POST FALLS - More than 70 Seltice Elementary fourth-graders finished off a program on the Elizabethan era and its most renowned spokesperson, William Shakespeare, on Thursday with a Renaissance Faire.

The event included a Maypole dance and a student production of scenes from "Hamlet."

After talking with Seltice Principal Mike Uphus, University of Idaho professor Emily Duvall, director of the Northwest Inland Writing Project and program coordinator for elementary education in North Idaho, approached Seltice fourth-grade teachers Cory Nilson, Jennifer Nilson, Kelli Shepard and Alisa Travis with the idea for teaching an integrated arts unit that has been dubbed "Shakespeare 101."

"They were very enthusiastic and excited about the range of content their students are being exposed to and the opportunity to work in small groups led by the pre-service teachers," said Duvall. "The Nilsons are fans of the Elizabethan times and that makes our collaboration especially wonderful."

Students focused on Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Penned around 1600, the play raises questions still relevant in the 21st century.

"Hamlet brings alive some very intense situations that we experience in our lives today," said Duvall. "The characters work through issues such as divorce, love, death, betrayal and revenge - to name just a few - and they don't necessarily do a good job of it. There's a lot to learn from the story."

The project introduced students to Shakespeare, Hamlet and the historical context that shaped them both. It is one of several interdisciplinary, full-immersion education collaborations resulting from a formal partnership between Seltice and the University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene teacher education program through the Partner School Initiative. The partnership allows UI teacher education students to learn and begin to teach under the roofs of local public schools.

Participating pre-service teachers found creative ways to make the play more accessible to fourth-graders. One highlight was reading a graphic novel version of Hamlet, said Duvall.

Duvall and Mary Orr, a doctoral student in the College of Education who teaches children's literature in the program, also purchased a class set of the Classics Illustrated Hamlet for the elementary school, and are hopeful that other schools will borrow it.

In April, the pre-service teachers led groups modeled on Renaissance "guilds." Elementary students participated as game historians, chefs of the feast, dancers and fencers, musicians, drapers/costumers, actors and behind-the-scenes experts in set and props.

While the younger students learned about the play and its historical and social context, the UI students also learned.

"Our students are gaining valuable hands-on experience by developing and teaching a challenging curriculum," said Duval. "Learning to apply behavior management techniques, adapt lessons to real children and brush up on Shakespeare are just a few of the perks."