Have students stage an event from King Arthur's life that focuses on his sword Excalibur, such as his receiving of the sword from the Lady of the Lake or his military exploits after he got it. The events that transpire when the sword disappears after Arthur's death could also be conceived as a dramatic presentation. Students should be given specific instructions about expectations for creating a dramatic performance, including whether all lines should be memorized and whether you expect them to present their play with costumes and props.
A simple video camera and basic computer editing equipment are all students need to create a short film about Excalibur. For this project, students should be given clear guidelines about whether they are required to film an episode as a short movie, or whether they should create a "trailer" that advertises an imaginary full-length film. Editing and use of camera angles should figure into the grading for this project. Students could also use this project to create a spoof of films that have been made about the legend of King Arthur, including the 2004 film, "King Arthur."
For this project, students will create a comic book about Arthur's sword Excalibur. Have students consider both how the characters and sword might look. Discuss with them the possibility of creating images that aren't historically accurate, since this legend is not necessarily tied to a specific place and time. Have them consider, within each frame of the comic, what exactly will be depicted -- an image of thundering horses hooves or a closeup of the sun glinting off the sword? This project will require students to write, draw and compile their comic or graphic story.
For this project, students will need to research the variety of tales written about King Arthur and his sword Excalibur. Some legends describe the sword as being a gift from the Lady of the Lake (most common), while the sword is occasionally explained as being the one pulled from the stone by Arthur to prove he was the rightful king of England. For this project, students should investigate different versions, including "Le Morte d'Arthur," "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White, "Idylls of the King" and any others that appeal to the student, such as Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." Students engaging in this project idea should choose a version and emulate that version's style and/or genre of writing in creating their original tale.
