Lesson Plans Based on Movies & Film!

Amadeus (Humility; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Biography/Mozart; Music/Classical; World/Austria) [12+]

Anne B. Real (Breaking Out; Coming of Age; Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Courage; Crime; Education; Families in Crisis; Surviving; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and New York) [12+]

Courage Under Fire (Marriage, Redemption; Leadership; Suicide; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1991 - Present) [12+]

Desert Bloom (Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Child Abuse, Running Away, Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & Nevada) [13+]

Fahrenheit 451 (Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect;Subjects: Science Fiction) [12+]

Gattaca (Breaking Out; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Human Rights; Brothers; Friendship; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness; Subjects: Science Fiction) [14+]

Gracie's Choice (Alcohol & Drug; Abuse; Families In Crisis; Mother/Daughter; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring; Subjects: Health; U.S./1991 - present) [10+]

Hoop Dreams (Sportsmanship; Breaking Out; Talent; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility Fairness; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1991 - Present & Illinois) [10+]

Hoosiers (Teamwork; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Male Role Model; Father/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Caring; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1945 - 1991 & Indiana) [11+]

The Insider (Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Families in Crisis, Marriage, Crime, Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Citizenship Subjects: U.S./1991 - present) [13+]

Moulin Rouge (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Disabilities; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Biography/Lautrec; Visual Arts; World/France) [13+]

Pay It Forward (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Mother/Son; Families in Crisis; Education; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1991 - Present) [12+]

The Pursuit of Happyness (Father/Son; Parenting; Surviving, Work/Career; add the following SEL topics when using TeachWithMovies.com's student handout for this film entitled Episodes in the Life of Chris Gardner (What's Not in the Movie): Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Breaking Out; Spousal Abuse; Child Abuse; Education; Male Role Model; Ambition; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and Biography) [12+]

A Raisin in the Sun (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Drama/U.S.) [12+]

Show Boat (Marriage; Romantic Relationships; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Gambling Addiction; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913 & Diversity; Cinema; Drama/Musicals; Dance/Performance) [11+]

Smoke Signals (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Father/Son; Grieving; Child Abuse; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring (Forgiving); Subjects: U.S./1991 - present, Diversity (Native American) & Idaho) [12+]

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Education; Families in Crisis; Father/Daughter; Grieving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1913 - 1929, Diversity & New York;) [9+]

A Tale of Two Cities (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Rebellion; Redemption; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects (Literature/England; World/France & England) [12+]

When a Man Loves a Woman (Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Romantic Relationships; Marriage; Parenting; Father/daughter; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present) [13+]

All The King's Men (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1913 - 1941, Politics & Louisiana; Literature/U.S.) [13+]

Degas and the Dancer (Talent, Ambition, Mother/Daughter, Sisters; Ethical Emphasis --- Respect; Responsibility; Caring; Subjects --- Visual Arts; World/France; Dance) [8 - 13]

Julius Caesar (Ambition; Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: World/Ancient Rome; Drama/England) [12+]

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Ambition; Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Trustworthiness; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1929 - 1941 (the Great Depression) [6-12]

The Lion King (Grieving; Redemption; Friendship; Ambition, Running Away; Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Subjects: The Environment; Science/Technology) [8 - 11]

Looking For Richard (Ambition; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General; Subjects: World/England; Drama/England) [12+]

Quiz Show (Ambition; Father/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & New York) [11+]

Richard III (Ambition; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General; Subjects:Drama/England; World/England) [12+]

Stalin (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Biography; World/Russia)[12+]

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (Ambition; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Fairness; Subjects: U.S./1945-1991; Science-Technology) [10+]

The Pursuit of Happyness (Father/Son; Parenting; Surviving, Work/Career; add the following SEL topics when using TeachWithMovies.com's student handout for this film entitled Episodes in the Life of Chris Gardner (What's Not in the Movie): Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Breaking Out; Spousal Abuse; Child Abuse; Education; Male Role Model; Ambition; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and Biography) [12+]

Barbary Coast (Male Role Model; Justice; Bad Associations; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier and the West & California) [12+]

She's Too Young - Peer Pressure; Bad Associations; Romantic Relationships; Self-esteem; Taking Care of Yourself; Families in Crisis; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Subjects: Health (social structure of school; STDs)) [15+]

West Side Story (Fighting; Revenge; Romantic Relationships; Bad Associations; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Citizenship; Subjects: Drama/Musicals; U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & New York; Dance/Performance [12+]

The Adventures of Huck Finn (Breaking Out; Friendship; Running Away; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1812 - 1860, Diversity & Missouri; Literature/U.S.) [6+]

Anne B. Real (Breaking Out; Coming of Age; Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Courage; Crime; Education; Families in Crisis; Surviving; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and New York) [12+]

Four Films About Anne Frank (Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Human Rights; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsiblity; Citizenship; Subjects: World/WW II & Holland; Biography) [12+]

Beautiful Dreamers (Male Role Model; Mental Illness; Breaking Out; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Biography/Whitman; Literature/U.S.; World/Canada; Medicine) [12+; useful for getting students to read and appreciate the poetry of Walt Whitman]

Behind the Sun (Revenge; Breaking Out; Brothers; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Responsibility; Subjects: World/Brazil & Albania) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: symbols, subplot, flashback, foreshadowing and irony]

Bend It Like Beckham (Breaking Out; Parenting; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring; Subjects: Sports/Soccer (Football); World/England) [13+]

Billy Elliot (Breaking Out, Families in Crisis, Father/Son, Courage, Grieving, Friendship, Parenting, Grandparents; Sexual Orientation, Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring, Responsibility, Respect; Trustworthiness; Subjects: Dance; World/England) [12+]

The Chosen (Parenting; Father/Son; Friendship; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: Theme, Symbol,Irony; Religions/Judaism; U.S.: 1941 - 1945 & New York) [10+]

The Color Purple (Breaking Out; Self-esteem; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: motif, theme, symbol, characterization; U.S./1865 - 1913, 1913 - 1929; & Diversity/African-American) [15+]

Edge of America (Breaking Out; Leadership; Teamwork; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Respect; Caring; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S./1945-1991; Diversity/Native American & African American and New Mexico) [12+]

Gattaca (Breaking Out; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Human Rights; Brothers; Friendship; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness; Subjects: Science Fiction) [14+]

High School Musical (Breaking Out; Friendship, Peer Pressure; Father/Son; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Dance; Drama/Musicals) [8 - 14]

Hoop Dreams (Sportsmanship; Breaking Out; Talent; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility Fairness; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1991 - Present & Illinois) [10+]

Ice Princess (Breaking Out; Parenting; Mother/daughter; Sportsmanship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Fairness; Caring; Subjects: Sports/Ice Skating) [9+]

It's a Wonderful Life (Male Role Model; Suicide; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1913 - 1945) [10+]

The Jazz Singer (Breaking Out; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Cinema; U.S./1913 - 1929, Diversity & New York; Music/Popular) [12+]

Mao's Last Dancer (Literature: NonFiction; Literary Devices: allegory/parable; Biography; World/China; U.S.: 1945 - Present; Dance; SEL: Breaking Out; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]

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

Mulan (Breaking Out; Female Role Model; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: World/China; Mythology) [6-9]

My Fair Lady (Romantic Relationships; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: World/England; Drama/Musicals) [6+]

October Sky (Parenting; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Breaking Out; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Space Exploration; U.S./1945 - 1991 & West Virginia; Science-Technology) [10+]

On The Waterfront (Redemption; Breaking Out; Brothers; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Cinema; U.S./1945 - 1991 & New York) [12+]

The Pursuit of Happyness (Father/Son; Parenting; Surviving, Work/Career; add the following SEL topics when using TeachWithMovies.com's student handout for this film entitled Episodes in the Life of Chris Gardner (What's Not in the Movie): Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Breaking Out; Spousal Abuse; Child Abuse; Education; Male Role Model; Ambition; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and Biography) [12+]

Pygmalion (Breaking Out; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Drama/England; World/England) [12+]

Remember the Titans (Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football) [11+]

Shall We Dance? (Breaking Out; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Dance; World/Japan) [12+]

Strictly Ballroom (Breaking Out; Talent; Families in Crisis; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Dance; World/Australia) [9+]

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

Whale Rider (Breaking Out; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: World/New Zealand; ELA, including characterization, symbol and foil) [12+]

The Witness (Caring for Animals; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present & New York) [13+]

White Nights (Breaking Out; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects: Dance; World/Cold War & Russia; U.S./Diversity) [13+]

The Wizard of Oz (Self-esteem; Friendship; Taking Care of Yourself; Breaking Out; Subjects:Cinema; Drama/Musicals; U.S./1865-1913; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Respect, Caring) [5+]

Beau Geste (Leadership; Families in Crisis; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: World/France) [12+]

Behind the Sun (Revenge; Breaking Out; Brothers; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Responsibility; Subjects: World/Brazil & Albania) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: symbols, subplot, flashback, foreshadowing and irony]

Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants (Brothers; Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects:Biography; Science-Technology; World/Italy & the Renaissance) [8 - 13]

Gattaca (Breaking Out; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Human Rights; Brothers; Friendship; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness; Subjects: Science Fiction) [14+]

The Long Walk Home (Female Role Model; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Alabama) [12+]

Looking For Richard (Ambition; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General; Subjects: World/England; Drama/England) [12+]

Lust for Life (Talent; Brothers; Mental Illness; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Biography/Van Gogh; World/France; Visual Arts) [12+]

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

Much Ado About Nothing (Romantic Relationships; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness; Subjects: Drama/England) [10+]

On The Waterfront (Redemption; Breaking Out; Brothers; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Cinema; U.S./1945 - 1991 & New York) [12+]

The Outsiders (Brothers; Coming of Age; Courage; Fighting; Friendship; Peer Pressure; Redemption; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring; Subjects: Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices; U.S./1945 - 1991) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase; flashback; symbol; foreshadowing; Bildungsroman; irony; protagonist/antagionist confusion and theme]

Richard III (Ambition; Brothers; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General; Subjects:Drama/England; World/England) [12+]

The Swiss Family Robinson (Brothers; Families in Crisis; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General; Subjects: Literature/England; Science-Technology; World/Indonesia) [6 - 12]

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

Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (Talent; Brothers, Mental Illness; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Biography; World/France; Visual Arts) [12+]

Babe - Talking and Playing for Growth (Friendship; Caring for Animals; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Respect; Caring) [5 - 8]

The Black Stallion (Caring for Animals; Surviving; Grieving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Sports/Horse Racing) [8+]

Born Free (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: World/Africa; the Environment) [8+]

Charlotte's Web - Talking and Playing for Growth (Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Science -- Biology) [5 - 8]

Charlotte's Web (Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: Science -- Biology) [5 - 10]

Fly Away Home (Parenting; Father/Daughter; Teamwork; Caring for Animals; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: Science; the Environment; Canada) [10+]

Gorillas in the Mist (Caring for Animals; Courage; Human Rights; Romantic Relationships; Ethical Emphasis --- Trustworthiness; Respect; Citizenship;Subjects --- The Environment; Science-Technology; World/Africa) [13+]

March of the Penguins (Caring for Animals; Subjects: Science; the Environment; World/Antarctica) [10+]

Never Cry Wolf (Caring for Animals; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Subjects: Science-Technology, The Environment; U.S./1945 - 1991; Alaska) [10+]

Shiloh (Caring for Animals; Father/Son; Mother/Son, Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & West Virginia) [10+]

Up - Talking and Playing for Growth (Friendship; Caring for Animals; Grieing; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [6 - 8]

Winged Migration (Caring for Animals; Subjects: Science; the Environment) [12+]

The Witness (Caring for Animals; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present & New York) [13+]

Desert Bloom (Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Child Abuse, Running Away, Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & Nevada) [13+]

Good Will Hunting (Child Abuse; Marriage; Romantic Relationships; Fighting; Friendship; Male Role Model; Talent; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Medicine (Psychiatry); U.S./1991 - present & Massachusetts) [14+]

The Pursuit of Happyness (Father/Son; Parenting; Surviving, Work/Career; add the following SEL topics when using TeachWithMovies.com's student handout for this film entitled Episodes in the Life of Chris Gardner (What's Not in the Movie): Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Breaking Out; Spousal Abuse; Child Abuse; Education; Male Role Model; Ambition; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and Biography) [12+]

Smoke Signals (Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Father/Son; Grieving; Child Abuse; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring (Forgiving); Subjects: U.S./1991 - present, Diversity (Native American) & Idaho) [12+]

Strauss: King of Three-Quarter Time (Friendship; Child Abuse; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: Biography; Music/Classical; World/Austria) [6-12]

Anne B. Real (Breaking Out; Coming of Age; Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Courage; Crime; Education; Families in Crisis; Surviving; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1991 - present and New York) [12+]

Four Films About Anne Frank (Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Human Rights; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsiblity; Citizenship; Subjects: World/WW II & Holland; Biography) [12+]

Anne of Green Gables (Female Role Model; Subjects: World/Canada) [8+]

Au Revoir Les Enfants (Coming of Age, Human Rights, Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Caring; Subjects: World/France & WW II (Holocaust)) [11+]

Breaking Away (Coming of Age; Parenting; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Subjects: Sports/Bicycle Racing; U.S./1945 - 1991 & Indiana) [12+]

Desert Bloom (Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Child Abuse, Running Away, Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1945 - 1991 & Nevada) [13+]

Kiki's Delivery Service - Talking and Playing for Growth (Coming of Age; Talent; Friendship; Courage. Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Caring) [5 - 8]

Life With Father (Coming of Age; Father/Son; Marriage; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913 & New York) [8+]

Little Women (Female Role Model; Families in Crisis; Parenting; Sisters; Coming of Age; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1860 - 1865 & Massachusetts; Literature/U.S.) [6+]

A Midnight Clear (Coming of Age; Peace/Peacemakers; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Subjects: U.S./1941-1945) [13+]

The Outsiders (Brothers; Coming of Age; Courage; Fighting; Friendship; Peer Pressure; Redemption; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring; Subjects: Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices; U.S./1945 - 1991) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase; flashback; symbol; foreshadowing; Bildungsroman; irony; protagonist/antagionist confusion and theme]

The Red Badge of Courage (Redemption, Coming of Age; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1860 - 1865; Literature/U.S.) [10+]

Roots Vol. I (Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: U.S./1629 - 1750 & Diversity; World/Africa) [12+]

The Shootist (Coming of Age; Illness (Serious); Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913; Literature/Myths of the Western Genre; Literary Devices: theme & characterization; Cinema) [14+]

The Yearling (Male Role Model; Coming of Age; Running Away; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1865 - 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S.) [8 - 12]