Making Shakespeare Fun: The Story Behind My “Take-and-Make” Bags
At Bridge to the Bard, my goal is to make Shakespeare fun and accessible for kids ages 4 to 14. One way that I’ve done this is through my “Take-and-Make” bags, which brings Shakespeare to children in a creative and interactive way.
Distributing my Take & Make bags to children during a free workshop at The Nyack Center in Nyack, NY.
“We put the take-home kits out for our Take Home Craft Day on April 26, and they were a huge hit with the kids! They went extremely quickly and they were all very excited to choose between the two (and especially excited when they realized they were glow-in-the-dark!).”
Each bag is inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream and is available in two themes: Titania or Puck. Inside the bags are a short, kid-friendly story inspired by the play, a coloring page featuring either Titania or Puck, and a make your own glow-in-the-dark bracelet with a fairy or magic potion charm. These bags are free for kids to take home!
Children at The MLK Center in Spring Valley, NY bringing home bags after our workshop!
“The kits we age-appropriate for the target audience’s skill level and interest, and just the right balance of informative and fun - very well done all around! We were impressed with your initiative and creativity!”
I have distributed these bags to many libraries in my area, where children can pick one up and get creative with Shakespeare. These bags have also been a hit in the free workshops I’ve led for children in underserved communities in my area. I’ve partnered with Children’s Shakespeare Theater to create and provide these workshops which include games, scene work, and stage combat instruction.
Dropping off my Take & Make Bags at Elmwood Park Library!
“Our thanks again for the Take & Make kits! The kids absolutely loved them!”
Seeing how much the children love these bags has been incredibly rewarding. Watching their excitement when they open the bags has been one of the highlights of my project. My hope is that these “Take-and-Make” bags continue to inspire children and show them that Shakespeare is FUN!
“So cool! Thank you for creating such a wonderful experience for our kids!”
