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