Let's Dream 2025
Camp Challenges
Please follow the linked titles to complete the Google Form associated with each challenge. Challenges in blue denote Let's Dream-specific Challenges.
the fine print
If campers would like to do some fun Shakespeare learning on their own, we have provided several optional Challenges. Camp participants have between registration and the Friday Performance date (June 6, 2025) to complete their Challenges. However, we will need to know one week prior (May 30, 2025) which projects you WILL HAVE completed by the last day of camp. You will need to pass each one off to a parent or guardian, and then they will email AllTheWorldsAStageTX@gmail.com with the specific Challenges you have completed. A certificate will be awarded to each student at the Friday evening performance, listing their completed Challenges. Anyone who reads The Wednesday Wars AND completes at least 6 Challenges will receive a special prize.
Please note: If you have already completed any of the Challenges for a previous camp, you are welcome to complete the Challenge again as long as you do it differently. For example, for the Memorize 15 Famous Quotes Challenge, the quotes or passages you memorize must be different from those you used earlier.
quick-start CHALLENGES
(Everyone is welcome to complete these first 3 Challenges*;
we just recommend first-time campers start here.)
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*Categorize Shakespeare’s 38 Plays into Comedy, Tragedy, History: Given the titles of Shakespeare’s 38 plays, sort each into its own category without assistance: Comedy, Tragedy, and History. See a list of all the plays here.
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*Learn the Characteristics of Comedy, Tragedy, and History:
Read all about the Characteristics of Comedy, Tragedy and History.
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Read The Tempest summary and identify 3 characteristics of Shakespeare’s comedies.
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Read A Midsummer Night’s Dream summary and identify 3 characteristics of Shakespeare’s comedies.
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Read the Macbeth summary and identify 3 characteristics of Shakespeare’s tragedies.
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Read the Henry IV, Part I summary (William Shakespeare Plays) and identify 3 characteristics of Shakespeare’s histories.
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*Watch 1 Full-length Shakespeare Play and Notice Basic Acting Aspects: Following are four basic acting and staging terms and their definitions. Learn each one, and then watch a full-length Shakespeare play (not a movie) live or online and observe each aspect below. Write up one thing you noticed about each aspect and how the actors’ use of this aspect made the play easier for you to understand and more enjoyable for you to watch.
Basic Acting and Staging Terms and Definitions:
Blocking: The placement and movement of figures on stage, especially for the purpose of telling a story
Cheating Out: Turning your body towards the audience so that they can see your face and expressions
Diction: The style of enunciation of words in speaking and singing
Projection: The volume at which you speak (loud enough so all the audience can hear)
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How did the blocking contribute to the effectiveness of the play?
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Did the actors cheat out? How was it helpful?
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How was the diction of the performers? How did the clarity of speech (or not) contribute to your understanding of the play?
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How did the actors do at projecting? Were there any times you could not hear their voices? If so, what would you recommend for improvement?
Read the Condensed Version of the Plays Discussed in The Wednesday Wars: ​The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing. Write down what Holling learns from reading each play. Here are some acceptable books where you can read abridged versions.
A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories
The Shakespeare Stories Box Set
20 Shakespeare Children's Stories
We prefer you read abridged version of the plays from one of the books above or something similar. However, if you do not access to one of these books, you may read the full online summary here: William Shakespeare Plays.
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​​Learn the Characters and Basic Plot of 4 Plays: Choose 4 of Shakespeare’s plays that are not included in this year’s camp.
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Learn the main characters’ names.
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Learn the basic story plot of each play. Summarize each in at least 5 sentences orally or in writing.
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Make a 3D Model of the Globe Theater: Research the Globe, and include at least the following in your model:
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Main Stage
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Upper Stage
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Inner Stage
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Flag
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Tiring House
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Galleries
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Open Yard
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Trapdoor
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Answer the following questions:
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Why do you think they designed the theater this way?
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If you were to design your own theater, how would you design it and why?
Read a Summary of Each of Shakespeare’s “Romance” Plays: The Tempest, Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and Two Noble Kinsmen. Identify the romance aspects and common themes in each of the plays.
Read or Watch One Full-length “Romance” Play: The Tempest, Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and Two Noble Kinsmen
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Summarize the play to a family member.
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Tell them a favorite scene and why.
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Share the theme of the play.
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Memorize a Famous Passage from a Shakespeare Play: Select a famous passage to memorize, at least 10-15 lines long, either from the passages we’re going to discuss in our camp or one of your own choosing and then do the following before reciting the passage to your parents:
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Give the title of the play and the background of the scene.
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Tell them who is speaking.
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Recite the passage without any assistance.
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When complete, fill out the Google form.
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Memorize 15 Famous Quotes from Shakespeare’s Plays: Several websites with Shakespeare quotes are given below, but you may find your quotes anywhere.
Please Note: A quote is a whole sentence or more. A phrase is a few words put together but not a quote. For example, “A rose by any other name” is a phrase because it is not a complete sentence. The quote which includes that phrase is “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” To pass off this challenge with a parent, do the following for each of the 15 quotes:
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Have your parent prompt you with a key word or two from your quote list.
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Recite each quote without assistance.
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Tell what play the quote is from and who is speaking.
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Tell the meaning of the quote.
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Read the Abridged Version of the Plays We Will Discuss in Camp: We are focusing on these four plays for the Let's Dream Camp: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Macbeth, and Henry IV Part I. Here are some great print sources:
A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories
The Shakespeare Stories Box Set
20 Shakespeare Children's Stories
We prefer you read abridged versions of the plays from one of the books above or something similar. However, if you do not have access to one of these books, you may read the full online summary from this website: William Shakespeare Plays. If you want to wait until you receive your camp binder the week before camp, you may also read the summary there. Answer the following question in the Google Doc Form:
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What do two of the plays (or three, or all four) have in common?
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Why might we have chosen them to complement our “Let's Dream” focus this year?
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Just from reading the summary, what would you like to know more about one of the characters in each play?
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How do you think the plots of the plays might relate (or not) to today’s culture?
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Choreograph Stage Combat: Choreograph one of the following fight scenes. Write down the choreography and then perform it with a friend:
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Demetrius vs. Lysander, Act 3, Scene 2
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Helena vs. Hermia, Act 3, Scene 2
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Macbeth: Macbeth vs. Macduff, Act 5, Scene 8
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Henry IV: Douglas vs. Blunt (disguised as King Henry), Act 5, Scene 3
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Common Themes and Motifs: Read or watch one Shakespeare play and identify themes and motifs and what effect these have on the audience's understanding of the play.
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Write down three themes you see in the play and give examples of how each theme is exemplified.
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Write down 2 motifs you see Shakespeare (or the director) use in the play.
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Write down what effect the motifs have on the audience’s understanding of the play.
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​Read or Watch a Full-length Shakespeare Play: After reading/watching the play, do the following:
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Summarize the play to a family member.
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Tell a favorite scene.
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Tell why you chose that scene.
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Share the theme of the play.
Watch a Full-length Shakespeare Play, Focusing on Acting Techniques: Do the following:
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Watch for how the characters demonstrate emotion through their dialogue.
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Notice how the actors use vocal variety (loud vs. soft voice; fast vs. slow speaking, etc.).
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Pay attention to how the actors act when they are not saying anything (nonverbal acting).
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Make a list with 3 examples of each item you are watching for.
Note: The play you watch for this Challenge must be different from the one you watch for the other Challenges.)
William Shakespeare Interview: Pretend you are a journalist interviewing William Shakespeare. Write an article all about his life, his inspirations, his favorite play he wrote, how it is to work with the play company, how he feels about living in London, etc. Do a lot of research on Shakespeare’s life and times to discover how he may answer your questions. The article needs to be at least one typed page.
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Write a Page on the Shakespeare Character You Most Relate To:
- Describe the character and what play they are in.
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Include different facets of their character which make them fully rounded.
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What makes them interesting to you?
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Write at least ½ -typed page.
Write a Shakespearean Sonnet: Compose your own sonnet. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd, efef, gg. The rhythm is iambic pentameter: da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM. (If you need more direction, we will learn about sonnets during the camp.)
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How many lines are in a sonnet?
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What is the rhyme scheme?
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What meter is used?
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Shakespeare often uses different language to differentiate between social classes: Generally higher class characters use Iambic Pentameter while lower class characters use prose. Come up with a short scenario with at least two characters from a higher and a lower class. Then write a 3-page scene and depict these social differences in your scene by using iambic pentameter for the higher class and prose for the lower class. Find someone to perform your scene with you for your family or friends.
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After your performance, write a short half-page analysis.
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