Here's a fun way to teach Shakespeare to students, then have them transfer their knowledge into their own short story starter.

This Story Starter prompt was adapted from SpringBoard, the worktext my district uses. The original lesson was called Changes in Simba's World and seemed like an afterthought. I really wanted to begin exposing my kids to Shakespeare, and though some good stories could derive from these prompts.

Students chose one of the prompts and have about 25 minutes to write as much of story with a plot that they can. I circulate and support those who might be stuck. For example, if a student is working on the prompt about the twins, I might give her the scenario that one of the twins was adopted to the President of the United States!

My job is fantastic when these kids are writing! I get to go around, read interesting stories, and add fun and creative twists to them.