Play the Knave is a dynamic, interactive digital tool/game that gets students up on their feet performing dramatic scenes via an avatar.
As many teachers know from experience, the best way to engage students in studying Shakespeare is by getting them up on their feet to perform scenes from the plays. After all, Shakespeare's dramas were meant to be performed and that is how they are best understood--as plays. With hundreds of scenes from nineteen of the most commonly taught Shakespeare plays, as well as an online system that allows teachers and students to edit or write their own scripts, Play the Knave is an ideal way to engage students at all levels.
Our teaching team has integrated Play the Knave into the study of Shakespeare at elementary, middle, and high schools; colleges; and after-school programs.
Whether used as a novel reading tool, an un-intimidating introduction to the plays, a scaffold for full-scale performances of scenes, or a capstone performance experience, the game gets students excited about reading Shakespeare’s language.
But Shakespeare is just the beginning... What some teachers may not know is that dramatic performance is an ideal way to engage students in any text. Education researchers have shown, in fact, that kinesthetic movement and drama-based activities enhance help students understand complex texts and materials in a range of subjects.
Play the Knave is designed to be easily adaptable to suit learning in a range of subjects, including second language, literature, history, and life orientation/life skills.
Play the Knave has been used in classrooms across the United States and throughout the world. Our software can be downloaded for free, but you'll need to make sure you have the required hardware to play. Visit our Download page to learn more or consult our Installation Guide.
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Above: students studying Shakespeare via Play the Knave at Thuto-lore Comprehensive School in Sharpeville township, near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Learn more below about our collaboration with Cape Town theater artist and educator Lauren Bates of Educasions to bring Play the Knave into South African high schools. |
Testimonials from Teachers
“Because of the format, the students didn’t seem to suffer from any of the usual hesitation of reading difficult text aloud.”
-- Kathleen, Waldron Mercy Academy, Pennsylvania
-- Kathleen, Waldron Mercy Academy, Pennsylvania
“They laughed a lot and had a great time. Also, the more timid students had less anxiety about getting up and performing.” -- Tim, River City High School, California
“It engaged the kids on a high level. Motivation and interest are two of the hardest things to cultivate in the classroom when dealing with difficult texts such as Shakespeare. This video game significantly increased the students interest in participating and their motivation to engage on a serious level with the text."
-- Rachel, City of Hialeah Educational Academy, Florida
-- Rachel, City of Hialeah Educational Academy, Florida
“The game defied their stereotypes of what characters in Shakespeare should look like. One African-American student chose a black man in a suit to play Hamlet because the man resembled him. The students discussed how it was interesting to “change things up” by having the characters look modern or like a robot or an alien."
-- Molly, River City High School, California
-- Molly, River City High School, California
“My students were able to go straight into acting without having to memorize lines, and this is important because many students in the class read below grade level and they struggle enough with the language as it is."
-- Raul, Florin High School, California
-- Raul, Florin High School, California
“They learned a lot about how to move their bodies while performing to emphasize the ideas that they are trying to get across. While I can explain this in words to my students, it’s not as effective as seeing themselves perform in real time."
-- Averyl, University of California, Davis
-- Averyl, University of California, Davis
Interested in Play the Knave for your classroom, but don't have the required hardware?
Thanks to an educational grant from Margaret Bowles, we can loan you the equipment you need. Our Knave Kit contains everything required to run Play the Knave; you provide only a TV or projector/screen.
There is no cost to use this program beyond your paying for shipping fees. (Shipping fees range from around $50-$100 depending on your location.) Teachers who can travel to the University of California, Davis, can pick up a kit in person to avoid shipping fees.
All we ask in exchange is that you and your students give our Education Program feedback about your experience so that we can continue to research the impact of Play the Knave on student learning.
There is no cost to use this program beyond your paying for shipping fees. (Shipping fees range from around $50-$100 depending on your location.) Teachers who can travel to the University of California, Davis, can pick up a kit in person to avoid shipping fees.
All we ask in exchange is that you and your students give our Education Program feedback about your experience so that we can continue to research the impact of Play the Knave on student learning.
To borrow a Knave Kit, fill out our form:
Play the Knave in South Africa
We are excited to announce a new collaboration with Cape Town theatre artist and teacher Lauren Bates of Educasions. We have co-created a highly engaging program that uses Play the Knave to teach the following Shakespeare plays:
We are currently engaged in research in Cape Town schools to assess the impact of these lessons and are looking for schools who might like to participate. The program is entirely free. Educasions would visit your classroom to deliver the lessons and tasks in a way that supports your current teaching.
Interested Cape Town teachers can contact Lauren Bates at educasions@gmail.com to schedule a visit.
Explore the lessons and assignments
Learn more about the project by watching the presentation below!
- Romeo and Juliet
- Macbeth
- Othello
- Hamlet
We are currently engaged in research in Cape Town schools to assess the impact of these lessons and are looking for schools who might like to participate. The program is entirely free. Educasions would visit your classroom to deliver the lessons and tasks in a way that supports your current teaching.
Interested Cape Town teachers can contact Lauren Bates at educasions@gmail.com to schedule a visit.
Explore the lessons and assignments
Learn more about the project by watching the presentation below!
Our Research in California Schools
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Elementary School
Middle School
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Presentations about ResearchOur teaching interns have brought Play the Knave to K-12 schools across Northern California and studied its effectiveness for student learning. Watch these presentations about the game’s impact.
Overview of 2017-18 research program
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High School
High School
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Learn more:
Curriculum Review: An assessment of a lesson plan using Play the Knave that was developed to fit the California Common Core Curriculum and taught in a ninth grade classroom.
| curriculum_review_of_play_the_knave.pdf |
Play the Knave is included in the book Learning, Education and Games: 100 Games to Use in the Classroom and Beyond. Access the entire book, or download below the chapter about Play the Knave.
| learning_education_and_games_play_the_knave.pdf |
