As I was scrolling through social media on March 15th, I noticed that one of my high school classmates posted, “Beware of the Ides of March” on our former English teacher’s feed. Several of my old friends chimed in with Julius Caesar memes in the comment section, and I couldn’t help but smile. 20+(!!!) years later, we might not remember every detail of the play, but we remember how passionate Ms. Pallotta was about teaching Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. Yes the language is tough and the themes are complex, but with the right Julius Caesar activities and approach, your students will get all the things that truly matter from your Julius Caesar unit.
This post will guide you through a variety of Julius Caesar activities to make your unit a meaningful success. Whether you’re introducing the play for the first time or reinventing your approach, these ideas will help your students connect with the material, understand its relevance, and have a little FUN along the way!
So with that…
The fault, dear English teacher, is not in our stars, but in helpful Julius Caesar lesson plans.
Julius Caesar Summary
But before we dig into teaching strategies, here’s a quick refresher. Julius Caesar follows the story of a political conspiracy in Ancient Rome. Caesar’s growing power worries some of Rome’s senators and leads to a plot to assassinate him. Driven by honor, patriotism, and manipulation, Caesar’s friend Brutus joins the conspirators. What follows is a series of events that explore power, loyalty, and the consequences of ambition. Spoiler alert—it doesn’t end well for anyone involved.
Julius Caesar Pre-Reading Activities
Julius Caesar Setting
Set in Ancient Rome during a tumultuous political era, Julius Caesar unfolds against the backdrop of power struggles for control of the Roman Republic. Take a virtual field trip to Rome’s iconic landmarks to connect students with the play’s setting. Use this Roman ambience video to provide a visual and hook students from the start!
Julius Caesar Characters
The driving force of Julius Caesar is its iconic characters and their flaws. Key figures include Julius Caesar, the ambitious leader; Brutus, the conflicted conspirator; Mark Antony, the loyal avenger; and Cassius, the scheming instigator.
To help students keep track of the characters and their reading parts, use a Julius Caesar playbill. Not only does this set the scene for a theater production, but it also gives students a character list to reference throughout the play.
Julius Caesar Themes
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar play revolves around the themes of ambition, betrayal, loyalty, and fate. A fun way to introduce these themes and other topics is with a Julius Caesar BINGO board. As you can see, students use the board to see how well they relate to topics, try to guess how they might all be connected, and get a visual general overview of the play. Would you like a copy of this Julius Caesar BINGO board? You can grab it for FREE by signing up for my Building Book Love Letter!
Julius Caesar Introduction Activities
Like with every unit, it’s important to hook students from the start with engaging pre-reading activities! Here are some Julius Caesar introduction ideas that will spark their curiosity and help set the tone of the play:
- Explore the setting – When you are thinking about how to introduce Julius Caesar, pull out your passport and take a virtual trip to Italy. First stop, Rome. From walking tours to Roman ambience, there are plenty of online options for immersing students in the setting of Julius Caesar.
- Tour The Globe- Did you know that Julius Caesar was likely the first play to ever be performed at The Globe? Have students take a 360 tour and imagine what the ancient Roman set might have looked like in 1599.
- Spark curiosity- Lastly, introduce Julius Caesar with stations that tap into students’ natural curiosity! For example, station two sparks curiosity by helping students discover relatable Julius Caesar themes. Station three provides some necessary context, and station five gives them an anticipation guide for Julius Caesar. Stations are my favorite way to introduce any topic because they get students moving, talking, and excited about their unit without a ton of effort on the teacher’s part!
Julius Caesar Unit Plan
The unifying elements of this Julius Caesar unit plan are the Interactive Notes and Acting Troupe Drama Activities. They’re interwoven throughout the entire unit plan for Julius Caesar, ensuring that your students not only understand Shakespeare’s language but also bring it to life. The interactive notes help students decipher the text and encourage critical thinking, while the drama activities add an element of fun and gamification. Together, they create an engaging learning experience for your high school students!
Julius Caesar Activities Act 1 (Act I)
This is the soothsayer telling you “Beware of the start” because first impressions are everything! Act I of Julius Caesar is all about setting up the political drama, introducing key characters, and building suspense for what’s to come. Though it might be tempting, don’t rush this act because it sets the stage for the entire play. It’s much easier to make up time later than to rush through the groundwork. That said, you’ll need some fun Julius Caesar activities to break up the challenging reading. To make Act I stick and keep the energy high, try incorporating engaging activities like these:
- Use interactive notes to break up the text and chunk close reading
- Help students explore characters through warm-up games
- Analyze the first few pages of the Julius Caesar graphic novel
- Hold a Roman rhetoric discussion
Julius Caesar Activities Act 2 (Act II)
Rome was on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. While I was there, I couldn’t help but imagine what life might have been like for someone like Brutus as he wandered those same streets grappling with his decision to join the conspiracy. Walking through the Roman Forum made the politics and drama of Julius Caesar feel more real than ever. Though you can’t take your students to Rome, you can help them get more into the play. Here are some Julius Caesar activity ideas:
- Use interactive notes to summarize the plot and practice close reading skills
- Challenge students to create a Roman backdrop for their finger puppet play
- Show a film adaptation to review and sum up the play thus far (see below for film options)
Julius Caesar Activities Act 3 (Act III)
With the assassination and funeral speeches, Act III is so climactic that even if you stopped the play after this act (and some teachers do!), you’d still do Julius Caesar justice. Here are Julius Caesar lesson plans to get everything you need out of these iconic scenes:
- Analyze the speeches and make rhetorical bar graphs of ethos, pathos, and logos in each
- Use interactive notes to summarize important information and analyze key scenes
- Incorporate drama techniques by having groups play omen charades
- Host a gallery walk to interpret artistic interpretations of Caesar’s assassination
- Hold a Roman rhetoric discussion
Julius Caesar Activities Act 4 (Act IV)
After such an action packed Act III, the aftermath of Act IV can be a bit of a slowdown as Shakespeare creates tension between the alliances. To keep students engaged, consider reading only the essential parts and using these ideas for teaching Julius Caesar:
- Incorporate drama techniques by having groups act out an important scene
- Use interactive notes to summarize important information and analyze key scenes
- Show a film adaptation to review and sum up the play thus far (see below for film options)
Julius Caesar Activities Act 5 (Act V)
The final act culminates in tragedy and is perfect for discussing themes of loyalty, power, and true patriotism. This is where alliances shatter, battles rage, and characters meet their ultimate fates. Here are a few Julius Caesar activities to end on a reflective note:
- Use interactive notes to process the ending and analyze the themes
- Incorporate drama techniques by creating Theme Tableaus
- Compare a film production to the script (see below for film options)
- Hold a Roman rhetoric discussion
Julius Caesar After Reading Ideas
After the play ends, help students reflect on what they’ve learned. Here are some ideas:
Julius Caesar Film and Plays
Plays are meant to be watched! One of the best ways to review Julius Caesar and ensure comprehension is to watch a production of the play. Here are some choices for a Julius Caesar film by William Shakespeare.
Julius Caesar (1953): Starring Marlon Brando, this classic adaptation provides a full-text adaptation with a faithful version of the play. It helps students with comprehension and makes a great summarization tool.
Julius Caesar (2014): Luke Thompson (known for Bridgerton on Netflix) delivers a powerful performance as Mark Antony in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s political thriller. This rendition brings a modern edge to the timeless tale, making it an exciting option.
Julius Caesar (2012): Gregory Doran’s acclaimed production relocates Shakespeare’s historic tragedy to contemporary Africa. This bold adaptation draws parallels between the power struggles of ancient Rome and the modern political upheavals.
Julius Caesar Project Ideas
This Julius Caesar unit plan is filled with Julius Caesar projects throughout the play such as designing a set for a finger puppet play, producing a 5 minute drama, and working in acting troupes to gamify the unit.
For some additional project ideas, the real-world essay prompts in this Julius Caesar unit can easily be adapted to become a project as well. Students pretend they are a political analyst, political speech writer, or political activist to dig deeper into the rhetorical lessons of the play.
Julius Caesar Differentiated Approach and Adaptation Ideas
Adaptability is crucial to ensure every student has the chance to engage meaningfully with the play. If you’re seeking creative Julius Caesar activities or innovative methods to captivate all learners, here are some exciting adaptation ideas:
- Visualize with a Julius Caesar graphic novel- For students who are visual learners and striving readers, a graphic novel adaptation can be a game changer. Graphic novels not only break down the language into digestible chunks but also make the narrative come alive with visuals. If you don’t have the funding for a classroom set, you can get creative by allowing students to digitally flip through the preview to start the play and then use a single copy for read-alouds as the play progresses.
- Translate with helpful resources- How about turning the Bard’s words into a language they better understand? Sites like My Shakespeare translate key scenes using simpler language. This not only helps students understand the content but also bolsters their confidence by showing that they can indeed “speak Shakespeare.”
- Watch movie recaps- Watching a film adaptation can help students understand the plot and characters, and review acts before moving on.
- Chunk scenes for understanding- Consider ‘chunking’ the play into more manageable segments. Rather than analyzing entire scenes or acts at once, break the text down into smaller, digestible parts. This approach respects the depth of the material while accommodating students who may need more support. The interactive notes in this Julius Caesar unit are designed to help you easily chunk and check for understanding.
Conclusion
With its blend of drama, historical context, and moral dilemmas, Julius Caesar can spark meaningful discussions and imaginative thinking in your classroom. By implementing creative Julius Caesar lesson plans and activities, you’ll help your students not only understand Shakespeare’s language but also connect deeply with his timeless themes.
Do you teach other Shakespearean plays? Keep reading here:
