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
- 1629 – 1750: The Colonial Period
- 1750 – 1812: Creating the Nation
- The Frontier and the West
- 1812 – 1860: Manifest Destiny and Prelude to the Civil War
- 1860 – 1865: The Civil War
- 1865 – 1913: Reconstruction and the Beginning of the Age of Invention
- 1913 – 1929: WWI and the Roaring 20s
- 1929 – 1941: The Great Depression and the Clouds of War
- 1940 – 1945: WWII
- 1945 – 1991: The Cold War, Korea, and Vietnam; The Civil Rights Movement
- 1991 – present
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+]
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]
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
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]
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+]
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.