A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

BBC Teach > Primary > English 7 - 11

Shakespeare's romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream is animated in 8 episodes for KS2 and KS3 pupils.

Puck is our storyteller in this new adaptation by Julia Cranney, which is faithful to the characters and plot of Shakespeare's original and also references Shakespeare's original language throughout. The videos are accompanied by Teacher Notes, transcripts and print-outs supporting follow-up activities.

1: Welcome to Athens
video

1: Welcome to Athens

Puck relates recent events in Athens: Duke Theseus is soon to marry Queen Hippolyta.

2: The Rehearsal
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2: The Rehearsal

Quince gathers her troupe of amateur actors including Nick Bottom, the weaver.

3: Into the Woods
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3: Into the Woods

Oberon and Titania argue...and Puck is instructed to find a magic flower.

4: The Wrong Athenian
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4: The Wrong Athenian

Oberon uses the magic flower on Titania...but Puck uses it on the wrong Athenian.

5: Oberon's Revenge
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5: Oberon's Revenge

Titania falls in love with the transformed Bottom and Oberon discovers Puck’s mistake.

6: The Lovers' Quarrel
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6: The Lovers' Quarrel

Lysander and Demetrius compete for Helena’s love...and Hermia starts a fight.

7: Lifting the Fog
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7: Lifting the Fog

Puck leads the lovers off to sleep and Oberon releases Titania from his spell.

8: A Wedding Play
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8: A Wedding Play

The lovers return to Athens for a triple wedding. Bottom and friends perform their play.

 

Resources

Teacher Notes and transcripts appear on each of the episode pages.

Name the characters
document

Name the characters

Download / print the activity sheet to name the characters (pdf)

Sequencing activity
document

Sequencing activity

Download / print then sequence the events of the story in the correct order (pdf)

Describe the mechanicals
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Describe the mechanicals

Words to describe the characters of the six 'mechanicals' (pdf)

Meet the main characters

A Midsummer Night's Dream - Puck

Puck

Called 'Hobgoblin' by some...a merry wanderer of the night and our storyteller.

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