TWM's Ten Best Teaching Movies
World History

TWM recommends these movies as the best of the best in meeting curriculum standards while providing students with stellar educational experiences.
Give us your input!   Email your nominations and a description of your reasons, including your experience with the film. Tell us the name of your school and what grades you teach. You might find yourself in print.

Review this list from time to time.    New movies will come along and subscribers will provide their suggestions. It's an ongoing conversation.



THE TEN BEST

World History

Spartacus (Biography; World/Ancient Rome; SEL: Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]

A Man for All Seasons (Biography/Thomas More; World/England & the Renaissance; Religions/Christianity; Drama/England; SEL: Courage; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [12+]

The Mission (Religions/Christianity; World/South America, Paraguay, Brazil; SEL: Redemption; Courage; Brothers; Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]

Gandhi (Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s - Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions; SEL: Rebellion; Peace/Peacemakers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship) [10+]

A Force More Powerful -- Short Subject (World/India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa; 1800s - the Present; U.S./1945 - the Present; Civil Rights Movement, Tennessee; SEL: Peace/Peacemakers; Moral-Ethical: --- Citizenship) [12+; Six sections, each between 20 and 30 minutes in length]

All Quiet on the Western Front (World/Germany & WW I; SEL: Courage in War; Peace/Peacemakers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Citizenship; Caring) [12+]

Michael Collins (Biography; World/Ireland; SEL: Courage in War; Breaking Out; Peace/Peacemakers; Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect) [14+]

Water (World/India; Religions/Hinduism; ELA; SEL: Human Rights; Suicide; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Fairness) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony]

Casablanca (U.S./1941 - 1945; World/WW II, France & Morocco; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Redemption; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Citizenship) [12+]

 

Schindler's List (Biography; World/WW II; SEL: Courage; Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring) [15+]

Tora! Tora! Tora! (U.S./1941 - 1945; World/Japan & WW II; Seafaring; SEL: Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [10+] (Portions in Japanese with English subtitles)

Mrs. Miniver (World/England & WW II; SEL: Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [10+]

The White Rose (World/Germany & WW II; SEL: Rebellion; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) (13+)

Dr. Strangelove (U.S./1945 - 1991; SEL: Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [10+]

Thirteen Days (U.S./1945 - 1991; World/Russia & The Cold War; SEL: Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]

For Love or Country -- The Arturo Sandoval Story (Music/Jazz; World/Cuba and the Cold War Era; Biography; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship) [12+]

Sometimes in April (World/Rwanda & the Post-Cold War Era; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsiblity; Citizenship) [14+]