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
Alabama
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+]
The Miracle Worker
(Biography/Keller; U.S./1865 – 1913; SEL: Disabilities; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [10+]
Tuskegee Airmen
Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945, Diversity & Alabama [10+]
Alaska
Arizona
Fort Apache
U.S./The Frontier and the West & Arizona [8+] (Some Spanish spoken by the Native Americans)
Spare Parts
(Science-Technology; U.S. 1991 – Current, Hispanic & Arizona; SEL: Education; Breaking Out; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
Underwater Dreams
(Science-Technology; U.S. 1991 – Current, Hispanic & Arizona; SEL: Education; Breaking Out; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
California
Angels in the Outfield
Sports/Baseball; U.S./1945 – 1991 & California [9 – 12]
Barbary Coast
U.S./The Frontier and the West & California [12+]
A Better Life
(U.S. 1991 – Current; Hispanic & California; SEL: Father/Son; Courage; Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [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]
Crash
(U.S. – 1991 to Current; Diversity; California; Literary Devices: Irony; SEL: Mother/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [15+]
El Norte
(U.S./1945 to present, Diversity & California; World/Guatemala; SEL: Human Rights; Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [14+]
Fruitvale Station.
(U.S./1991 to present, Diversity & California; SEL: Human Rights; Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
The Grapes of Wrath
U.S./1929 – 1941; Oklahoma & California; Literature/U.S. [12+]
The Joy Luck Club
U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity; California; World/China [14+]
McFarland, USA
(Sports; U.S. 1945 – Current, Hispanic, & California; SEL: Education; Breaking Out; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]
My Family
(U.S. 1929 – 1991; Hispanic & California; World/Mexico; SEL: Families in Crisis; Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [13+]
The Paw Project
Lesson Plan
In Civics and American Government: CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY; U.S./Politics & California; SEL: Caring for Animals; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [13+]
Stand and Deliver
U.S./1941 – 1996, Diversity & California; Mathematics; ELA [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony]
Tuskegee Airmen
Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945, Diversity & Alabama [10+]
Underwater Dreams
(Science-Technology; U.S. 1991 – Current, Hispanic & Arizona; SEL: Education; Breaking Out; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
Florida
Cross Creek
U.S./1865 – 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S. [the events that inspired The Yearling]
The Yearling
U.S./1865 – 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S. [8 – 12]
Georgia
Gone With the Wind
U.S./1860 – 1865 & Georgia [12+]
Warm Springs
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1913 – 1929 & Georgia; Biography; SEL: Courage; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [12+]
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Hoop Dreams
Sports/Basketball; U.S./1991 – Present & Illinois [10+]
Native Son
U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Literature/U.S. [15+]
Indiana
Breaking Away
Sports/Bicycle Racing; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Indiana [12+]
Hoosiers
(Sports/Basketball; U.S. 1945 – 1991 & Indiana; SEL: Teamwork; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Male Role Model; Father/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Caring) [11+]
Iowa
Louisiana
Maryland
Harriet
(U.S. History 1812- 1865; African-American; Maryland; SEL: Human Rights; Female Role Model; Breaking Out; Courage; Disabilities; Moral/Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
Partners of the Heart
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
Pay It Forward
(U.S./1991 – Present; SEL: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Mother/Son; Families in Crisis; Education; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring; Citizenship) [12+]
Something the Lord Made
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
Massachusetts
Captains Courageous
U.S./1929 – 1941 & Massachusetts; Seafaring [8 – 12]
The Crucible
U.S./1629 – 1750, 1945-1991 & Massachusetts; Drama/U.S. [12+]
Glory
U.S./ 1860 – 1865 & Massachusetts [14+]
Good Will Hunting
Medicine (Psychiatry); U.S./1991 – present & Massachusetts [14+]
Little Women
U.S./1860 – 1865 & Massachusetts; Literature/U.S. [6+]
Moby Dick
Literature/U.S.; Seafaring; U.S./1812 – 1860 & Massachusetts [10+]
The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming
U.S./1945 – 1991 & Massachusetts [8 – 12]
The Scarlet Letter
U.S./1629 – 1750 & Massachusetts; Religions/Christianity; Literature/U.S. [12+]
Spotlight
(U.S. 1945 – Current, the Press & Massachusetts; Religions; SEL: Child Abuse; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+; 128 minutes]
Mississippi
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+]
Ghosts of Mississippi
U.S./1945 – Present, Diversity, the Law & Mississippi [12+]
The Help
(US 1945-1991, Diversity & Mississippi; SEL: Self-Esteem, Friendship, Courage; Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
Missouri
The Adventures of Huck Finn
U.S./1812 – 1860, Diversity & Missouri; Literature/U.S. [6+]
The Glass Menagerie
Drama/U.S.; U.S./Missouri [12+]
Nebraska
Nevada
Desert Bloom
U.S./1945 – 1991 & Nevada [13+]
The Ox-Bow Incident
U.S./The Frontier and the West; 1865 – 1913; The Law; & Nevada [12+]
New Jersey
New Mexico
Edge of America
(Sports/Basketball; U.S./1945-1991; Diversity/Native American & African American and New Mexico [12+]
Fat Man and Little Boy
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1941 – 1945 & New Mexico; Science-Technology; SEL: Teamwork; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
New York
An American Tail
U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York [7 – 10]
An American Tail
Talking and Playing for Growth
U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York; Religions/Judaism) [5 – 8]
Anne B. Real
U.S./1991 – present and New York [12+]
The Chosen
(Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices: Theme, Symbol, Irony; Religions/Judaism; U.S.: 1941 – 1945 & New York; SEL Parenting; Father/Son; Friendship; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring) [10+]
The Great Gatsby
(U.S. 1913 – 1929 & New York; Literature; Literary Devices: symbol, imagery, motif, flashback, characterization; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
Hester Street
U.S./1865 – 1913; Diversity & New York [12+]
The Jazz Singer
Cinema; U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & New York; Music/Popular [12+]
Life With Father
U.S./1865 – 1913 & New York [8+]
Music of the Heart
Music/Classical, U.S./1991 – present & New York; Biography (Guaspari [9+]
On The Waterfront
Cinema; U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York [12+]
Quiz Show
U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York [11+]
Small Wonders
Music/Classical; U.S./1991 – Present & New York; Biography (Guaspari [6+]
Tootsie
U.S./1945 – 1991 & New York; Drama/U.S. [13+]
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & New York [9+]
West Side Story
Drama/Musicals; U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & New York Dance/Performance [12+]
The Witness
(U.S./1991 – present & New York [13+]
Oklahoma
The Grapes of Wrath
U.S./1929 – 1941; Oklahoma & California; Literature/U.S. [12+]
Oklahoma!
Drama/Musicals; U.S./1865-1913 & Oklahoma; Dance/Performance [12+]
Pennsylvania
1776
U.S./1750 – 1812 & Pennsylvania; Drama/Musicals [11+]
Ben and Me
Short Subject
Biography/Franklin; U. S./1750 – 1812 & Pennsylvania; Science-Technology [8 & 9; 27 minutes]
Ben and Me
Talking and Playing for Growth
Short Subject (SEL: Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship [5 – 8; 27 minutes]
The Crossing
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1750 – 1812, New Jersey & Pennsylvania; SEL: Courage in War, Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility & Citizenship) [13+]
South Carolina
Tennessee
Cast Away
(U.S./1945 – 1991 and Tennessee; ELA: expository phase; motif; symbol; theme development; dramatic irony) [13+]
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]
Partners of the Heart
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
Inherit the Wind
Cinema; U.S./1913 – 1929, 1945 – 1991 & Tennessee [12+]
Something the Lord Made
Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland [10+]
Virginia
Bridge to Terabithia
(Literature/U.S.; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Virginia; SEL: Friendship; Grieving; Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [10-13]
Hidden Figures
(U.S. 1940 – 1991, Diversity, and Virginia; Mathematics; Science-Technology; SEL: Courage; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
West Virginia
Matewan
U.S./1913 – 1929, Diversity & West Virginia; Religions/Christianity [12+]
October Sky
Aviation & Space Exploration; U.S./1945 – 1991 & West Virginia; Science-Technology [10+]
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.