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
All My Sons
U.S./1941 – 1991; Drama/U.S. [13+]
Anne B. Real
(U.S./1991 – present and New York; SEL: Breaking Out; Coming of Age; Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Courage; Crime; Education; Families in Crisis; Surviving; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [12+]
Anne Frank – Four Films About Anne Frank
(World/WWII & Holland; Biography; SEL: Coming of Age; Families in Crisis; Human Rights; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Citizenship) [12+]
Apollo 13
(U.S./1945 – 1991; Space Exploration; U.S./1941 – 1991; Drama/U.S. [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+]
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+]
Casablanca
U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII, France & Morocco [12+]
The Chosen
Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: Theme, Symbol, Irony; Religions/Judaism; U.S.: 1941 – 1945 & New York [10+]
Eleanor Roosevelt
Biography; U.S./1865 – 1991; Politics [10+]
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+]
Fat Man and Little Boy
U.S./1941 – 1945 & New Mexico; Science-Technology [13+]
Flags of Our Fathers
(U.S./1940-1945; World/WWII; SEL: Courage in War Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship) [15+]
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+]
Grave of the Fireflies
(U.S./1941 – 1991; World/WW-II and Japan; Cinema; SEL: Human Rights; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [13+]
Hidden Figures
(U.S. 1940 – 1991, Diversity, and Virginia; Mathematics; Science-Technology;; Cinema; SEL: Courage; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
Hiroshima Maiden
U.S./1941 – 1991; World/WW-II and Japan [9 – 13]
It’s a Wonderful Life
U.S./1913 – 1945 [10+]
Judgment at Nuremberg
U.S./1941 – 1945, The Law; World/WWII [10+]
The Longest Day
U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII [10+]
Mass Casualties Lesson Plan
(Focusing on the Decision to End WWII with Surprise Atomic Attacks on Japanese Cities) U.S./ 1941 – 1945; World/WWII and Japan [12+]
Memphis Belle
Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945 [12+]
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+]
Patton
Biography; U.S./1941 – 1945 [12+]
The Right Stuff
Aviation & Space Exploration; U.S./1941 – 1945 [12+]
Saving Private Ryan
Snippet Lesson Plan: Omaha Beach Landing
(U.S./1941 – 1945; World/WWII; SEL: Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship) [16+]
Something the Lord Made
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
South Pacific
Drama/Musicals; U.S./1941 – 1945 & Diversity [10+]
Tora! Tora! Tora!
U.S./1941 – 1945; World/Japan & WWII; Seafaring [10+] (Portions in Japanese with English subtitles)
Truman
Biography; U.S./1941 – 1991 [12+]
Tuskegee Airmen
Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945, Diversity & Alabama [10+]
Twelve O’Clock High
Aviation; U.S./1941-1945 [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+]
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+]
12 Angry Men
U.S./1945 – 1991 & The Law (due process; jury selection) [11+]
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
(Health, ELA, United States (1949 to 1991; 1991 to Present; and the Press); SEL: Father/Son; Male Role Model; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [14+]
All My Sons
U.S./1941 – 1991; Drama/U.S. [13+]
All the President’s Men
U.S./1945 – 1991 & Politics [12+]
Angels in the Outfield
Sports/Baseball; U.S./1945 – 1991 & California [9 – 12]
Apollo 13
U.S./1945 – 1991; Space Exploration [8+]
Argo
(U.S./1945 – 1991 & Iran – The Iran Hostage Crisis; SEL: Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring, Citizenship) [14+]
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
U.S./1865 – 1991 & Diversity [10+]
Baseball: Inning 1-9
The National Pastime: 1940 – 1950 U.S./1941 – 1945; Sports; U.S. History & Culture [10+]
Breaking Away
Sports/Bicycle Racing; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Indiana; [12+]
Brian’s Song
Sports/Football; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity [10+]
Bridge to Terabithia
(Literature/U.S.; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Virginia; SEL: Friendship; Grieving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [10-13]
The Buddy Holly Story
Music/Popular; U.S./1945 – 1991[12+]
Cast Away
(U.S./1945 – 1991 and Tennessee; ELA: expository phase; motif; symbol; theme development; dramatic irony) [13+]
Cesar Chavez: Respect for All
(U.S. 1945 – current, Diversity; Hispanic-Americans & California; SEL: Leadership; GBLTQ; Caring for Animals; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [10+; 22 minutes]
Conrack
U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & South Carolina [10+]
The Crucible
U.S./1629 – 1750, 1945-1991 & Massachusetts; Drama/U.S. [12+]
Damn Yankees
(Drama/Musicals; Sports/Baseball; Dance/Performance; U.S./1945 – 1991; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [10+]
Edge of America
Sports/Basketball; U.S./1945-1991; Diversity/Native American & African American and New Mexico [12+]
Edward Scissorhands
(U.S./1945 – 1991; ELA) [13+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase, setting, character; development, theme.]
Einstein: Light to the Power of 2
Biography; Science-Technology; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity [8 – 13]
El Norte
U.S./1945 to present, Diversity & California; World/Guatemala [14+]
Eleanor Roosevelt
Biography; U.S./1865 – 1991; Politics [10+]
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+]
Eye in the Sky
(U.S. 1991 – Current; War on Terror (Drone Warfare); SEL: Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [14+]
Fail-Safe
U.S./1945 – 1991; World/Cold War [14+]
Field of Dreams
Sports/Baseball; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Iowa [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]
Force More Powerful
Snippet Lesson Plan: Civil Rights Movement – The Nashville Sit-ins, 1960
(U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity) [12+; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: two class periods]
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+]
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
U.S./ 1945 – 1991 & Diversity [10+]
The Help
(US 1945-1991, Diversity & Mississippi; SEL: Self-Esteem, Friendship, Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
Helping Students Think About What They Can Do To Help Meet the Challenges of Our Time
(U.S. History and Culture, 1945 – 1991 to Current; SEL: Leadership: Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [14+]
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]
Hidden Figures
(U.S. 1940 – 1991, Diversity, and Virginia; Mathematics; Science-Technology;; Cinema; SEL: Courage; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
Hiroshima Maiden
U.S./1941 – 1991; World/WW-II and Japan [9 – 13]
Hoosiers
Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1945 – 1991 & Indiana [11+]
Inherit the Wind
Cinema; U.S./1913 – 1929, 1945 – 1991 & Tennessee [12+]
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+]
The Jackie Robinson Story
Biography; Sports/Baseball; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity [8+]
The Joy Luck Club
U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity; California; World/China [14+]
Just Mercy
(Drama/England; World/Ancient Rome; SEL: Ambition; Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [12+]
The Long Walk Home
(U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Alabama [12+]
Lord of the Flies
(ELA; U.S./1945 -1991) [13+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol, character development, theme, irony.]
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+]
McFarland, USA
(Sports; U.S. 1945 – Current, Hispanic, & California; SEL: Education; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]
The Most Dangerous Man in America
Part of a unit on National Security Whistleblowers
(U.S. 1945 – Current, the Press; & the Law; Civics; SEL: Courage; Moral-Ethical Responsibility; Citizenship) [13+]
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Music/Classical; U.S./1945 – 1991 [10+]
The Music Within
(U.S. 1945 – 1991; Health (disabilities; effects of early-life trauma); SEL: Disabilities; Work/Career; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Citizenship) [14+]
My Family
(U.S. 1929 – 1991; Hispanic & California; World/Mexico; SEL: Families in Crisis; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [13+]
Native Son
U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Literature/U.S. [15+]
Never Cry Wolf
Science-Technology, The Environment; U.S./1945 – 1991; Alaska [10+]
El Norte
U.S./1945 to present, Diversity & California; World/Guatemala [14+]
October Sky
Aviation & Space Exploration; U.S./1945 – 1991 & West Virginia; Science-Technology [10+]
On The Waterfront
U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York; Cinema [12+]
The Outsiders
Literature/U.S.; U.S./1945 – 1991 [11+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase; flashback; symbol; foreshadowing; Bildungsroman; irony; protagonist/antagonist confusion and theme]
Partners of the Heart
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
The Post
(U.S. 1945 – 1991; the Press; SEL: Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+; 1 hr 56 minutes]
The Pursuit of Happyness
(U.S./1991 – present and Biography; SEL: Father/Son; Parenting; Surviving, Work/Career; add the following SEL topics when using TeachWithMovies.org’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) [12+]
Quiz Show
U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York [11+]
A Raisin in the Sun
U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Drama/U.S [12+]
Remember the Titans
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football; SEL: Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship) [11+]
The Right Stuff
U.S./1945 – 1991; Aviation; Space Exploration [12+]
The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming
U.S./1945 – 1991 & Massachusetts [8 – 12]
Sayonara
U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity; World/Japan [12+]
Selma
(U.S.: 1945-1991; Civil Rights Movement; Civics; SEL: Leadership; Courage; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness, Citizenship) [12+]
Silenced
Part of a unit on National Security Whistleblowers
(U.S. 1945 – Current, the Press; & the Law; Civics; SEL: Courage; Moral-Ethical Responsibility; Citizenship) [13+]
Something the Lord Made
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
Spotlight
(U.S. 1945 – Current, the Press & Massachusetts; Religions; SEL: Child Abuse; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+; 128 minutes]
Stand and Deliver
U.S./1941 – 1996, Diversity & California; Mathematics; ELA [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony]
Thirteen Days
U.S./1945 – 1991; World/Russia & The Cold War [12+]
Tootsie
U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York; Drama/U.S. [13+]
Truman
Biography; U.S./1941 – 1991 [12+]
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
U.S./1945-1991; Science-Technology [10+]
The Turning Point
Dance; U.S./1945 – 1991 [14+]
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)
War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State
part of a Unit on National Security Whistleblowers
(U.S. 1945 – Current, the Press & the Law; Civics; SEL: Courage; Moral-Ethical Responsibility; Citizenship) [13+]
West Side Story
Drama/Musicals; U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & New York; Dance/Performance [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+]
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Health (Parenting); Biography (Fred Rogers); U.S. History 1945 to 1991. 1991 to present; SEL: Parenting; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; AGE; 16+
For more U.S. History Lesson Plans from movies and film,
from 1991 to the present day, click here.
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The film clips and short subjects used in Snippet Lesson Plans are less than 40 minutes in length and are ideal for classroom use.
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