SHAKESPEARE GOES DIGITAL: DISCOVERY EDUCATION HONORS SHAKESPEARE’S LEGACY WITH UNIQUE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP MARKING 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

Shawnee Cohn, Discovery Education
240-393-5849, shawnee_cohn@discovery.com

Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education
240-463-2894, Stephen_Wakefield@discovery.com

– Featuring Actor Ian McKellen, Exclusive Virtual Event Will Enrich Social Studies and English Language Arts Instruction by Transporting Students to England to Explore Shakespeare’s Legacy –

Silver Spring, Md. (April 14, 2016) – Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced it will host an exclusive virtual field trip for students around the world commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. On April 22 at 9:30 AM EST, this unique learning experience will transport students to England to celebrate the life and legacy of the world’s greatest playwright, enriching Social Studies and English Language Arts lessons with compelling and valuable insight into his life and work.

Hosted by British television presenter Diane Louise Jordan, the virtual field trip will guide students on a journey through Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, giving them the chance to take an exclusive tour around his birthplace. Appropriate for students grades K-12, the program will visit Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall at King Edward VI School, where the young author was inspired to create some of the greatest works of English literature. During this visit, participating classrooms will witness a re-enacted Tudor lesson, and be among the first to ‘step inside’ the newly renovated 600-year-old school building, which has been described by historian Michael Wood as “one of the most atmospheric, magical and important in the whole of Britain.”

After visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, students will travel to London, where they will learn about Shakespeare’s life in the Tudor capital through a tour of some of the city’s hidden Shakespeare locations, ending at the famous Globe Theatre where his plays were staged. Participating classrooms will see The Bard’s work brought to life as they watch local students perform scenes from Macbeth, and hear how the themes of Shakespeare’s work are still relevant today.

The virtual event will also feature an interview with actor Ian McKellen, one of the world’s leading Shakespearean actors. McKellen will discuss his passion for pupils experiencing the power of Shakespeare and seeing his plays performed on stage as they were intended to be. Classrooms across the country are invited to register at no cost by visiting www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/shakespeare.

“Rather than simply reading about Shakespeare’s life or reading his plays, this virtual field trip will serve as an invaluable instructional tool to bring history and literature to life in my classroom,” said Sara Badiner, teacher at Otsego High School, Otsego Public Schools, MI. “I’m looking forward to offering my students a memorable digital learning experience that will deepen their understanding of Shakespeare’s life and legacy.”

“This unique virtual field trip gives students everywhere the opportunity to be involved in the global anniversary celebrations,” said Kelli Campbell, senior vice president and digital learning officer at Discovery Education. “The program will shine a light on Shakespeare’s relevance in the 21st century, helping teachers to bring his writing and historical context to life in a way which will engage today’s learners.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s many virtual field trips and other services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.