RESPONSIBILITY

CREATE LESSON PLANS IN CHARACTER EDUCATION,

ETHICS, AND MORALITY FROM MOVIES AND FILM

THESE FILMS ARE ORGANIZED BY THE SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER

Teachwithmovies.org is a Character Counts “Six Pillars Partner”

and uses the Six Pillars of Character to organize ethical principles.

RESPONSIBILITY

Do what you are supposed to do; Persevere: keep on trying!; Always do your best; Use self-control; Be self-disciplined; Think before you act — consider the consequences; Be accountable for your choices

127 Hours

(English Language Arts; SEL: Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [14+]

1776

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Rebellion; Subjects: U.S./1750 – 1812 & Pennsylvania; Drama/Musicals) [11+]

Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided

(Respect, Responsibility, Fairness; SEL: Families in Crisis; Marriage; Grieving; Leadership; Father/Daughter; Mother/Son; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography) [10+]

The Adventures of Huck Finn

(SEL: Breaking Out; Friendship; Running Away; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1860, Diversity & Missouri; Literature/U.S.) [6+]

The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Trustworthiness; Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Courage) [5 – 8]

The Adventures of Robin Hood

(SEL: Rebellion; Subjects: World/England & Middle Ages) [8 – 13]

All The King’s Men

(Responsibility; Fairness; SEL: Ambition; Subjects: U.S./1913 – 1941, Politics & Louisiana; Literature/U.S.) [13+]

All My Sons

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Crime; Marriage; Father/Son; Suicide; Subjects: U.S./1941 – 1991; Drama/U.S.) [13+]

All the President’s Men

(Trustworthiness; Responsiblity; Fairness; Citizenship; SEL: Courage; Teamwork; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991 & Politics) [12+]

Amadeus

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Humility; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Talent; Subjects: Biography/Mozart; Music/Classical) [12+]

An American Tail

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Fairness; SEL: Courage; Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York) [6 – 10]

Anne B. Real

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

Four Films About Anne Frank

(Respect; Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Human Rights; Courage; Subjects: World/WWII & Holland; Biography) [12+]

“Antz” and “A Bug’s Life”

(Respect, Responsibility; SEL: Friendship; Subjects: Science-Technology) [9-12]

Apollo 13

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Teamwork; Male Role Model; Subject: U.S./1945 – 1991; Aviation & Space Exploration) [8+]

Around the World in 80 Days

(Responsibility, Respect, Fairness; SEL: Gambling Addiction; Subjects: Science-Technology; World/England) [8 – 13]

Au Revoir Les Enfants

(Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Caring; SEL: Coming of Age, Human Rights, Friendship; Subjects: World/France & WWII (Holocaust)) [11+]

Babe

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Responsibility; Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Caring for Animals; Courage;) [5 – 8]

Babies

(Health; SEL: Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]

Beethoven Lives Upstairs

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Grieving; Disability; Talent; Subjects: Music/Classical; World/Austria; Biography/Beethoven) [9 – 12]

Behind the Sun

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

Billy Elliot

(Caring, Responsibility, Respect; Trustworthiness; SEL Breaking Out, Families in Crisis, Father/Son, Courage, Grieving, Friendship, Parenting, Grandparents; GLBTQ, Education; Subjects: Dance; World/England) [12+]

Bizet’s Dream

(SEL: Father/Daughter; Talent; Subjects: Biography; Music/Opera; World/France) [9 – 12]

Blackfish

(Responsibility; SEL: Caring for Animals; Subjects: the Environment) [13+]

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

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

A Bugs Life

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Respect; Responsibility; SEL: Courage; Teamwork; Subjects: Science (Biology)) [5 – 8]

Captains Courageous

(Respect; Responsibility; SEL: Friendship, Parenting; Male Role Model; Subjects: U.S./1929 – 1941 & Massachusets; Seafaring) [8 – 12]

Carmen

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Music/Opera; World/France) [12+] (In French with English Subtitles)

Cars

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Responsibility; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Sportsmanship; Teamwork; Friendship) [5 – 8]

Casablanca

(Responsibility; Caring; Citizenship;; SEL Romantic Relationships; Redemption; Subjects: U.S./1941-1945; World/WWII; France & Morocco; ELA: Extended Metaphor; Allegory; Hero’s Journey) [12+]

Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist

(SEL: Talent; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Visual Arts; World/France; U.S./1865 – 1913; Biography) [8+]

Chariots of Fire

(SEL: Sportsmanship; Subjects: World/England; Sports/Olympics; Religions/Judaism and Christianity) [10+]

Charly

(Caring; Responsibility; SEL: Disabilities; Courage; Subjects: Science Fiction) [10+]

Conquest

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

Corner In Wheat

U.S. History 1865 – 1913; ELA (ironic metaphor); Cinema; SEL: Work/Career; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring. [NR]

Contagion

(Health; Medicine; Science-Technology; U.S. 1991 – present; World/Asia; SEL: Courage; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship) [13+]

Countdown to Year Zero

Academic Version

(The Environment; U.S. History & Culture 1991 to present; SEL: Caring for Animals; Taking Care of Yourself; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility) [15+; 52 minutes]

Cross Creek

(SEL: Female Role Model; Parenting; Friendship; Suicide; Running Away; Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913 and Florida; Literature/U.S.) [the events that inspired The Yearling]

The Crossing

(Trustworthiness, Responsibility & Citizenship; SEL: SEL: Courage in War, Leadership; Subjects: U.S./1750 – 1812, New Jersey & Pennsylvania) [13+]

Damn Yankees

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

Dancemaker

(SEL: Talent; Subjects: Biography/Taylor; Dance) [12+]

Degas and the Dancer

(Respect; Responsibility; Caring; SEL — Talent, Ambition, Mother/Daughter, Sisters; Subjects — Visual Arts; World/France; Dance) [8 – 13]

Desert Bloom

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

The Diary of Anne Frank

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Families in Crisis; Human Rights; Male Role Model; Female Role Model; Subjects: World/WWII & Holland) [10+]

A Dry White Season

(Trustworthiness, Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Courage; Justice; Human Rights; Grieving; Father/Son; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Subjects: World/South Africa) [14+]

Edge of America

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

Helping Students Think About What They Can Do To Help Meet the Challenges of Their Time (1)

Empowering Students to Meet the Challenges of Our Time

(U.S. History and Culture, 1945 – 1991 to Current; SEL: Leadership: Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [14+]

Fail-Safe

(Responsibility, Caring; SEL Leadership; Subjects U.S./1945 – 1991; World/Cold War) [14+]

Fat Man and Little Boy

(SEL: Teamwork; Subjects: U.S./1941-1945 & New Mexico; Science-Technology) [13+]

Finding Nemo

(Responsibility; Respect; SEL: Father/Son; Friendship; Subjects: Marine Biology (Science/Technology)) [9-12]

Finding Nemo

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Responsibility, Respect, Caring; SEL: Father/Son; Friendship; Subjects: Science (Marine Biology)) [4 – 8]

Fly Away Home

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Grieving; Parenting; Father/Daughter; Caring for Animals; Teamwork; Subjects: Health (Grieving); ELA: theme, characterization, back story, allusion, complication; Science(Biology); the Environment; World/Canada) [10+]

Fort Apache

(SEL: Courage in War; Subjects: U.S./The Frontier and the West & Arizona) [8+] (Some Spanish spoken by the Native Americans)

Forks Over Knives

(Health; Medicine; SEL: Taking Care of Yourself; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]

Gandhi

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

Gigi

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Drama/Musicals; World/France) [12+]

The Glass Menagerie

(SEL: Families in Crisis; Mother/Son; Mother/Daughter; Disabilities; Subjects: Drama/U.S.; U.S./Missouri) [12+]

The Great Gatsby

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

Happy Feet

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Responsibility; Respect; CaringSEL: Friendship; Courage; Self-Esteem; Disabilities) [5 – 8]

Harriet

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

Hawaii

(Respect; Caring; Subjects: U.S./1812 – 1860 & Hawaii; Religions/Christianity) [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

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

Hiroshima Maiden

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Courage; Friendship; Human Rights; Peer Pressure; Subjects: U.S./1941 – 1991; World/WW-II and Japan) [9 – 13]

Hoop Dreams

(Responsibility Fairness; SEL: Sportsmanship; Breaking Out; Talent; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Subjects: Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1991 – Present & Illinois) [10+]

Horton Hears a Who!

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Responsibility; Respect; Caring; SEL: Friendship; Courage) [4 – 8]

Hoosiers

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

Hotel Rwanda

(Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Subjects: World/Rwanda & the Post-Cold War Era; U.S./1991 – present) [14+]

Ice Age: The Meltdown

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Responsibility (Taking Care of the Environment); SEL: Friendship; Courage; Subjects: The Environment) [6 – 8]

An Ideal Husband

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Families in Crisis; Marriage, Friendship, Romantic Relationships, Justice, Redemption; Subjects: Drama/England; World/England) [12+]

The Insider

(Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Citizenship; SEL: Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Families in Crisis, Marriage, Crime, Courage; Subjects: U.S./1991 – present, the Press and the Law) [13+]

Into the Wild

(Literature: NonFiction; Literary Devices: theme; allusion; U.S.: 1945 – 1991; SEL: Taking Care of Yourself; Families in; Crisis Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [14+]

It’s a Wonderful Life

(Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Male Role Model; Suicide; Breaking Out; Subjects: U.S./1913 – 1945) [10+]

James’ Journey to Jerusalem

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Respect; Fairness; SEL: Friendship; Father/Son; Subjects: World/Israel; Religions) [12+]

Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar Acceptance Speech – February 9, 2020

ELA; Civics; Social Emotional Learning: Human Rights, Justice, Redemption; Animal Rights

Judgment at Nuremberg

(Respect, Responsibility; Fairness; SEL: Justice; Human Rights, Male Role Model; Subjects: U.S./1941 – 1945 & The Law; World/WWII) [10+]

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Talking and Playing for Growth

(Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Coming of Age; Talent; Friendship; Courage) [5 – 8]

Knute Rockne, All American

(SEL: Leadership, Sportsmanship, Talent; Subjects: Sports/Football; U.S./1913 – 1929) [8+]

The Last Repair Shop

(U.S. 1991 to Current; Music; World: Armenia; SEL: Work/Career; GBLTQ; Human Rights; Taking Care of Yourself; Male Role Model; Female Role Model; Moral/Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring.

The Lion King

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Grieving; Redemption; Friendship; Ambition, Running Away; Subjects: The Environment; Science/Technology) [8 – 11]

Little Women

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

Lord of the Flies

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Peer Pressure; Surviving; Subjects: ELA; U.S./1945 -1991) [13+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol, character development, theme, irony.]

Lorenzo’s Oil

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Illness, Disabilities; Marriage; Families in Crisis; Parenting; Sisters; Subjects: Medicine) [13+]

Madame Curie

(SEL Female Role Model; Grieving; Subjects: Biography; Science-Technology; World/France) [10+]

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+]

Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye

SEL: Female Role Model; Mother/Daughter; Subjects: Biography; World/France & WWI; Medicine; Science-Technology) [8 – 12]

Mass Casualties: Lesson Plan

(Focusing on the Decision to End WWII with Surprise Atomic Attacks on Japanese Cities) (Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Human Rights; Subjects: U.S./ 1941 – 1945; World/WWII and Japan) [12+]

Memphis Belle

(SEL: Leadership; Courage in War; Subjects: Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945) [12+]

The Miracle Worker

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Disabilities; Female Role Model; Subjects: Biography/Keller; U.S./1865 – 1913) [10+]

Moby Dick

(SEL: Revenge, Humility; Subjects: Literature/U.S.; Seafaring; U.S./1812 – 1860 & Massachusetts) [10+]

Moulin Rouge

(SEL: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Disabilities; Talent; Subjects: Biography/Lautrec; Visual Arts; World/France) [13+]

Mr. Holland’s Opus

(Responsibility; Citizenship; Caring; Respect; SEL: Education; Male Role Model; Parenting; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Marriage; Disabilities; Subjects: Music/Classical; U.S. 1945 – 1991) [10+]

Mulan

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

Music of the Heart

(Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Education; Talent; Disabilities; Romantic Relationships; Divorce; Separation; Subjects: Music/Classical; U.S./1991 – Present & New York; Biography (Guaspari)) [9+]

Native Son

(Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; SEL: Justice; Friendship; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Literature/U.S.) [15+]

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+]

October Sky

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

The Odyssey

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Humility; Surviving; Marriage; Subjects: World/Ancient Greece; Mythology; Literature & Literary Devices; Seafaring [14+ for the movie; 11+ for the book. Literary devices analyzed: simile, metaphor, flashback; symbol]

Oklahoma!

Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: U.S./1865-1913 & Oklahoma; Drama/Musicals; Dance/Performance) [12+]

The Old Curiosity Shop

(SEL: Gambling Addiction; Parenting; Subjects: Literature/England) [11+]

Old Yeller

(SEL: Courage; Grieving (for a beloved animal); Subjects: U.S./1865 – 1913) [7-12]

On The Waterfront

(SEL: Redemption; Breaking Out; Brothers; Romantic Relationships; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York; Cinema) [12+]

The Outsiders

(Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring; SEL: Brothers; Coming of Age; Courage; Fighting; Friendship; Peer Pressure; Redemption; Subjects: Literature/U.S.; U.S./1945 – 1991) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase; flashback; symbol; foreshadowing; Bildungsroman; irony; protagonist/antagonist confusion and theme]

Pay It Forward

(Responsibility; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Mother/Son; Families in Crisis; Education; Disabilities; Subjects: U.S./1991 – Present) [12+]

Persuasion

(SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Literature/England; World/England) [12+]

The Pirates of Penzance

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Subjects: Drama/Musicals; World/England) [8+]

Ponyo

(Literature/World; World/Japan; SEL: Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [5+]

Ponyo

Talking and Playing

SEL: Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [4-8]

Pride of the Yankees

(SEL: Male Role Model; Subjects: Biography/Gehrig; Sports/Baseball) [8+]

The Red Badge of Courage

(SEL: Courage in War; Coming of Age; Redemption; Subjects: U.S./1860 – 1865; Literature/U.S.) [10+]

Remember the Titans

(Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship; SEL: Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football) [11+]

The Right Stuff

(SEL: Friendship; Teamwork, Courage; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991; Aviation & Space Exploration) [12+]

The Rookie

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Talent; Subjects: Sports/Baseball; U.S./1991 – present) [9+]

Roots Vol. I

(Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; SEL: Coming of Age; Subjects: U.S./1629 – 1750 & Diversity; World/Africa) [12+]

Rossini’s Ghost

(SEL: Talent; Friendship; Subjects: Biography/Rossini; Music/Opera; World/Italy) [6 – 12]

The Scarlet Letter

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; SEL: Redemption; Romantic Relationships; Revenge; Subjects: U.S./1629 – 1750 & Massachusetts; Religions/Christianity; Literature/U.S.) [12+]

The Searchers

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

Searching for Bobby Fischer

(SEL: Talent Father/Son; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Subjects: Sports/Chess; World/Canada) [10+]

Secrets of the Whales

(Science-Technology; The Environment; SEL: Caring for Animals; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility)

Sense and Sensibility

(Responsibility; Caring; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Sisters; Subjects: Literature/England; World/England) [12+]

Seven Days in May

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility: SEL: Rebellion Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991) [12+]

Shakespeare Behind Bars

(Responsibility; SEL: Redemption; Subjects: Drama and U.S./The Law) [14+]

Shall We Dance?

(SEL: Breaking Out; Marriage; Subjects: Dance; World/Japan) [12+]

Small Wonders

(Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Education; Female Role Model; Subjects: Music/Classical; U.S./1991 – Present & New York; Biography (Guaspari); ) [6+]

Sometimes in April

(Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Subjects: World/Rwanda & the Post-Cold War Era; U.S./1991) [14+]

Stalin

(SEL: Ambition; Subjects: Biography; World/Russia) [12+]

Stand and Deliver

(Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Citizenship; SEL: Education, Male Role Model; Self-esteem; Subjects: U.S./1941 – 1996, Diversity & California) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils, and irony]

Super Size Me

A Lesson Plan for Health Classes

(Responsibility; SEL: Taking Care of Yourself; Subjects: U.S./1991 – present; Medicine) [11+]

Thirteen Days

(Responsibility; SEL: Leadership; Peace/Peacemakers; Brothers; Subjects: U.S./1945 – 1991; World/Russia & The Cold War) [12+]

Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould

(SEL: Talent; Subjects: Biography; Music/Classical; World/Canada) [14+] (Small portions in French with English subtitles.)

To Kill A Mockingbird

(Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship; SEL: Justice; Male Role Model; Courage; Mental Illness; Parenting; Disabilities; Subjects: U.S./1929 – 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor]