CREATE WORLD HISTORY LESSON PLANS
FROM MOVIES AND FILM

Table of Contents for World History Learning Guides and Lesson Plans from Movies and Film

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

1. Pre-History

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A. Indigenous Civilizations in the Americas

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2. The Ancient World

Agora

Ancient Alexandria, Hypatia, and the Decline of Greco-Roman Civilization — using the Film Agora (World/Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome; Religions (Christianity & Judaism); SEL: Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [14+]

A. Babylon

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B. China

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C. Egypt

Agora

Ancient Alexandria, Hypatia, and the Decline of Greco-Roman Civilization — using the Film Agora (World/Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome; Religions (Christianity & Judaism); SEL: Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [14+]

D. Greece — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to Greece

Agora

Ancient Alexandria, Hypatia, and the Decline of Greco-Roman Civilization — using the Film Agora (World/Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome; Religions (Christianity & Judaism); SEL: Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [14+]

The Odyssey

World/Ancient Greece; Mythology; Literature & Literary Devices; Seafaring [14+ for the movie; 11+ for the book. Literary devices analyzed: simile, metaphor, flashback; symbol]

E. Muslim Culture

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F. Roman Empire — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to Roman Empire

Agora

Ancient Alexandria, Hypatia, and the Decline of Greco-Roman Civilization — using the Film Agora (World/Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome; Religions (Christianity & Judaism); SEL: Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [14+]

Julius Caesar

(Drama/England; World/Ancient Rome [12+]

Spartacus

Biography; World/Ancient Rome [13+]

3. Middle Ages — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to the Middle Ages

The Adventures of Robin Hood

World/England & Middle Ages [8 – 13]

Luther

Snippet Lesson Plan for the Sale of Indulgences in the Middle Ages Using Two Film Clips from the Movie Luther (World/Middle Ages; Religions/Christianity) [12+; Two clips from the film lasting about 12 minutes]

4. The Renaissance — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to The Renaissance

Ever After

(World/France and the Renaissance; Myths & Fairy Tales [10+]

Leonardo: A Dream of Flight

Biography; World/Italy & the Renaissance; Science-Technology; Aviation [8 – 11]

A Man for All Seasons

Biography/Thomas More; World/England & the Renaissance; Religions/Christianity; Drama/England [12+]

5. The Enlightenment

Gulliver’s Travels

(World/Enlightenment; Literature/Ireland [7+]

Goya: Awakened in a Dream

(Visual Arts; World/Spain & the Enlightenment; Biography [8 – 13]

Isaac Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs

Biography; Science-Technology; World/England & Enlightenment; Mathematics [8-13]

6. The 1800s to the First World War — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to the 1800s to the First World War

Conquest

(Biography/Napoleon Bonaparte; World/France, Poland & The 1800s; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility) [12+]

Force More Powerful

Short Subject

World/India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa; 1800s – the Present; U.S./1945 – the Present; Civil Rights Movement, Tennessee [12+; Six sections, each between 20 and 30 minutes in length]

Force More Powerful

Snippet Lesson Plan on Non-violence and the Indian Independence Movement

(World/India, U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [12+; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: two class periods]

Gandhi

Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions; Char. Dev.: Rebellion; Peace/Peacemakers [10+]

7. First World War — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to the First World War

The African Queen

Science-Technology; World/WWI & Africa [10+]

All Quiet on the Western Front

World/Germany & WWI [12+]

The Dawn Patrol

Aviation; World/ WWI & England [10+]

Gallipoli

World/ WWI, Australia & Turkey [13+]

Gandhi

Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions; Char. Dev.: Rebellion; Peace/Peacemakers [10+]

Lawrence of Arabia

Biography; World/England, Middle East & WWI [12+]

Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye

Biography; World/France & WWI; Medicine; Science-Technology [8 – 12]

Paths of Glory

World/France & WWI [10+]

Ryan’s Daughter

World/Ireland & WWI [15+]

8. Between the World Wars; The Great Depression — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to the Period Between the World Wars and the Great Depression

The Book Thief

(World/Germany, WW-II, ELA (theme, personification, symbol, & irony); SEL: Families in Crisis; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility, Caring) [13+; 121 minutes]

Force More Powerful

Short Subject

World/India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa; 1800s – the Present; U.S./1945 – the Present; Civil Rights Movement, Tennessee [12+; Six sections, each between 20 and 30 minutes in length]

Force More Powerful

Snippet Lesson Plan on Non-violence and the Indian Independence Movement

(World/India, U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [12+; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: two class periods]

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Literature/U.S.; World/Between World Wars & Spain [12+]

Gandhi

Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions [10+]

9. Second World War (including the Holocaust) — Lesson Plans from Films Relating to the Second World War

A Call To Spy

The Best of TWM

(World History: The Second World War; England; U.S. History, 1940 – 1945; SEL: — Disabilities; Female Role Model; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship; Respect. [13+]

Gandhi

Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions [10+]

a. The War in Europe

Ballad of a Soldier

World/Russia & WWII [10+]

Force More Powerful

Short Subject

World/India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa; 1800s – the Present; U.S./1945 – the Present; Civil Rights Movement, Tennessee [12+; Six sections, each between 20 and 30 minutes in length]

Grave of the Fireflies

(U.S./1941 – 1991; World/WW-II and Japan; Cinema; SEL: Human Rights; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [13+]

The Great Dictator

Biography/Hitler [10+]

The Longest Day

U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII [10+]

Mrs. Miniver

World/England & WWII [10+]

Saving Private Ryan

Snippet Lesson Plan on the Omaha Beach Landing

(U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII; SEL: Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship) [16+]

The Sound of Music

Drama/Musicals; World/ WWII & Austria [6+]

The White Rose

World/Germany & WWII) (13+)

b. The Holocaust — Lesson Plans from Films Relating to the Holocaust

Anne Frank — Four Films About Anne Frank

World/WWII & Holland; Biography [12+]

Au Revoir Les Enfants

World/France & WWII (Holocaust) [11+]

Judgment at Nuremberg

U.S./1941 – 1945, The Law; World/WWII [10+]

Schindler’s List

Biography; World/WWII [15+]

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

(World/WWII & Germany; ELA; SEL: Human Rights; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Caring) [13+; Literary Devices Analyzed: irony]

Europa! Europa!

Human Rights; Surviving [13+] (In German & Russian with English Subtitles)

Walk on Water

World/Israel; Germany; WW/II Holocaust [14+]

c. The War in the Pacific — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to the Second World War in the Pacific

Hiroshima Maiden

U.S./1941 – 1991; World/WW-II and Japan [9 – 13]

Flags of Our Fathers

(U.S./1940-1945; World/WWII; SEL: Courage in War Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship) [15+]

Mass Casualties Lesson Plan

(Focusing on the Decision to End WWII with Surprise Atomic Attacks on Japanese Cities) [12+]

Midway

U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII; Seafaring [10+]

Tora! Tora! Tora!

U.S./1941 – 1945; World/Japan & WWII; Seafaring) [10+] (Portions in Japanese with English subtitles)

d. The War in Other Parts of the World

Casablanca

(U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII, France & Morocco [12+]

10. The Cold War Era (1945 – 1991) — Movie Lesson Plans Relating to the Cold War Era

Fail-Safe

U.S./1945 – 1991; World/Cold War [14+]

Force More Powerful

Short Subject

World/India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa; 1800s – the Present; U.S./1945 – the Present; Civil Rights Movement, Tennessee

[12+; Six sections, each between 20 and 30 minutes in length]

Force More Powerful

Snippet Lesson Plan on Non-violence and the Indian Independence Movement

(World/India, U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [12+; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: two class periods]

Force More Powerful

Snippet Lesson Plan on the Civil Rights Movement – The Nashville Sit-ins, 1960

(U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [12+; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: two class periods]

For Love or Country — The Arturo Sandoval Story

Music/Jazz; World/Cuba and the Cold War Era; Biography [12+]

Gandhi

Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions [10+]

Thirteen Days

U.S./1945 – 1991; World/Russia & The Cold War [12+]

Torn-from-the-Flag

(World: Hungary, Cold War; Documentary; SEL: Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [12+]

White Nights

Dance; World/Cold War & Russia; U.S./Diversity/African-American [13+]

11. The Post Cold War Era (1991 – Present) — Lesson Plans from Films Relating to the Post Cold War Era

Force More Powerful

Short Subject

World/India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa; 1800s – the Present; U.S./1945 – the Present; Civil Rights Movement, Tennessee [12+; Six sections, each between 20 and 30 minutes in length]

Gandhi

Biography; World/India, South Africa, England & 1800s – Cold War Era; U.S./Diversity; Religions [10+]

Hotel Rwanda

World/Rwanda & the Post-Cold War Era; U.S./1991 – present [14+]

Navalny

The Best of TWM

(World-Russia, Post-Cold War Era; SEL: Courage, Ambition, Human Rights, Leadership, Male Role Model (Navalny);
Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility, Citizenship) [15+]

Sometimes in April

World/Rwanda & the Post-Cold War Era [14+]