Saturday, December 20, 2014

Movies for Rainy Days (You Can Thank Me Later)

The beginning of the school year is fast approaching; I start orientation at a new school tomorrow!  Where did the summer go??

James and I enjoying our last moments of Summer!
As teachers, our goal is always to present meaningful, well planned lessons.  However, there are days when it rains and we are responsible for indoor recess, and let's face it, there are also days that we just don't feel like teaching.  Sometimes we are just too sick, tired, or frustrated to implement lessons so we end up fumbling  around Neflix looking for something appropriate to put on The Smartboard.

This doesn't mean that we are 'bad teachers;' it means that we are human and susceptible to life's challenges.  However, your students don't have to stop learning because you are having an off day.  The following films are proven crowd favorites that are guaranteed to get your students thinking and talking.  They can also be integrated into thematic units for Middle and High-School students.

(Plus, if you aren't a teacher or student these films are perfect when you need a break from Rachet T.V.)

Social Justice:
1. The Harvest- This film is about a few of the 400,000 children who work as migrant laborers in the United States.  It will make your students think twice before they complain about anything being "too hard."


2. Hoop Dreams- "Hoop Dreams" is a favorite with my students.  On the surface it is about basketball, but deeper themes such as educational inequality, poverty, and family instability make it worth watching.  Asking students to research where the main characters are today is an interesting follow-up project.



3. The Central Park Five- Ken Burns's documentary about The Central Park Jogger case is about the failure of both the justice system and the media in New York City.  I show this film when teaching The Crucible and discussing false confessions.  This film would also work well paired with To Kill a Mockingbird.

4. Bully-My students were riveted by this documentary from beginning to end.  It was important for them to think about the factors that motivate bullying and the damaging impact that it can have on individuals and families.  I was also interesting for them to get a glimpse of  life in large Middle-American schools different from their own.

Crime:
5. Newburg Sting- This HBO documentary is about the case of four accused Islamic terrorists in The Bronx.  Were these men even Muslims?  Is this a case of entrapment or federal law enforcement at its best?  Did the FBI create the crime that they were trying to prevent?


6. The Impostor-  If your students are interested in psychology or true crime stories they will love The Impostor. It is the story of a French trickster who pretends to be a missing American child-and the supposedly heart-broken parents who went went along with his ruse.


Global Studies:

7. The First Grader- I love this movie!  "The First Grader" tells the story of an 84 year old Kenyan man attempting to go back to school in order to learn how to read; it is wonderfully sentimental without being corny.  "The First Grader"also  gives students a sense of Kenyan history, focusing on the fight against colonialism.


8. Mandela-This was one of the most underrated films of 2013.  It gives a nuanced portrayal of Nelson Mandela and the history of apartheid in South Africa.  This is a must-see  (and I'm not just saying that because Idris Elba is in it).


9. Elevate- Elevate is an amazing story of West African students who travel to the U.S. to play basketball, attend prep school, and hopefully make it to the NBA. It is relatable to anyone who has experienced a major transition.


Animals and The Environment
10. Black Fish: This documentary will single-handedly change the way that Sea World does business.  Animals are not my thing, but this film was extremely thought provoking in it's exploration of human interaction with killer whales.  If your students are into this, they probably will also enjoy The Cove.


11. Grizzly Man: Hauntingly narrated by Werner Herzog, "Grizzly Man" is the story of Timothy Tredwell and his eventual death at the hands (paws?) of the bears that he dedicated his life to protecting.  "Grizzly Man" demonstrates how humans often project their own thoughts and desires onto animals.


12. The Elephant in the Living Room: Who knew that there are more tigers living in homes in the United States than in India?  This is the story of wild animals living as pets and the unconventional people who keep them.


Politics and Economics:
13. The Queen of Versailles: I watched this in conjunction with teaching The Great Gatsby. "The Queen of Versailles" will make students think about the American financial system and the people who benefit from (and are handicapped by) it.


The Art of the Tale: 
14. The Beasts of the Southern Wild: Quvenzhane Ellis is riveting as Hushpuppy, a young girl living in a small Louisiana community called The Bathtub.  This film is the perfect vehicle for teaching metaphor and symbolism.  Students will love watching the relationship between Hushpuppy  and her father, and they will get excited by the fantasy elements in the film.


15. The Village: "The Village" is another underrated film that will have your students squirming and screaming in their seats.  I usually show it after I finish teaching The Giver to illustrate the concepts of Utopia and Dystopia.


I hope that all of my former students and teacherfriends have a great school year!
Candace

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