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William's Midsummer Dreams
Last updated Monday, March 4, 2024
Author: Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Date of Publication: 2011
ISBN: 1442419970
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2024
Synopsis:
After a year living with Aunt Fiona, William is off to audition for the role of Puck in a summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream . But getting the part is just the beginning. Now William has to deal with a jealous rival, a not-so-secret admirer, and the way the Baggetts still haunt him in nightmares. William's summer is filled with acting and costumes and applause, but he still worries sometimes that he and his younger siblings will never be able to shake off the past. But when the Baggetts show up again, William realizes that he is braver than he thought, and that it will all turn out okay.
| Note to readers: |
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Start with chapter eight, and use the following description to bring the kids up to speed with the book. William Baggett is about 11 years old; he is a skilled actor and loves to act in plays. His teacher Miss Scott invites him to to audition for the part of Puck, a character in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. William must travel several hours from his aunt's house and live in a dormitory with other actors and actresses for several weeks as he auditions and then acts in the play. Chapter eight is William's first night away from home. Clarice is William's neighbor. She has a "crush" on William, but William does not realize this. She gave William the alligator skinned notebook. Jancy is William's sister, about his age or slightly older. Aunt Fiona is William's aunt. William lives with Aunt Fiona, Jancy (sister), Trixie (younger sister), and Buddy (younger brother). She adopts William and his siblings; because their older siblings picked on them. Mr. Andre- is the Director and Miss Scott is William's teacher.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Who is William Shakespeare?
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Have you been an actor or actress in a play? What was it like?
Vocabulary
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Proscenium-The stage of an ancient Greek or Roman theater.
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"Break a Leg"-A theater phrase expressing good luck to an actor or actress before he or she performs. The actor or actress is not supposed to break his or her leg. Tell your friends to "break a leg" when you want them to succeed.
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"Good Luck"- This is seen as wishing bad luck on an actor or actress. Say this with a smile to actors or actresses that are mean.
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Superstition: a practice or habit that may be irrational, (lacking reason). Wishing an actor or actress "good luck" is a superstition; it will not impact his or her performance. If you do wish this and something bad happens blame it on the actor or actress.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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William has to climb a rope in the play. Have you ever climbed a rope or pole at school or at home? How did you feel after climbing the rope or pole, tired, excited? Would you do it again?
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What did you think of Clarice? Did you like her character?
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Do you think William wishes he had been nicer to Clarice?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Draw a picture of yourself performing a play on stage. Are you swinging on a rope, dancing, talking with another actor? Draw the audience in the background.
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(If there are paper lunch bags to make puppets) Create a puppet for a play that is a comedy. I.e, give the puppet a big nose using pipe cleaners, or give the puppet a skill you would want.
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Check out this clever article on how to make and decorate a drum that can be used to call dinosaurs
https://www.paulsprehistoricpark.com/?p=7559
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| Special activities: |
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Have the kids make up a play.
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Ask the kids if any of them know cursive. Teach the kids how to write in cursive. There are passages in the book written in cursive.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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