of her secret contract with Romeo.
Friar Lawrence helps Juliet by providing a sleeping potion that will make everyone think she’s dead. Romeo will then come to her tomb and take her away. When the wedding party arrives to greet Juliet next day they think she is dead. The Friar sends a colleague to warn Romeo to come to the Capulet’s family monument to rescue his sleeping wife but the message doesn’t get through and Romeo, hearing instead that Juliet is dead, buys poison in Mantua.
He returns to Verona and goes to the tomb where he surprises and kills the mourning Paris. Romeo takes the poison and dies just as Juliet awakes from her drugged sleep. She learns what has happened from Friar Lawrence but she refuses to leave the tomb and stabs herself as the Friar returns with the Prince, the Capulets and Romeo’s father. The deaths of their children lead the families to make peace, promising to erect a monument in their memory.

10. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 4
Web Search
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “The Taming of the Shrew” about?
Possible queries: “summary taming of the shrew”
From No Sweat Shakespeare (
The play opens as the student Lucentio arrives in Padua. He hears that the merchant Baptista has two daughters, but the younger, prettier daughter, Bianca, cannot be married before her strong-willed sister, Katherina. On seeing Bianca Lucentio falls in love with her and changes identities with his servant Tranio. Bianca already has two suitors, but doesn’t like either. The elderly Gremio hires Lucentio, disguised as a Latin tutor, to woo Bianca on his behalf, while Hortensio disguises himself as a musician to get access to her. Meanwhile Petruchio, a young adventurer from Verona, arrives to visit hisfriend Hortensio. He learns about Katherina and decides to woo her, aided by both Gremio and Hortensio.
Baptista is enthusiastic about Petruchio’s suit because the feisty Katherina is a burden to him and is continually quarrelling with her sister and with him. Petruchio will not be put off as he woos Kate and he fixes their wedding day. At the church, where Kate unwillingly awaits him, Petruchio arrives in an absurd outfit and after the ceremony he leaves for Verona immediately, with his new wife. On reaching there Kate is mistreated by Petruchio and his servants, and is denied food and sleep. To teach her to obey him Petruchio does not allow her new clothes or a hat. Eventually, worn down by her husband’s relentless eccentricity, Kate submits and accepts all his eccentricities. They set off to visit her father in Padua.
On the journey the couple meet Vincentio, Lucentio’s wealthy father, who is subjected to a strange conversation as Petruchio tests Kate’s obedience. The three reach Padua where Hortensio, rejected by Bianca, has married a widow and Baptista has been tricked into believing a passing stranger is Tranio’s rich father. While Vincentio attempts to unravel the complexities of the situation his son Lucentio returns from a secret wedding with Bianca.
Nevertheless, Baptista holds a wedding feast for both his daughters. As the men relax after their meal Petruchio devises a competition to prove whose wife is the most obedient. Bianca and the widow fail to come to their husbands when called while Kate lectures the women on the duties of a wife.

11. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall? 5
Web Search
As a famous work of Shakespeare set in Verona, Italy, what is “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” about?
Possible queries: “summary two gentlemen of verona”
From No Sweat Shakespeare (
Two close friends living in Verona, Valentine and Proteus, take leave of each other. Valentine is setting out on his travels on his own because Proteus will not leave his beloved Julia and has decided to stay in Verona. Julia is interested in Proteus’ attention and treasures the love letter he has sent her, but feigns a mild rather than a passionate interest.
Proteus’ father, Antonio, sends him on a mission to Milan, however. When he arrives at the Duke of Milan’s court he finds that Valentine is there and has fallen in love with Silvia, the duke’s daughter. Silvia returns his love. Proteus, who has sworn love and fidelity to Julia falls in love with Silvia at first sight. In the meantime, the duke is planning the marriage of Silvia to the foolish Thurio. Valentine plans to elope with Silvia but the jealous Proteus tells the duke of the plot and Valentine is caught carrying a rope ladder to Silvia’s window. The duke banishes Velentine and Proteus woos Silvia with songs and declarations of love. She scorns him and reminds him about Julia.
Julia arrives in Milan, disguised as a pageboy, Sebastian. Proteus sends her (as a pageboy) with the ring that she, Julia, has given him. Silvia has promised him a picture of herself although she is still devoted to the absent Valentine.
In the meantime, Valentine has been captured by a band of aristocratic outlaws who make him their chief. Silvia persuades a courtier, Sir Eglamour, to accompany her to Mantua to find Velentine and she is also captured by the outlaws. The duke and Thurio go after her, taking Proteus with them. Julia, still disguised, follows him. Proteus rescues Silvia. He tries to force himself on her but Velentine prevents him. They quarrel and are reconciled. All this is heard by Julia and, misunderstanding, she thinks that Valentine is yielding his interest in Silvia to Proteus. She faints in front of them. Proteus recognises the ring he has given her and when her identity is revealed, Proteus’ love for her is revived.
The outlaws have captured the duke and Thurio. They trick Thurio into showing his cowardice by denying Silvia. The duke approves the marriage of Silvia and Valentine; the two couples agree to share a wedding day and the duke pardons the outlaws.

12. What themes unite the works set in Verona
What themes unite the works set in Verona? What features unite the work of Shakespeare overall?
This slide is a chance to summarize the information from the previous slides to build your final answer to the question.