Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Film Genres for Telling Hero Stories: Narrative Shorts

For Teachers 5th - Higher Ed
Young scholars research that a narrative film tells a story using camera movement, sound, lighting, editing and other film making techniques. The audience must be taken into consideration when making a film. They explore what makes their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Soundtrack of One's Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research a historical person and the time in which he/she lived. They write a biography including images and at least four songs from the time period in which the person lived.
Lesson Plan
The New York Times

Dark Materials: Reflecting on Dystopian Themes in Young Adult Literature

For Teachers 7th - 12th
The Hunger Games. Maximum Ride. Why is so much of young adult literature so dark? What is the appeal of dystopian literature to young readers? The six activities in this resource ask kids to reflect on some of the reasons this genre has...
PPT
Curated OER

Clowns and Mimes

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Unless your class is afraid of clowns, this presentation is sure to interest them. It discusses the history behind clowns, the different types of clowns, and the ways that clowns contribute to the genre of comedy. Use this slide show in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Much Ado About Nothing

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students explore the genre of romantic comedy through their reading of Much Ado About Nothing. In this literary genres lesson, students study the genre of romantic comedy through their reading of Much Ado About Nothing. Students consider...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Behind the Movie Chicago - Lesson 1

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners are introduced to the genre of the musical film. They become aware of the music and dance trends of the 1920s. They identify musical motive as a basis for unity in composition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Science Fiction and Fantasy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students view the videos from the Spellbinder series. They focus on analyzing and thinking critically. Students explore the distinguishing features and conventions of the science fiction and fantasy genres and narrative structure and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Went to the Crossroads: The Faust Theme in Music, Film and Literature

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze song lyrics and discuss Faust theme in musical history. In this thematic instructional activity, students view a film clip and create a song lyric, poem or short story developed around the Faust theme. Students perform...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shrek

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students watch the movie Shrek and compose a text that displays an understanding of the film. Also, they create writing that reflects a critical analysis of content and a personal interpretation of the film's meaning.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

???The Hell of Mirrors??? by Edogawa Rampo

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners read and analyze the story "The Hell of Mirrors," by Edogawa Rampo. They watch a video excerpt, answer discussion questions, construct a periscope, complete handouts, define key vocabulary terms, take a quiz, and write a book...
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

Acting Up, A Melodrama: Performing Like Jo March and Her Sisters in Little Women

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Lights, Camera, Action! Pupils read Little Women and create, act, and direct a melodrama that Jo March and her sisters would enjoy. The lesson plan comes complete with resources for the educator on melodrama as well as examples...
Lesson Plan
Shakespeare in American Life

Patriarchy in King Lear and As I Lay Dying

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
King Lear, “Papa Doc” Duvalier, Colonel Walter E. Kurtz and Anse Bundren? Imagine a unit that examines the tragic hero and patriarchy in King Lear, As I Lay Dying and Apocalypse Now. To liven the brew, learners are asked to include in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integrating Anime and Manga into an Art of Motion Picture Course

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the art of Anime and note its characteristics. Using scenes, they identify the plots, characters and themes trying to be portrayed. In groups, they compare and contrast the animation in America to that of Anime and...
Writing
Breaking News English

The Force Awakens Breaks Pre-Sales Ticket Records

For Students 6th - 8th
May the comprehension skills be with you! Focus on context clues, vocabulary words, and analysis questions with an article about Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its record-breaking ticket sales.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The New Fant-"Asia": Contrasting Animated and Live-Action Filmmaking

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider different stories and story-telling techniques of animated and live-action filmmaking, write proposals for animated films, and storyboard individual scenes.
Lesson Plan
Creative Visions Foundation

Developing a Structure for Documentaries

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Provide some group brainstorming and story-planning time with the fifth lesson in a series on examining and creating documentaries. After you've explained the purpose of each section of a documentary, groups meet to plan the beginning,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Look in the Mythic Mirror: I've Got Rhythm!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners explore the relationships between music, poetry, and visual art. Using the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, pupils develop an awareness of the compositional elements of the Classical style, and the aesthetic effects of those...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Behind the Movie Chicago

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners explore the genre of the musical film and its history. They draw conclusions on relationships between a stage musical and a musical film. They share the results of their research as a class.
Lesson Plan
VH1

Lesson 2: Moulin Rouge

For Teachers 7th - 12th
The pop movie Moulin Rouge was based on the opera La Boheme. Learners watch the last 30 minutes of each musical to compare and contrast social opposites. They'll first discuss the social differences of the main characters and how those...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Memory with Movie Maker

For Teachers 8th - 12th
There is nothing more exciting than allowing learners to express themselves through a creative medium. In groups, they write narrative stories, focusing on building a strong storyline and dialogue. Next, they transform their stories into...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thumbs Up For Movie Reviews

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
If your class loves movies, this lesson is sure to interest them. After discussing the purpose and structure of movie reviews, young writers compose a movie review and discuss why people may read a review before they go see a film. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oliver Twist Goes to Hollywood

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
How does Oliver Twist, the novel written by Charles Dickens, compare with its screenplay adaptation? Although the activity doesn't require learners to have read the novel, the similarities and differences of the highlighted passages...
Unit Plan
EngageNY

Grade 12 ELA Module 4: Literary Analysis

For Teachers 12th Standards
Does identity come from within, or do external forces shape it? Explore the complex identity concept with a two-unit module for 12th-grade language arts. The first unit uses A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and "A Daily Joy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crime Drama Teaching Units

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the nature of crime dramas on television. What exactly are they trying to portray? Questions and a comparison chart support learners as they watch shows from Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. An oral presentation...