How to Learn with Movies

Students, as well as parents get laxed during summer time, but perhaps you still want to encourage your students to continue learning. I heard about a father who's son did not want to return to school, he was bored. So the father made a deal. As long as the son watched three movies a week with him he would not bother him with anything else. This is an excellent idea for older and younger students. Using movies to learn about various subjects. In fact entire lesson plans can be developed based on a movie.

There are even online resources centered on this. See teachwithmovies.org

It is said that teaching with movies make learning exciting, and provides opportunity for character education in so many subjects.

Searching the web I listed some of my favorite movies in which one can also use as an excellent learning tool.

Learning with movies provides opportunity for creativity, such as costume design, skits or mini movies based on movies, learning about different places and geography, compare with a book of the same movie, and even learning vocabulary of a new language.

1. Amistad is a wonderful movie in the 1800's that teaches about diversity, citizenship, human rights and more. Appropriate for ages 14+

2. Edge of America is a sports themed movie, with a late 1900's setting. It provides an opportunity for students to learn about Native Americans, African Americans, Respect, Responsibility and more. This movie is appropriate for ages 12+

3. Hotel Rwanda is a movie based on a true story; it takes place during the 1990's around the Post-Cold War. It teaches students about citizenship, struggle, and more. Appropriate for ages 14+

4. The Jackie Robinson Story is a Biography about baseball player Jackie Robinson. It provides boys with a male role model, and teaches respect, trustworthiness, moral-ethics and more. Appropriate for ages 8+

5. Remember the Titans is also based on a true story. It will is about a football team that learns to overcome racism, and diversity. Provides good role models for boys ages 11+

There are many movies that can be used as learning opportunities. So take a little time this summer, stay cool and go rent a few movies with your kids. Let them pic a few and you pick a few as well.

Make sure that the movies you select are age appropriate, and entertaining as well.

It helps to know what your student is interested in at the time. Perhaps its sports, or fashion, or movie making themselves.

Just because its summer time , does not mean the learning has to stop.