Learning Gratitude from Shakespearean Sonnets
Grade
Grade 8
UNIT
3
•
Gratitude
In Unit 3, Lesson 1, “Learning Gratitude from Shakespearean Sonnets,” students will learn examples of gratitude from three of William Shakespeare’s sonnets and contemporary adaptations of those sonnets. Students will develop their critical thinking and writing skills by answering questions about the poems. Additionally, students will advance their academic dialogue skills by discussing the sonnets with classmates.
SUGGESTED TIME:
- 1 class period
RELATED SUBJECT:
English Language Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Read three Shakespearean sonnets: Sonnet 18, Sonnet 29, & Sonnet 116
- Understand the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet
- Identify and analyze the sonnets’ central themes and ideas
- Write answers to questions about the sonnets, demonstrating an understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
- Engage effectively in collaborative discussions about the sonnets
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Text: William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18, Sonnet 29, & Sonnet 116
- Video: Why Shakespeare Still Matters by Learn Free (~3 min)
- Video: "What is a Sonnet?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers by OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film (~2 min)
- Video: Sonnet 18 by the Sonnet Man (Stop at 50 sec)
- Video : Sonnet 29 by the Sonnet Man by ChickenShop Shakespeare (~2 min)
- Video: Sonnet 116 by the Sonnet Man (~4 min)
- Worksheet: Prohuman Grade 8 Unit 3 Worksheet 1: Shakespearean Sonnets
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Step 1:
- Tell students that we will be reading three of Shakespeare’s sonnets. He wrote 154 sonnets and they were published in 1609. (Source: About Shakespeare's Sonnets by The Folger Shakespeare Library)
- Play this video, which explains the importance of Shakespeare: Why Shakespeare Still Matters by Learn Free (~3 min)
Step 2:
- What is a sonnet?
- Play a video briefly explaining the poetic form: "What is a Sonnet?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers by OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film (~2 min)
Step 3:
- Have the students read Sonnet 18 silently. (~1 min)
- Have a different student read each line of Sonnet 18 out loud. (~1 min)
- Explain that Shakespeare’s work lives on in current adaptations. Play the video: Sonnet 18 by the Sonnet Man. (~4 min)
- Ask students to reflect on and write about what Shakespeare is saying in this sonnet. Have them write on their worksheets. (~3 min)
- Have a class discussion about what students wrote about Sonnet 18. (~5 min)
Step 4:
- Have the students read Sonnet 29 silently. (~1 min)
- Have a different student read each line of Sonnet 29 out loud. (~1 min)
- Play the video: Sonnet 29 by the Sonnet Man by ChickenShop Shakespeare (~2 min)
- Ask students to reflect on and write about what Shakespeare is saying in this sonnet. Have them write on their worksheets. (~3 min)
- Have a class discussion about what students wrote about Sonnet 29. (~5 min)
Step 5:
- Have the students read Sonnet 116 silently. (~1 min)
- Have a different student read each line of Sonnet 116 out loud. (~1 min)
- Play the video Sonnet 116 by the Sonnet Man (~4 min)
- Ask students to reflect on and write about what Shakespeare is saying in this sonnet. Have them write on their worksheets. (~3 min)
- Have a class discussion about what students wrote about Sonnet 116. (~5 min)
Step 6:
- Ask the class a final wrap-up question: How does Shakespeare reflect on the nature of gratitude in these sonnets?
GRADE 8 UNIT 3 WORKSHEET 1: SHAKESPEAREAN SONNETS
Sonnet 18 — What do you see as the central message Shakespeare is communicating in this poem?
Sonnet 29 — What do you see as the central message Shakespeare is communicating in this poem?
Sonnet 116 — What do you see as the central message Shakespeare is communicating in this poem?
Prohuman K-12 Curriculum © 2025 by Prohuman Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
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