Level: Form III (7th–9th grades), Form IV (10th–12th grades)
Subject(s): Art/Art Appreciation, Citizenship, English, History, Literature, Music/Music Appreciation, Panorama
Description:
In the Artist & Composer Study portion of this class, students encounter works by master artists and composers in this multi-sensory class. Over the course of the year, students learn about the lives of 4 artists and 4 composers and study multiple works from each. Students gain a listening repertoire of over a dozen classical scores and receive over a dozen full-color art prints, which they study in class through group discussion, written narration, and notebook drawings.
In the Plutarch & Shakespeare portion of this class, the class will read, narrate, and discuss passages from Plutarch’s Lives and Shakespeare’s plays. Over the year, students will read two of Shakespeare plays and two of Plutarch’s lives, studying one of each per semester. Students will have the opportunity to dramatically read selected passages, to reenact key scenes, and to prepare and recite optional memory work.
Materials:
- Composition notebook
- Dual Notebook with blank and lined paper (Link is to an optional brand)
- Three-ring binder with lined paper, pencils, colored pencils, and erasers in a pencil pouch
Required Resources:
- Henry VIII (Folger Shakespeare Library) ISBN 198217015
- Romeo and Juliet (Folger Shakespeare Library) ISBN 074347711
- Plutarch’s Lives, Volume II Modern Library Classics Dryden translation ISBN 037575677 (used multiple years, Note: ’24-’25 used Volume I so ’25-’26 year requires a different book)
Overview: 6-year Cycle for Form III & IV
2025-2026 1 Henry VIII / Romeo & Juliet / Modern History
2026-2027 2 The Taming of the Shrew / Macbeth / Ancient History
2027-2028 3 Much Ado About Nothing / Hamlet / Middle History
2028-2029 4 The Merchant of Venice / Coriolanus / Modern History
2029-2030 5 A Winter’s Tale / King John / Ancient History
2030-2031 6 As You Like It / Richard II / Middle History