Movies for Learning: Contagion

Contagion 

Using the movie Contagion was a great way to explore science topics related to pandemics. This movie helped us to understand how pandemics can spread and how societies might treat and try to contain the virus'. It was an interesting exploration of this area of science. We also took a look at world population, politics and the challenges behind creating and distributing cures. Looking at how anarchy can quickly ensue during a disaster was also part of our discussions.

This was a great movie for combining so many elements of learning!

I used this movie with students long before the Covid19 virus pandemic. It is timely now! 
Here are the questions for Contagion.

Blessings!
Natalie

Movies for Learning: The Mask of Zorro

The Mask of Zorro

Our next Movies for Learning led us into discussions about social justice issues, the Mexican-American War, California, Eldorado, heroism and the nature of oppression in any society. We also looked at the literary elements in the film including irony and creating suspense. Great discussions came from this fun movie with a serious side. The students really enjoyed it.

Here are the questions from The Mask of Zorro.

Blessings! Natalie

Movies for Learning: Kidnapped

Movies for Learning - Kidnapped

Our next movie this year was Kidnapped. There are many screen versions of this classic book by Robert Louis Stevenson. Here is the version we used.

"When Scottish young gentleman David Balfour's father dies, he leaves school to collect his inheritance from uncle Ebenezer, who in turn sells the boy as a future slave to a pirate ship. When staunch Stuart dynasty supporter Alan Breck Stewart accidentally boards the ship, he takes David along on his escape back to Edinburgh. They part and meet again repeatedly, mutually helpful against the Redcoats and respectful, although David is loyal to the English crown, but learns about its cruel oppression. Both ultimately face their adversaries." (IMDb)

I hope your students enjoy it.
The questions for Kidnapped are here.
Blessings,
Natalie

Movies for Learning: The Patriot

The Patriot

https://goo.gl/images/pP5fGq

It's a new school year and I have new students! So that means some new movies ;) I will be posting a variety of new movies with questions that you can ask your students to begin a discussion about history and science topics! Our first new movie I used to explore the American Revolution was The Patriot. All of the students really enjoyed this movie and the discussion from it. 
Here are the questions. 
Blessings, Natalie

Using Comix to Explain Antiheroes

One of my high school students used Make Beliefs Comix to explain antiheroes. Learning about antiheroes challenges students with who heroes are - and how they fit into literature. In this comic, she has given the antihero a change of heart and he becomes a (somewhat) hero in the end.

Make Beliefs Comix has a wide range of free settings, characters and props to create comics for a wide variety of purposes. Here are some lessons and a long list of ideas from their website. Make Beliefs also has a great section for Special Needs.

World Debt Clock Hyperdoc

I have done some form of this activity with several of my students and they have learned a lot about the debt in other countries as well as in Canada! We have explored the student's own solutions for the debt problem and extended this to a compare and contrast project of two or more countries culminating with an infographic. 

This gives Grade 9+ students the opportunity to work with real world statistics and do some critical thinking and research to extend those statistics into real world solutions. This activity encourages critical and creative thinking as well as statistical analysis. 

Here is the World Debt Clock Hyperdoc. It is in a Google Slides format but you can easily download as a PDF if you prefer. 

Blessings,
Natalie