Determining Theme
— Using a Film Clip from "Pink Floyd: The Wall"
Subject: ELA: Theme;
Ages: 14+; High School Level;
Length: Clip: fifteen minutes; Lesson: three 45 - 55 minute class periods.
Excerpts from the Complete Snippet Lesson Plan
Learner Outcomes/Objectives: Students will learn a method for determining theme and will write a thematic statement in a paragraph or an essay. They can also be asked to write compositions of various types on topics suggested by the clip.
Rationale: Deriving theme is an important skill required by most ELA curriculum standards. An explication of the clip enables students to practice deriving theme and writing compositions using subject matter of interest and value.
Description of the Film Clip: "Pink Floyd: The Wall" is a dark, expressionistic musical structured around the memories of Pink, a depressed British rock musician. As a young boy, Pink suffered from the effects of his father's death in WW II, a distracted and distant mother, and a repressive and unresponsive school system. In the clip, a young Pink tries to express himself in writing, only to be ridiculed by his teacher and his fellow students. He escapes through fantasies of a factory/school in which faceless automaton children are processed on a conveyor belt which takes them to a meat grinder. The students then riot, singing "We don't need no education", and burn down the school. When the building is ablaze, they throw the teacher into the flames. This powerful clip contains striking visuals, evocative music, and simple, forceful lyrics. The images are dark, the hopelessness palpable.
Note that the themes derived from the clip are different than the theme of the overall film, which focuses on how Pink builds a wall to insulate himself from the pain he experiences in the world.
USING THE FILM CLIP IN THE CLASSROOM
Preparation
1. Preview the film clip and find its exact location. In the newer releases of the movie, the scene selection can be complicated.
2. While previewing the clip decide whether to give an introduction. A proposed introduction is set out below. Some teachers play the clip without an introduction.
3. Review and, if appropriate, edit or supplement TWM's "Worksheet on Pink Floyd: The Wall" (available to TWM subscribers). The worksheet contains many discussion topics and there may not be time to cover them all.
Step by Step
1. Introduce the lesson, telling the class what is going to be taught and why the lesson is important. A suggestion for an introduction for this Snippet Lesson Plan is set out below.
Today we're going to do another exercise in understanding the theme of a work, only this time we're going to find the theme in a movie. Often, movie makers are concerned with conveying a message to their audience. People who watch movies without being able to understand those messages miss a lot of what the director and the actors are trying to tell them. The process for determining the theme of a movie is the same as for a written work.
2. Introduce the clip by giving the class the following information. . . . .
The Snippet Lesson Plan continues with a proposed introduction, a worksheet, exercises, and assignments relating to the determination of theme in a work of fiction.
TeachWithMovies.com's Movie Lesson Plans and Learning Guides are used by thousands of teachers in their classrooms to motivate students. They provide background and discussion questions that lead to fascinating classes. Parents can use them to supplement what their children learn in school.
Each film recommended by TeachWithMovies.com contains lessons on life and positive moral messages. Our Guides and Lesson Plans show teachers how to stress these messages and make them meaningful for young audiences.
Snippet Lesson Plans are based on short subjects or film clips. They are ideal for classroom use because the video segments are less than 40 minutes in length.
Each TWM Snippet Lesson Plan Contains:
- Learner Outcomes/Objectives
- Rationale
- Preparation
- Exact Location of the Clip in the Movie, Film or Video
- Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Clip in the Classroom
|
Some Snippet LPs simply identify film clips and Internet resources. Others are complete lesson plans with introductions, handouts, discussion questions, and summative assessments.
Learning Guides Feature the Following Sections:
|
- Benefits
- Possible Problems
- Helpful Background
- Building Vocabulary
|
- Discussion Questions
- Links to Internet
- Bridges to Reading
- Assignments & Projects
|
Learning Guides help teachers develop or improve their own lesson plans to maximize students' classroom experience. Many also feature introductions, handouts, and summative assessments.
$1 per month ($11.99 per year) for
Lesson Plans and Learning Guides to hundreds of films.
SUPPLEMENT SCHOOL CURRICULUM!
PROMOTE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING!
More suggestions about the beneficial use of movies in the Classroom and to supplement curricula are added on a regular basis!
A movie clip from "Pink Floyd: The Wall" is an excellent tool for teaching students to derive theme.
A subscription to TeachWithMovies.com will give teachers access to 350 Snippet Lesson Plans, Learning Guides, and Movie Lesson Plans. Subscribe Today and inspire classes with TWM's Snippet Lesson Plan for Determining Theme Using a Film Clip from "Pink Floyd: The Wall"
Already a Member? Login Here
