This document outlines the medium term plan for a unit on Shakespeare's Macbeth for an English class in year 11 or 12. The unit will focus on a close analysis of Act 1 of the play, examining its structural and linguistic aspects. Students will analyze how Shakespeare presents the conflict between good and evil in Act 1, with the key assessment being a controlled assessment submission analyzing this theme. Lessons will introduce students to the historical context of the play and witchcraft to understand Shakespeare's audience. Students will then analyze how Macbeth is portrayed in Act 1 scenes 1 and 2.

1. ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
MEDIUM TERM PLAN
UNIT: Macbeth (for English unit 3a) YEAR:11 / 12 (Resit)
OVERVIEW: Throughout this unit, student will focus on the structural and linguistic aspects of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
The unit focuses on a close analysis of Act 1 of the play.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
KEY ASSESSMENTS:
To what effect does Shakespeare present the conflict between good and evil in Act 1 of ‘Macbeth’? (Controlled Assessment
submission June 2013)
KEY CONCEPTS:
Competence: a,c
Creativity: d
Critical understanding: b, c
PLTS: FUNCTIONAL SKILLS:

3. LESSON: OBJECTIVES: KEY TEACHING AND LEARNING
ACTIVITIES/STRATEGIES:
OUTCOMES: RESOURCES:
1 To understand
the context of
the play
To explain how
the context
was important
to
Shakespeare’s
audience.
Key question: What is context? How is it
important?
Starter: What do people in 2013 think of the
monarch and witchcraft? How would people have
felt in 1606?
Introduce key concepts: witchcraft; supernatural;
Divine order; ambition. Students match concepts to
definitions.
Students sort facts relating to witchcraft / Divine
order / Background of the play ‘True or False’
Feedback
Plenary: How would the context affect you if you
were:
a) King James I
b) A peasant / merchant
Homework: Annotate Act 1, I and 1, II with
difficult / unusual vocabulary.
• Give three
reasons why
context is
significant to the
play ‘Macbeth’.
• Support reasons
with facts
• Make detailed
links to two
different classes
of society.
L1 PPT
Photocopies of
notes from
Heinemann
‘Macbeth’
Photocopies of
‘Macbeth’ Act I -
II
2 To understand
how Macbeth is
portrayed in
Act 1 Sc. I and
II
Key question: How is Macbeth presented in Act 1
scene I and II?
Starter: What do you remember about witchcraft in
the 17th
century (1600s)?
Share objectives and CA question: To what effect
does Shakespeare present the conflict between
good and evil in Act 1 of ‘Macbeth’?
[N.B. Students should have read this for homework
in L1. If so, questioning to elicit responses relating
to the CA title may be appropriate.]
Key teaching points:
• Annotated script
• Relevant details
identified
• Discussion of the
character of
Macbeth
L2 PPT
Photocopies of
‘Macbeth’ Act I –
II
Macbeth tracking
sheet?