Create Lesson Plans in Science and Technology
from Movies and Film

Full Length Movies — Short Subjects — Movie Clips — Film Clips — Video Clips — Snippets

Suggested ages are in brackets at the end of each entry. Topics relating to Social Emotional Learning appear after the term "SEL." Moral-Ethical Emphasis is a reference to Character Counts' Six Pillars of Character.

The terms "snippet," "film clip," "movie clip," and "video clip" refer to a movie segment which is less than 40 minutes in length. "Short subjects" are complete movies which are also 40 minutes or less.


A.   Science and Scientific Discoveries -- Lesson Plans and Learning Guides

Lesson Plans:

Scientific Method

The Development of Lorenzo's Oil, Strange Twists of Fate, and the Scientific Method — a mental exercise in applying the scientific method and developing hypotheses in a real world situation — Middle School/Jr. High and High School Science, with particular relevance to Biology;
 

Exponents, Scientific Notation, and Numeral Systems — Snippet Lesson Plan using the short subject Powers of Ten or using film clips from Cosmic Voyage (Math and Science & Technology) [12+: middle and high school levels; Film Clip: 9 minutes; Lesson: not applicable – clips and supplemental materials designed to supplement teachers' existing lesson plans.]


Astronomy

Total Solar Eclipse — Snippet Lesson Plan using a film clip from Dolores Claiborne (Science & Technology/Astronomy) [10+: Middle and High School Levels; Snippet: 1 minute, 35 seconds; lesson: adds 15 minutes to a lesson on total solar eclipse]

Thermonuclear Reactions in the Sun and As a Source of Unlimited Energy for Mankind — Snippet Lesson Plan using film clips from Spiderman 2 (Science & Technology/Astronomy; the Environment; Science Fiction) [12+: Middle School Level; Snippet: approximately eight and 1/4 minutes in two segments. Lesson: approximately 30 minutes]
 

Interstellar and Intergalactic Distances — Snippet Lesson Plan using film clips from Cosmic Voyage (Science & Technology; Astronomy) [10+: middle and high school levels; Film Clip: approximately 12 minutes or a shorter clip of approximately five minutes will also work; Lesson: one 50 minute class period.]


Physics

Harmonic Motion — Snippet Lesson Plan using film clips from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Science & Technology/Physics – harmonic motion) [10+; late elementary to high school; film clips: Pirates of the Caribbean – At World's End: three minutes 30 seconds; Tacoma Bridge Collapse Video on YouTube: four minutes 13 seconds. lesson: Playing the snippets and discussing the examples of harmonic motion described in the Helpful Background section will take about 40 minutes.]
 

Refraction and the Green Flash — Snippet Lesson Plan using film clips from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Science & Technology/Physics) [10+; late elementary to high school; Film Clips: one minute and five seconds, in two segments; three additional optional segments; Lesson: Adds 30 minutes to a class in which the phenomenon of optical refraction is introduced.]


Biology

Evolution — Snippet Lesson Plan using film clips from The Time Machine (Science/Biology; Science-fiction) [13+ Middle School and High School; snippet: 9 minutes; lesson: two class periods]

Migration, Nomadism and Dormancy Lesson Plan using a film clip from Winged Migration (Science; the Environment) [12+]

Complex and Cooperative Ant Behaviors — Snippet Lesson Plan using film clips from Microcosmos (Science-Biology) [5+; grades K - 12; snippet: 4 minutes; lesson: 30 minutes]

Viruses and the Speed of Evolution Using The Relic [14+; snippet: 3 minutes; lesson: 30 minutes.]

Symbiosis and Predation in the World of Insects — Snippet Lesson Plan using "Microcosmos" [5+; grades K - 12; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: one class period]
 

Symbiosis and Predation in the World of Insects — Set-up-the-Sub Lesson Plan using "Microcosmos" [5+; grades K - 12; snippet: 25 minutes; lesson: one class period]

Mosquito Emerging from Pupal Sack — Snippet Lesson Plan using a film clip from Microcosmos (Science-Biology) using "Microcosmos" [10+; snippet: 4 minutes; lesson: 25 minutes]

Predicting Combinations for Alleles in a Zygote Using Punnett Squares — Snippet Lesson Plan based on "Lorenzo's Oil" -- Middle School/Jr. High and High School Biology;


Chemistry

How Does Soap Clean? -- a lesson plan illustrating several different types of atomic and intermolecular bonding -- Middle School/Jr. High and High School Chemistry;

Surface Tension and Molecular Bonds — using a film clip from Microcosmos (Science/Chemistry; molecules; surface tension) [10+; middle school and high school; snippet: 7 minutes (in three segments); lesson: the clips and related discussion will add about fifteen minutes to existing lesson plans.]
 

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions (Redox) Using a Film Clip from Daylight (Science/Chemistry; Oxidation-Reduction Reactions (Redox)) [12+; middle school and high school; snippet: 3 minutes from Daylight and two YouTube sequences; lesson: One 45 to 55 minute class period.]


Earth Science

The Arctic and Antarctica — using a film clip from Planet Earth — Snippet Lesson Plan [10+; snippet: 40 minutes, 30 seconds; Lesson: One and one-half 45 - 55 minute class periods]

Caves and Extremophiles — Snippet Lesson Plan using a film clip from Planet Earth [10+; snippet: 16 minutes, 15 seconds; lesson: 40 minutes]
 

Deep Ocean Dwellers — Snippet Lesson Plan using a film clip from Planet Earth [10+; snippet: 26 minutes; Lesson: One 45 to 55 minute class period]

Volcanoes and Tectonic Plates — Snippet Lesson Plan using a film clip from Volcano [10 - 13; snippet: 20 minutes in three segments; Lesson: two 45 to 55 minute class periods]


Learning Guides from Which Lesson Plans in Science Can Be Easily Created:

Astronomy

Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants    (Biography; Science-Technology; World/Italy & the Renaissance; SEL: Brothers; Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect) [8 - 13]
 


Biology

"Antz" and "A Bug's Life" (Science-Technology; SEL: Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect, Responsibility) [9-12]

Contagion (Health; Medicine; Science-Technology; U.S. 1991 - present; World/Asia; SEL: Courage; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Citizenship) [13+]

Charlotte's Web (Science -- Biology; SEL: Caring for Animals; Friendship; Grieving; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring) [5 - 10]

Finding Nemo (Marine Biology (Science/Technology); SEL: Father/Son; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Respect) [9-12]

Fly Away Home (Health (Grieving); ELA: theme, characterization, back story, allusion, complication; Science(Biology); the Environment; World/Canada; SEL: Grieving; Parenting; Father/Daughter; Caring for Animals; Teamwork; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [10+]
 

Gorillas in the Mist (The Environment; Science-Technology; World/Africa; SEL --- Caring for Animals; Courage; Human Rights; Romantic Relationships; Ethical Emphasis --- Trustworthiness; Respect; Citizenship) [13+]

The Lion King (The Environment; Science/Technology; SEL: Grieving; Redemption; Friendship; Ambition, Running Away; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility) [8 - 11]

March of the Penguins (Science; the Environment; World/Antarctica; SEL: Caring for Animals) [10+]

Never Cry Wolf (Science-Technology, The Environment; U.S./1945 - 1991; Alaska; SEL: Caring for Animals; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [10+]

Outbreak — Snippet Lesson Plan on the Spread of Viral Infection Using Film Clips from Outbreak (Health; Science-Technology (Biology)) [14+]

Viruses and the Speed of Evolution Using The Relic [14+; snippet: 3 minutes; lesson: 30 minutes.]

Winged Migration (Science; the Environment; SEL: Caring for Animals) [12+]


Physics

Einstein: Light to the Power of 2    (Biography; Science-Technology; U.S./1945 - 1991 & Diversity; SEL: Self-esteem; Education; Families in Crisis; Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring) [8 - 13]

Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants    (Biography; Science-Technology; World/Italy & the Renaissance; SEL: Brothers; Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect) [8 - 13]

Isaac Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs    (Biography; Science-Technology; World/England & Enlightenment; Mathematics; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Talent) [8-13]
 

Madame Curie (Biography; Science-Technology; World/France; SEL: Female Role Model; Grieving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [10+]

Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye    (Biography; World/France & WW I; Medicine; Science-Technology; SEL: Female Role Model; Mother/Daughter; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [8 - 12]


B.   Technology and Applied Science Lesson Plans

Learning Guides from Which Lesson Plans in Technology
and Applied Science Can Be Easily Created:


The African Queen (Science-Technology; World/WW I & Africa; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [10+]

Around the World in 80 Days (Science-Technology; World/England; SEL: Gambling Addiction; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility, Respect, Fairness) [8 - 13]

Edison: The Wizard of Light    (Science-Technology; U.S./1865 - 1929; Cinema; Biography; SEL: Talent; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Citizenship) [8 - 13]

Fat Man and Little Boy (U.S./1941 - 1945 & New Mexico; Science-Technology; SEL: Teamwork; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]

The Great Inventors -- Short Subject    -- from the series "This is America Charlie Brown" (U.S./1865 - 1913) [8 - 11; 24 minutes]
 

Leonardo: A Dream of Flight    (Biography; World/Italy & the Renaissance; Science-Technology; Aviation; SEL: Talent; Friendship; Mother/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General) [8 - 11]

October Sky (Aviation & Space Exploration; U.S./1945 - 1991 & West Virginia; Science-Technology; SEL: Parenting; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Breaking Out; Friendship;Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [10+]

The Swiss Family Robinson (Literature; World/Indonesia; Science-Technology; SEL: Families in Crisis; Brothers; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General) [6 - 12]

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Science-Technology; World/Mexico; SEL: Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness) [12+] (Some dialogue is in Spanish)

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (U.S./1945-1991; Science-Technology; Char. Dev: Ambition; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Fairness) [10+]




TeachWithMovies.com Learning Guides are designed to assist teachers in creating lesson plans. Each Learning Guide contains sections on Helpful Background, Benefits of the Movie, Possible Problems, Discussion Questions, and Assignments.

Snippet Lesson Plans are made from short subjects or from "film clips," "movie clips," or "video clips." The video segments of these lesson plans are ideal for classroom use because they are less than 40 minutes long.

Movies and films make the events they portray come alive. TeachWithMovies.com helps teachers and parents make lessons dealing with aviation, flying, and space travel vivid and personal for children.


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