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

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.

The Globe's 2007 production of Much Ado About Nothing
MP3 files of the production (divided by act) and of interviews with actors and the director. Follow the link to downloadable lesson plan files, as well.

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
This page is rich with activities to help students understand characters.

Much Ado about Nothing
The action is set in modern times; Shakespeare's character names and language remain. An outstanding animated adaptation from the Stratford Festival of Canada. Requires Flash version 8.

Much Ado about Nothing
Several activities to support the play. Click on the PDF icon for access to free materials. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.

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

Much Ado about Nothing Unit Plan
Accompanying Worksheets
These two links go together. The first one has a standards-based unit plan for the play. The second has the worksheets to go with it. Both pages require Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.

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 Acrobat 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.