More than 500 years after it was written, teachers are still finding new ways to bring one of Shakespeare’s most iconic works, Romeo and Juliet, into the classroom.

Advanced English I students, for example, are creating character posters to showcase their understanding of the play’s characters and themes.

For English teacher Shelby Neary, Romeo and Juliet offers an engaging opportunity for creativity in the classroom.

“So the students were told to pick a character from the play,” Neary said. “They had to make a crest that represented both the character and their house—either Montague or Capulet. The poster needed to include the character’s name, house, a drawing of what they might look like, key characteristics, and quotes from the play that support those traits.”

Freshman Meghana Burra enjoyed the poster project more than a traditional writing assignment.

“A poster lets you teach other people about the characters and helps you understand them better,” Burra said. “Since we’ve been reading the play for a while, it’s fun to get creative. You get to color and explore the different characters in Romeo and Juliet. It’s a really fun activity.”