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Pre-Reading Activity for Romeo and Juliet: "Agree or Disagree"

 

Kick off your Romeo and Juliet unit with this engaging pre-reading activity that introduces key themes and builds excitement for the novel. This resource is designed for high school ELA teachers looking for a low-prep, high-impact lesson that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and discussion.

 

What’s Included:

  • Agree or Disagree Statements: 10 print-ready prompts (e.g., “Love at first sight is real,” “Fate always finds a way”) for students to analyze, debate, and discuss in small groups.
  • Synthesis Worksheet: A guided worksheet to help students reflect on group responses, evaluate arguments, and identify the best agree/disagree points.
  • Lesson Slides: Facilitation slides complete with timers, sentence frames, and discussion stems to keep students on track and engaged.

 

How It Works

Preparation:

  • Print the "Agree or Disagree" statements for your table groups (6-10).
  • Add sticky notes to each statement (1 per group).
  • Print one Synthesis Worksheet per group for the final activity (6-10).

 

Activity Directions:

  • Students rotate between table groups, discussing and anonymously recording whether they agree or disagree with each statement and providing a brief explanation.
  • After all groups have visited every statement, students analyze the results using the Synthesis Worksheet.

 

Wrap-Up Discussion:

  • Connect the statements to key themes in Romeo and Juliet using the Theme Formula: Theme = Topic + Universal Message.
  • Facilitate a class discussion where students identify the topics (e.g., teenage love, family drama, fate vs. free will) and connect these to the novel.

 

The Big Reveal:

  • Build excitement by asking students to guess the novel based on the topics discussed. End the class by revealing Romeo and Juliet!

 

Why You’ll Love This Resource:

  • Low Prep, High Engagement: Just print the materials, provide sticky notes, and present the slides!
  • Supports Argumentative Writing: Prepares students for analyzing and discussing themes, which connects to their culminating argumentative essay.
  • Flexible Timing: Perfect for 50–60 minute classes or extended to 110 minutes with deeper discussions.
  • Student-Centered: Encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and theme analysis in a fun, interactive way.

 

This activity will help your students explore themes such as fate vs. free will, love, and decision-making while sparking curiosity and engagement for their journey into Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet Pre-Reading Activity: Agree or Disagree

$4.99Price
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