Activity Introduction
Quick summary: In this lesson, students will use the Prologue to Romeo and Juliet as a base text to explore the representation of conflict in society. Also using Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation and a contemporary reflection on the tragedy of the coward punch, students will examine how the issues that Shakespeare warned his audiences about hundreds of years ago are connected to those of the modern day.
The STOP the Coward Punch education package aims to spread awareness about the devastating effects of the coward punch on our community. This education package was developed by a team of experts, including a youth worker, education specialist and specialist teachers and references the latest research and laws on coward punches.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand the impact of speech and word choice on meaning
- Students will analyse complex texts and interpret authorial intent
- Students will identify points of connection between text and film
- Students will make connections between the issues of the past and present.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 9 English:
- Explore and reflect on personal understanding of the world and significant human experience gained from interpreting various representations of life matters in texts (ACELT1635)
- Analyse text structures and language features of literary texts, and make relevant comparisons with other texts (ACELT1772)
- Create literary texts, including hybrid texts, that innovate on aspects of other texts, for example by using parody, allusion and appropriation (ACELT1773)
Syllabus outcomes: EN5-6C, EN5-7D
General capabilities: Literacy
Relevant parts of Year 9 achievement standards:
Students analyse and explain how images, vocabulary choices and language features distinguish the work of individual authors. They evaluate and integrate ideas and information from texts to form their own interpretations. Students understand how interpretations can vary by comparing their responses to texts to the responses of others. Students create texts that respond to issues, interpreting and integrating ideas from other texts. They make presentations and contribute actively to class and group discussions, comparing and evaluating responses to ideas and issues.
Topic: Social Issues
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work STOP the Coward Punch: English – Years 7 to 10.
Time required: 120 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – organise students into groups and facilitate class discussion.
Resources required:
- Device capable of presenting a video and projecting a document to the class
- How do We Stop the Tragedy of the Coward’s Punch? – one copy per student (digital or printed)
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Related professional development: Strategies for Dealing with Aggressive and Violent Behaviours
Keywords: coward punch, Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, violence, prologue, sonnet, Baz Luhrmann, tragedy, English, literature, comparison, analysis
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
