William Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing
Lesson plans and other teaching resources

60-Second Shakespeare
On this page, a tabloid-style summary of the play from the BBC. Follow links to learn how your students can produce something similar.

Change Slander to Remorse — Unscripted Scenes
"In this lesson, the students will hypothesize about the content of unscripted moments, search for evidence in the actual text to support their hypothesis, and explore how this hypothesis would affect characterization."

Dogberry--The Most Vigitant Lawman Ever
Students work with Dogberry's malapropisms and humor.

Folger Study Guide: Much Ado about Nothing
Plot summary, list of characters, interactive activities, and discussion questions.

Hero vs. Claudio: A Case of Slander
Students investigate marriage customs in the Renaissance, debate the issues raised by Claudio repudiating Hero at the altar, and stage a mock trial accusing Claudio of slandering Hero.

Much Ado about Nothing
Plot summary, themes, imagery, more.

Shakespearean Comedy on Film
This lesson focuses on the aspects of Shakespeare's comedy that become more evident in performance. Students analyze clips from two versions of the play for examples of comic technique.

A Teacher's Guide to Much Ado about Nothing
Scene-by-scene summary, a variety of teaching strategies. This extensive document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

Tickling the Brain
Prior to reading the play, students act out scenarios dealing with conflicts similar to those of Much Ado.