The virtual reality experience that I found was this YouTube 360 video of the first scene of Romeo and Juliet. Because this version uses modern settings and outfits, it fits a few different standards. Students can be part of the first scene as if they are one of the Capulets starting the fight. These are the standards that this would cover:
Standard 7: Analyze the relationship among ideas, themes, or topics in multiple media, formats, and in visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modalities.
Standard 8: Analyze characters, settings, events, and ideas as they develop and interact within a particular context.
Standard 7 is covered because the Cardboard is a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modality. Students see, hear, and move through the scene to gain a deeper understanding of what is happening in it. Standard 8 is covered because students will be examining an important event in the story—they can fully experience how the feud was re-kindled.
I would have students first read the first scene together in groups. Afterwards, we would discuss what happened in the scene and why. I would ask them to decide with their groups what a “modern” version of this would look like. I would then have them access the video link on their phones from Google Classroom. They would view it in a Google Cardboard headset, and could look around to see what was happening in the scene.
The video covers the first half of Act 1, Scene 1. I only have students read the first half of the scene for the first day anyway. I would have them end the lesson by making predictions about what would happen next in the story.
I think this would be a very engaging way to begin the play. Students would be more invested in the action and would want to see if their predictions came true.
Standard 7: Analyze the relationship among ideas, themes, or topics in multiple media, formats, and in visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modalities.
Standard 8: Analyze characters, settings, events, and ideas as they develop and interact within a particular context.
Standard 7 is covered because the Cardboard is a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modality. Students see, hear, and move through the scene to gain a deeper understanding of what is happening in it. Standard 8 is covered because students will be examining an important event in the story—they can fully experience how the feud was re-kindled.
I would have students first read the first scene together in groups. Afterwards, we would discuss what happened in the scene and why. I would ask them to decide with their groups what a “modern” version of this would look like. I would then have them access the video link on their phones from Google Classroom. They would view it in a Google Cardboard headset, and could look around to see what was happening in the scene.
The video covers the first half of Act 1, Scene 1. I only have students read the first half of the scene for the first day anyway. I would have them end the lesson by making predictions about what would happen next in the story.
I think this would be a very engaging way to begin the play. Students would be more invested in the action and would want to see if their predictions came true.