This lesson began as an assignment for "Computers in the PK - 12 Classroom" at the University of Richmond, VA.  Our goal in creating this webquest is to make Shakespeare more relevant and accessible to high school students.  The inspiration for this idea is rooted in our own high school experiences.

In this webquest, student groups choose a scene from Romeo and Juliet and are responsible for updating that scene into one of the following time periods:  The Wild West, 1920s Chicago, 1950s Suburbia, and 1960s Counterculture.  The end result of the webquest is both a performance of their rewrite and a comprehensive "Theatrical Portfolio", incorporating elements of both the Elizabethan time period and the modern time period they have chosen.  After completing their tasks, your students will have gained a greater understanding of the universal and timeless themes found in Shakespeare's writings.

Make sure you read the following teacher pages with care before implementing this webquest in your classroom.  Good Luck!