CREATE U.S. HISTORY LESSON PLANS FROM MOVIES AND FILM

Table of Contents for U.S. History Learning Guides and Lesson Plans from Movies and Film

Full-Length Movies — Short Subjects — Movie Clips — Film Clips — Video Clips — Snippets

1860 – 1865: the Civil War

Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided

U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography [10+]

Baseball: Inning 1

The 1840’s – 1900 Sports; U.S. History & Culture [10+]

The Civil War

U.S./1860 – 1865 [12+]

Free State of Jones

Rethinking the Southern Home Front in the Civil War

(U.S. 1860 – 1991, The Diversity/African-American Experience and the Civil Rights Movement, and Mississippi; SEL: Rebellion; Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [14+]

Gettysburg

U.S./1860 – 1865 & Pennsylvania [10+]

Glory

U.S./ 1860 – 1865 & Massachusetts [14+]

Gone With the Wind

U.S./1860 – 1865 & Georgia [12+]

Harriet

(U.S. History 1812- 1865; African-American; Maryland; SEL: Human Rights; Female Role Model; Breaking Out; Courage; Disabilities; Moral/Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]

The King and I

Drama/Musicals; World/Thailand; U.S./1860 – 1865; Dance/Performance [8+]

Lincoln

Lesson Plan: The End of American’s Nightmare Dance with Slavery

(U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography; SEL: Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [13+]

Little Women

U.S./1860 – 1865 & Massachusetts; Literature/U.S. [6+]

The Red Badge of Courage

U.S./1860 – 1865; Literature/U.S. [10+]

TWO CONTRASTING TRADITIONS RELATING TO RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA and a Tragic Irony of the American Revolution:  the Sacrifice of Freedom for the African-American Slaves on the Altar of Representative Democracy

(U.S.: all time periods & Diversity/African-American and World: The Enlightenment and all time periods thereafter; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect)

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

U.S./1812 – 1865; 1865 – 1913; and African Americans & the Civil Rights Movement; Literature/U.S. (Narrative Writing) [10+]

Will the future of the United States be more like the years after 1858 or the years after 1968?

(U.S. History & Culture; SEL: Justice; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [15+]

Winslow Homer: An American Original

U.S./1861 – 1913; Visual Arts; Medicine-Psychiatry; Biography [8 – 12]

1865 – 1913: Reconstruction and the Beginning of the Age of Invention

An American Tail

U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York; Religions/Judaism [7 – 10]

An American Tail

Talking and Playing for Growth

U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York; Religions/Judaism) [5 – 8]

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

U.S./1865 – 1991 & Diversity [10+]

Baseball: Inning 1

The 1840’s – 1900 Sports; U.S. History & Culture [10+]

This is America Charlie Brown

The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad

U.S./1865 – 1913 [8 – 11; 24 minutes]

The Color Purple

Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: motif, theme, symbol, characterization; U.S./1865 – 1913, 1913 – 1929; & Diversity/African-American [15+]

Cross Creek

U.S./1865 – 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S. [the events that inspired The Yearling]

Edison: The Wizard of Light Science

Technology; U.S./1865 – 1929; Cinema; Biography [8 – 13]

Eleanor Roosevelt

Biography; U.S./1865 – 1991; Politics [10+]

Free State of Jones

Rethinking the Southern Home Front in the Civil War

(U.S. 1860 – 1991, The Diversity/African-American Experience and the Civil Rights Movement, and Mississippi; SEL: Rebellion; Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [14+]

This is America Charlie Brown

The Great Inventors

Science – Technology; U.S./1865 – 1929 [8 – 11; 24 minutes]

Hester Street

U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York [12+]

High Noon

American History and Civics Classes

(U.S./The Frontier & the West, 1865 – 1913 and 1945 – 1991 (the Red Scare); Cinema; SEL: Marriage; Leadership; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship) [11+]

High Noon

ELA Classes

(Literature/Myths of the Western genre; Literary devices: symbol; motif; foil; and expository phase; SEL: Marriage; Leadership; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship) [11+]

High Noon

Snippet Lesson Plan on the Expository Phase ELA: Expository Phase

[12+; snippet: 15 minutes, 20 seconds; lesson: one to two class periods]

Life With Father

U.S./1865 – 1913 & New York [8+]

Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist

Visual Arts; World/France; U.S./1865 – 1913; Biography [8+]

The Miracle Worker

Biography/Keller; U.S./1865 – 1913 [10+]

This is America Charlie Brown

The Music and Heroes of America

Short Subject: Music

[8 – 11; 25 minutes]

The Music Man

Drama/Musicals; U.S./1865 – 1913; Dance/Performance [6+]

Oklahoma!

Drama/Musicals; U.S./1865-1913 & Oklahoma; Dance/Performance [12+]

Old Yeller

U.S./1865 – 1913 [7-12]

The Ox-Bow Incident

U.S./The Frontier and the West; 1865 – 1913; The Law; & Nevada [12+]

Roots Vol. VI

U.S./1865 – 1913 & Diversity [12+]

The Searchers

(U.S./1865 – 1913; ELA) [13+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase, character development, theme.]

The Shootist

(U.S./1865 – 1913; Literature/Myths of the Western Genre; Literary Devices: theme & characterization; Cinema) [14+]

Show Boat

U.S./1865 – 1913 & Diversity; Cinema; Drama/Musicals; Dance/Performance [11+]

This is America Charlie Brown

The Smithsonian and the Presidency

U.S./Creating the Nation, 1860 – 1865; and 1929 – 1941 [7 – 11; 25 minutes]

TWO CONTRASTING TRADITIONS RELATING TO RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA and a Tragic Irony of the American Revolution:  the Sacrifice of Freedom for the African-American Slaves on the Altar of Representative Democracy

(U.S.: all time periods & Diversity/African-American and World: The Enlightenment and all time periods thereafter; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect)

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

U.S./1812 – 1865; 1865 – 1913; and African Americans & the Civil Rights Movement; Literature/U.S. (Narrative Writing) [10+]

Will the future of the United States be more like the years after 1858 or the years after 1968?

(U.S. History & Culture; SEL: Justice; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [15+]

Winslow Homer: An American Original

U.S./1861 – 1913; Visual Arts; Medicine-Psychiatry; Biography [8 – 12]

The Wizard of Oz

Primary School Version

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

The Wizard of Oz

Secondary

Cinema; Drama/Musicals; U.S./1865-1913 [5+]

The Wizard of Oz

Hero’s Journey Lesson Plan

This hero’s journey lesson can be used (1) to confirm and extend students’ prior knowledge of the Monomyth or (2) as a summative assessment.) [12+]

This is America Charlie Brown

The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk

Short Subject

U.S./1865 – 1913; Aviation [8 – 11; 24 minutes]

The Yearling

U.S./1865 – 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S. [8 – 12]

1913 – 1929: the First World War and the Roaring 20’s

All The King’s Men

U.S./1913 – 1941, Politics & Louisiana; Literature/U.S. [13+]

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

U.S./1865 – 1991 & Diversity [10+]

Boystown

U.S./1913 – 1929 & Nebraska; Religions/Christianity [10+]

The Color Purple

Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: motif, theme, symbol, characterization; U.S./1865 – 1913, 1913 – 1929; & Diversity/African-American [15+]

Cross Creek

U.S./1865 – 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S. [the events that inspired The Yearling]

Edison: The Wizard of Light Science

Technology; U.S./1865 – 1929; Cinema; Biography [8 – 13]

Eleanor Roosevelt

Biography; U.S./1865 – 1991; Politics [10+]

Free State of Jones

Rethinking the Southern Home Front in the Civil War

(U.S. 1860 – 1991, The Diversity/African-American Experience and the Civil Rights Movement, and Mississippi; SEL: Rebellion; Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [14+]

The Great Gatsby

(U.S. 1913 – 1929 & New York; Literature; Literary Devices: symbol, imagery, motif, flashback, characterization; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]

Inherit the Wind

Cinema; U.S./1913 – 1929, 1945 – 1991 & Tennessee [12+]

Iron Jawed Angels

The Best of TWM

(U.S. 1913 – 1929; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Leadership; Female Role Model. Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness) [11+]

It’s a Wonderful Life

U.S./1913 – 1945 [10+]

The Jazz Singer

Cinema; U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & New York; Music/Popular [12+]

Knute Rockne — All American

Sports/Football; U.S./1913 – 1929; Biography [8+]

Matewan

U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & West Virginia; Religions/Christianity [12+]

Partners of the Heart

Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]

Something the Lord Made

Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]

To Kill A Mockingbird

U.S./1929 – 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor]

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & New York [9+]

TWO CONTRASTING TRADITIONS RELATING TO RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA and a Tragic Irony of the American Revolution:  the Sacrifice of Freedom for the African-American Slaves on the Altar of Representative Democracy

(U.S.: all time periods & Diversity/African-American and World: The Enlightenment and all time periods thereafter; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect)

Warm Springs

U.S./1913 – 1929 & Georgia; Biography [12+]

Will the future of the United States be more like the years after 1858 or the years after 1968?

(U.S. History & Culture; SEL: Justice; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [15+]

1929 – 1941: the Great Depression and the Clouds of War

All The King’s Men

U.S./1913 – 1941, Politics & Louisiana; Literature/U.S. [13+]

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

U.S./1865 – 1991 & Diversity [10+]

Baseball

(Sports; U.S. History & Culture; SEL: Sportsmanship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness)[10+]

Captains Courageous

U.S./1929 – 1941 & Massachusetts; Seafaring [8 – 12]

Cross Creek

U.S./1865 – 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S. [the events that inspired The Yearling]

Damn Yankees

Drama/Musicals; Sports/Baseball; Dance/Performance; U.S./1945 – 1991 [10+]

Eleanor Roosevelt

Biography; U.S./1865 – 1991; Politics [10+]

Free State of Jones

Rethinking the Southern Home Front in the Civil War

(U.S. 1860 – 1991, The Diversity/African-American Experience and the Civil Rights Movement, and Mississippi; SEL: Rebellion; Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [14+]

The Glenn Miller Story

Biography; Music/Popular; U.S.: 1929 – 1941 – 1945[12+]

The Grapes of Wrath

U.S./1929 – 1941; Oklahoma & California; Literature/U.S.; [12+]

It’s a Wonderful Life

U.S./1913 – 1945 [10+]

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

(U.S./1929 – 1941 (the Great Depression) [6-12]

Modern Times

Cinema; U.S./1929-1941 [8+]

My Family

(U.S. 1929 – 1991; Hispanic & California; World/Mexico; SEL: Families in Crisis; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [13+]

Partners of the Heart

Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]

This is America Charlie Brown

Short Subject: The Smithsonian and the Presidency

U.S./Creating the Nation, 1860 – 1865; and 1929 – 1941 [7 – 11; 25 minutes]

Something the Lord Made

Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]

TWO CONTRASTING TRADITIONS RELATING TO RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA and a Tragic Irony of the American Revolution:  the Sacrifice of Freedom for the African-American Slaves on the Altar of Representative Democracy

(U.S.: all time periods & Diversity/African-American and World: The Enlightenment and all time periods thereafter; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect)

Warm Springs

U.S./1913 – 1929 & Georgia; Biography [12+]

Where the Red Fern Grows

(SEL: Grieving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Perseverance; Fairness,) [8-12+]

Will the future of the United States be more like the years after 1858 or the years after 1968?

(U.S. History & Culture; SEL: Justice; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [15+]

TeachWithMovies.org Learning Guides are ideal lesson plan makers for teachers of U.S. history. Each Learning Guide contains sections on Helpful Background, Benefits of the Movie, Possible Problems, Discussion Questions, and Assignments. They are designed to allow you to quickly create great U.S. history lesson plans.

The film clips and short subjects used in Snippet Lesson Plans are less than 40 minutes in length and are ideal for classroom use.

Movies make the events they portray come alive. TeachWithMovies.org helps teachers and parents make U.S. history vivid and personal for children.

For more U.S. History Lesson Plans from movies and film,
from the Second World War to the present day, click here.