UKS2 Literacy - William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream - Play Script & Reading Comprehension Bundle

Two resources perfect for students learning about A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare; a play script written for young performers and a close reading activity.

The play script has been rewritten to be suitable for ages 9 to 14. A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the story of four Athenian lovers who have a complicated yet dramatic love life. Lysander and Hermia loved each other and wished to be together. Helena loved Demetrius, but Demetrius loved Hermia, and Hermia’s father wanted him to marry his daughter.

Hermia and Lysander decided to run off together into the woods. But the woods were haunted by the Fairy King and Queen - Oberon and Titania, and the King’s mischievous henchman, Puck. The play tells the magical story of the eventual coming together of the four lovers, and Duke Theseus and his bride, Hippolyta.

The play script is a mix of modern English with some of the famous lines from the real play mixed in as well. There are 26 speaking parts. I hope you enjoy it – good luck! There are 26 speaking roles with parts for the whole class; the language is a mix of Shakespearean and more modern English. Ideal for theatre performances or plays, reading activities or guided reading sessions.

The second activity is an Informational text activity with comprehension and grammar questions about William Shakespeare’s popular play. The reading comprehension activity focuses on the main storyline of the play and it’s history, and concludes with comprehension and grammar questions. It also contains an extension activity for fast-finishing students. It is aimed at students between the ages of 9-13.

The activities require NO PREP and have a body of text that students need to read through thoroughly; then they can use the text to find the comprehension and grammar answers. All texts then have an extension activity for those fast finishers.

Answers, for teacher use, are on the final page of the document.

Time allowance for each activity (one hour - four hours in total)
5 minutes - read through the text individually.
40 minutes - answer questions using the text as guidance (including extension activity)
15 minutes - Teacher and students go through the text and answers

For more great resources visit Creative Primary Literacy.