Monday 16 March marks the start of Shakespeare Week, the national celebration that aims to bring the magic of Shakespeare into the lives of children as young as five.
Shakespeare's creative legacy will be unleashed in nearly 7,000 primary schools across the UK. More than one million children will have a fun encounter with the Bard thanks to the campaign, organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in partnership with more than 100 arts and heritage venues.
New contemporary content and experiences created exclusively for Shakespeare Week are accessible to schools wherever they are, starting with a Passport to Shakespeare, illustrated by children's author, Marcia Williams, which is packed with activities and ideas for how to get involved.
Two new films for children, starring children, will be screened in schools and libraries this week: Unwillingly To School will appear in more than 50 libraries; and Short Form Film's children's adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V, narrated by actor Tom Hiddleston, will be available to every school via Digital Theatre Plus.
In libraries, family-friendly activities will include hunting for Shakespeare's characters, mask-making based on the animals in Shakespeare's plays, costume and set design challenges, and using a scroll to write your own play. There will be a Shakespeare-themed pack for Chatterbooks, the UK's largest network of children's reading groups, from The Reading Agency.
Families can get involved on the Shakespeare Week website with free activity sheets and games to get to know Shakespeare at home. For younger children there's design and make activities, while older children can try Tudor recipes and explore a map of Shakespeare's England.
Attractions around the UK planning Shakespeare Week activities include:
To find out more about what's happening in primary schools and cultural attractions in your area, visit Shakespeare Week.