Sophocles' plays were performed as choral pieces in ancient Greece. They are not meant to be read silently, so give students the opportunity to hear the language by doing an oral reading. Assign parts to students and have them read aloud select sections of the play. Explain that actors would play multiple parts. For "Antigone," only three actors would have been used.
Have students create a poster or PowerPoint presentation to show how political differences tear apart the family in the play. Ask them to explain fully the political differences and each character's position. They should include direct quotations from the play to highlight characters' beliefs. Ask them to identify a modern or historical example of a family torn apart by political differences and include the information on the poster or presentation.
Creon's decree of death for Antigone and her sister as punishment for the crime of burying their brother leads to Antigone's tragic suicide and the subsequent deaths of Creon's son and wife. The death penalty is a controversial subject in the modern world as well. Divide the class into two teams, one for and one against the death penalty. Team members should work together to prepare for a debate on the pros and cons of the death penalty.
Prepare a trivia game based on a popular board game or television game show. Divide the class into teams so that they compete against each other. Include questions that draw from extension activities, such as learning about ancient Greek life.