We all remember the “end of the year” movie day at our school or the documentaries that were so often used by substitute teachers. For many of us, that may be the only way we experienced film in the classroom, but film can be so much more. Film can be a powerful classroom tool to inspire and engage students, especially when combined with the correct curriculum or even through the use of an insightful discussion guide.
Eileen Mattingly, Director of Education at Journeys in Film underscores the typical use of film and the power of stretching the ways educators integrate film into their classroom teaching. “There was a time when teachers showed films in class for one of three reasons: to reinforce a book the class had just read [I'm looking at you, Atticus Finch]; to reward the class with a ‘fun’ movie break; or to keep students occupied while the teacher graded papers.”
But, she continues, “We know better now. We know that film can be a terrific way to let students experience another culture--to live in it for an hour or two, a perfect example of Coleridge's ‘willing suspension of disbelief.’ It can be a springboard to motivate students for additional research or lessons in more depth. It can teach critical thinking, open windows to new careers, and give them a chance to consider their own values more deeply. It promotes a positive classroom atmosphere.”
How do we unlock this potential of film? It begins with film selection. Choosing the right film for our students and for the subject matter we wish to cover with them is paramount. Recently, my homeschooled sons were focusing on the potential of science and innovation to solve problems. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was an excellent film to enhance this lesson. Further, it inspired them to consider their own skills and abilities to create change in their communities.
The film follows the true-life story of a boy who did just that when he was just 13. In addition to the science tie-in, we also integrated world geography into our curriculum that week. I used elements of Journeys in Film’s comprehensive curriculum for this film, which is primarily for high school students, but there were lesson components that I could easily adapt for my 9 and 11-year-old.
Through this experience, I saw firsthand the way film inspired my children and deepened their understanding of the key topics we were exploring.
Educator responses to effective film curricula and discussion guides combine with research and data to underscore the power of film as a teaching tool. In particular, films can deepen understanding of a topic, engage students at a high level with a subject or issue, and foster empathy for the experiences of others.
Building empathy feels particularly important right now as we see a rise in hate crimes and hate speech, not only in the United States but in other countries around the world. More than ever, educators are seeing the need to address topics that can feel difficult to broach in the classrooms: racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, sexism, etc.
Viewing films can open the door to key discussions and can offer critical historical context for these topics. Journeys In Film’s resource library includes curriculum guides for both The Post and Schindler’s List, two films that remain highly relevant in the world today. Steven Spielberg, the Oscar-winning director of both films, speaks of the value of bringing these films (and others like them) into classrooms and of the value of carefully crafted corresponding classroom materials.
“Because of Journeys in Film’s meaningful and important work, education begins and continues even after the credits stop rolling. The curriculum guides allow students across the globe to connect personally to themes such as truth in democracy and fighting antisemitism and xenophobia.” Spielberg is a visionary filmmaker who clearly understands the power of film. He lauds the ways that educational extensions can empower teachers to effectively address challenging topics in their classrooms.
The Journeys In Film resource library continues to expand and grow. Just Mercy is among the latest additions to a library that already include favorites like Spielberg’s films mentioned above, Hidden Figures, He Named Me Malala, several National Geographic documentaries, and much more. Many educators have found these resources valuable in the classroom and as inspiration as they consider more ways to utilize film in their lesson plans.
“I will be integrating more films and also creating my own lessons based on the curriculum,” shared one teacher recently. “I am really inspired to teach cross-curricular and thematic units to teach students about practicing compassion and understanding for all cultures,” another educator explains.
As a filmmaker and teaching artist myself, such sentiments inspire me to continue to tell stories with meaning and to highlight the expanded impact films can have when paired with effective educational resources. End-of-year school parties are fun and watching a movie to celebrate an achievement can be great, but unlocking the power of film and watching a student light up in response to a lesson connected with that film is priceless.
Also check out our article on using film to teach about Africa or our article on teaching historical and current events using film
Get your copy of the Schindler's List 4K Blu-ray by clicking here.
Get your copy of the Hidden Figures Blu-ray DVD by clicking here.
This is a partnered post with Journeys in Film
