Middle School students are stepping inside the worlds of William Shakespeare this week as part of a new collaborative unit that blends classic literature with virtual reality technology.

Developed by Middle School teachers, Dr. Daniel Matlock and Dr. Rachel Mykkanen, with support from St. Margaret’s professional community Innovation Grant program, the unit immerses grade 8 students in both Shakespeare’s London and the landscape of 11th-century Scotland. Students experienced visiting a virtual Globe Theatre and saw a brief performance on the virtual stage.

At the heart of the unit is the use of virtual-reality technology to deepen Middle School students’ engagement with Shakespeare’s plays, particularly Macbeth. Through VR headsets, students explored a virtual reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, where they learned about theatrical practices of Shakespeare’s time and interacted with the virtual tour.

Students were transported to a dramatically different setting: a custom-built Scottish castle environment created by designer Valerie Wheeler. Built to exact specifications, the castle allows students to move through scenes from Macbeth, interact with symbolic objects, and demonstrate their understanding of the play’s plot and themes in an experiential way. According to Dr. Mykkanen, students who successfully completed the challenges earned the chance to participate in a virtual medieval jousting activity, adding an element of fun while learning more about literature.

In addition to VR, the unit lesson incorporated artificial intelligence tools to support comprehension and creativity. Middle School students consulted a custom AI chatbot, “Will Shakes,” designed to help clarify difficult lines and Shakespearean language. AI image generators also were used to provide students an opportunity to reimagine Macbeth in a new setting, visually illustrating their concepts as part of a digital storytelling experience.

As St. Margaret’s continue to explore new ways to connect traditional classroom lessons with modern technology, the Shakespeare VR unit stands as an example of how classic literature may be experienced through innovative teaching.