Activity Overview
Sometimes, it is difficult for students to connect with themes in poetry until they put them into a real-world context. Consider the following activity for students to storyboard with “Sonnet 73”:
Have students brainstorm a time (or times) in their lives when they felt time was passing by too quickly. This could be something as simple as a trip to an amusement park, to something more serious like watching the progression of Alzheimer’s in a relative. Have the student storyboard the experience, ending with something they have learned about time passing too quickly.
Stephanie’s Summer Vacation
Cell 1: When we got out of school for summer vacation, I couldn’t believe we had 80 days of freedom and fun in the sun! It seemed like all the time in the world!
Cell 2: I promised myself that I would make the most of my free time, and planned all kinds of fun activities, like going to the beach, traveling to Florida, and going camping!
Cell 3: My best friend Meaghan was going to be at her lakehouse for most of the summer, but I promised her that when she came back to home for the last 2 weeks of summer that we’d spend every day together!
Cell 4: When Meaghan came back home, I was too busy with other friends to hang out with her. We didn’t see each other at all before school started.
Cell 5: Then, I found out that Meaghan is moving all the way to Texas! It’s a quick move, and she, her mom, and her dad are busy packing, so I won’t get to see her much before she leaves other than in school.
Cell 6: I wish I had taken the opportunity to spend more quality time with Meaghan because now I don’t know when I will get to visit her in Texas.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Think of a time when time went by too fast.
- Storyboard that time, including parts of the memory in each cell.
- Include illustrations for each description, using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and Exit
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
Sometimes, it is difficult for students to connect with themes in poetry until they put them into a real-world context. Consider the following activity for students to storyboard with “Sonnet 73”:
Have students brainstorm a time (or times) in their lives when they felt time was passing by too quickly. This could be something as simple as a trip to an amusement park, to something more serious like watching the progression of Alzheimer’s in a relative. Have the student storyboard the experience, ending with something they have learned about time passing too quickly.
Stephanie’s Summer Vacation
Cell 1: When we got out of school for summer vacation, I couldn’t believe we had 80 days of freedom and fun in the sun! It seemed like all the time in the world!
Cell 2: I promised myself that I would make the most of my free time, and planned all kinds of fun activities, like going to the beach, traveling to Florida, and going camping!
Cell 3: My best friend Meaghan was going to be at her lakehouse for most of the summer, but I promised her that when she came back to home for the last 2 weeks of summer that we’d spend every day together!
Cell 4: When Meaghan came back home, I was too busy with other friends to hang out with her. We didn’t see each other at all before school started.
Cell 5: Then, I found out that Meaghan is moving all the way to Texas! It’s a quick move, and she, her mom, and her dad are busy packing, so I won’t get to see her much before she leaves other than in school.
Cell 6: I wish I had taken the opportunity to spend more quality time with Meaghan because now I don’t know when I will get to visit her in Texas.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Think of a time when time went by too fast.
- Storyboard that time, including parts of the memory in each cell.
- Include illustrations for each description, using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and Exit
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Sonnet 73 Theme Connection
Engage students with a creative writing extension inspired by Sonnet 73
Creative writing lets students connect personally with literary themes. A well-structured extension helps deepen understanding beyond analysis and storyboarding.
Ask students to write a letter reflecting on a fleeting moment
Encourage students to choose a personal memory when time felt like it was slipping away and write a letter to their future selves about what they learned. Personal letters foster emotional connection and critical thinking.
Guide students to use sensory details in their writing
Remind students to describe what they saw, heard, and felt during the moment. Sensory details make writing vivid and help students relate poetry to their own lives.
Encourage peer sharing and positive feedback
Invite students to share their letters in pairs or small groups and offer constructive feedback. This builds confidence and community while reinforcing key themes.
Connect the writing back to Sonnet 73’s message
Lead a discussion on how the letters capture the same feelings of time passing as in Sonnet 73. Making explicit connections helps students internalize literary themes and see their relevance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sonnet 73 Theme Connection
What is the main theme of Sonnet 73 and how can students relate to it?
Sonnet 73 explores the theme of the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of aging and loss. Students can relate to this theme by reflecting on moments when time seemed to pass too quickly, helping make the poem's message more personal and meaningful.
How can I help students connect Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 to real-life experiences?
Have students storyboard a personal memory where time felt fleeting, as suggested in the activity. By visually mapping out their experience and reflecting on what they learned, students can draw a direct connection between Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73 and their own lives.
What is an easy classroom activity for teaching the theme of time passing in poetry?
Ask students to brainstorm a time when they felt time moved too fast, then create a storyboard that illustrates this memory. This activity encourages engagement and helps them internalize the poem’s core message about the passage of time.
Why is storyboarding effective for understanding themes in Sonnet 73?
Storyboarding allows students to break down complex emotions and experiences into visual steps, making abstract themes like the passage of time in Sonnet 73 more concrete and relatable.
What are some real-world examples students might use to connect with Sonnet 73?
Examples include finishing summer vacation, saying goodbye to a friend who is moving, or witnessing changes in family members over time. These scenarios help make the poem’s theme of time passing feel relevant and authentic for students.
More Storyboard That Activities
Sonnet 73
- Texas Flag • rcbodden • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
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