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: Far From the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd

https://goo.gl/images/zJ3H5s

Besides being a wonderful character study of unique complex characters, Far From the Madding Crowd allowed us a chance to talk about women's rights, child labour, mental illness and abuse. Our students enjoyed the contrast of the men in Bathsheba's life and it helped to draw out other issues.
This I would say, was one of my favourite discussions, only because I wasn't sure how this movie would be received. 

Here are the questions for Far From the Madding Crowd.

Blessings,
Natalie

Movies for Learning: Anna and the King

Anna and the King

https://goo.gl/images/dUvkqF

Our next Movies for Learning session Anna and the King was a great one to explore Dictatorship vs. Monarchy and where the line was drawn between those two political philosophies. There were many struggles in this movie and many scenes to draw out other themes such as honour, love, freedom and humility. The students really enjoyed it!

Here are the questions for Anna and the King.
Blessings,
Natalie

Movies for Learning: McFarland, USA

McFarland, USA 

www.wikipedia.org

McFarland, USA was a great movie to discuss our attitude toward life despite poverty or circumstances. This movie was a great way to look at what makes home and a feeling of belonging. We also were able to talk about labour laws and how we look at work. Though I wouldn't say this was a favourite of the students, we still had a rich discussion. 

Here are the questions for McFarland, USA.

Movies for Learning: The Emperor's Club

The Emperor's Club 

www.wikipedia.org

Our next session in Movies for Learning was The Emperor's Club. There were many ethical dilemmas in this movie and our students took hold and struggled with their own ethical judgement! Following the lives of Mr. Hundert and his students brought ethics to the forefront of how to live life. It was a great discussion time! 

Here are the questions for The Emperor's Club.

Movies for Learning: Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday

https://www.amazon.com

Our next few movies will be about ethics - starting with Roman Holiday. This movie was a favourite of many of our students. There were enough ethical struggles in it to make it an interesting discussion and the overall characters and plot made this a winner!

Here are the questions for Roman Holiday.

Movies For Learning: The Good Lie

The Good Lie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Lie

Our next movie this year based on our theme of Social Justice was The Good Lie. This was a great movie and really was timely based on issues of refugees and immigration. The students had their eyes opened in this movie! 

Here are the questions for The Good Lie.

Movies for Learning: Cry Freedom

Cry Freedom - Social Justice - Apartheid

Amazon.com

This was an excellent movie to explore the social justice issue of Apartheid. Our students really enjoyed this one and especially because it was a true story. They were moved by the men and women that were highlighted through this movie. I would certainly recommend this movie for High School students studying social justice issues.

Here are the questions for Cry Freedom.

Movies for Learning: The Interpreter

The Interpreter - Social Justice - Genocide

Wikipedia

We met and discussed the movie The Interpreter as a way to tackle the issue of Genocide. This year we are going to be looking at a wide range of both social justice and ethics issues. This first movie was an OK beginning. Some students enjoyed it, others not so much. The students thought that we were diving in a little deeper this year and really liked that! I look forward to a wide range of great movies ahead!

Here are the questions for The Interpreter.

Movies for Learning: Selma

Selma 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma_(film)

Our last movie of the 2015/16 year was Selma. There was so much to discuss in the film, not only about civil rights but about Martin Luther King as he was portrayed in this movie. 

There is so much power in a film like this for our students. They see how one person can make a difference in the world and change things for the better. I hope that your students will also enjoy Selma.

Here are the questions for Selma.

We have lots more great films lined up for next year as we look at Social Justice issues around the world. I think it is going to be an awesome year for discussion and challenges as our students graduate and move into adulthood. Stay tuned in the fall! Blessings! Natalie

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men

www.imdb.com

Our next movie, a real classic was set in the early 1950's with a jury getting ready to give a verdict. 
It was really a thinking movie with lots to discuss! 

www.youtube.com

We discussed all kinds of topics from capital punishment to reasonable doubt. We discussed our justice system and group decision making in all kinds of areas. This was a rich discussion that was challenging for all. 

Here are the questions for 12 Angry Men.

Merchant of Venice Literature Learning Camp #2

We started with Shakespeare Poetry - the Rhyme Scheme of a sonnet is ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG 

Using this outline for the sonnets, they created a sonnet in groups of 3 or 4. 

I divided this Shakespeare magnetic poetry kit into 4 groups using baking sheets for the students to build their sonnets. Some used many of the words others only used some, but all did a great job! 

It was challenging doing a complete poem, but some teams managed it. Others did just one quatrain. 

We reviewed the types of characters - I used this list and the character list from this unit study and had the students mark the characters with one or more of the traits.

I was hoping the students would get to this Character Analysis, but there just wasn’t time. If your student is interested in doing it here is the link. 

I had the students pick an index card for their group on the cards I reversed the religion of each of the main characters and then the groups were to discuss how would the plot be different if the religion of their characters was different? For example… How would the plot have been different if Shylock had been a Christian or if Antonio had been a Jew etc? These were great discussion starters with the students. 

The students then did another run-through of the play getting prepared for next week's dress rehearsal and performance.

Merchant of Venice Literature Learning Camp #1

Many of our students had seen this version of the Merchant of Venice from the Globe Theatre in London. Our local theatre streamed it, so it was great to be able to see it direct from the Globe. 

https://goo.gl/images/ovmSVu

Large Group - Opening exercise - what do you know about Shakespeare? I had the students tell me anything they could about Shakespeare. I read some interesting facts ahead of time and tried to inspire them with some ideas. 

Large Group -  Agree or disagree using this provided form. I had the students go through these questions and decide for themselves what their opinions were. We then discussed each of the points from Penguin Publishing.

In Pairs or threes at most - word connections - using the provided form. I gave an example using Pride and Prejudice so the students would know what I was after. 

In groups of 4-5 max. - 20 minutes (15 mins plus 5 mins for recap) - Anti Semitism - from ADL Statistics: What are the key factors in the world today? How about in Shakespeare’s time? I provided the students with the statistics of a country and of Canada and asked them to make connections based on their country. Here are the questions.

In groups of 4-5 max - 20 minutes

Usury and The Merchant of Venice: We addressed this theme and basis in the plot of Merchant of Venice. Most of the students hadn’t heard of Usury before so it was challenging for them to understand this. 

The students did a read-through of the play and learned about their characters and the plot.

Sweatshop Labour and Ethical Fashion Show Co-op

Our last Co-op was an awesome exploration the Asian Floor Wage, Ethical Fashion and Sweatshop Labour.

First I had the students watch this video and we talked about the floor wage and how that would affect each country depending on costs of living.  

We then as a large group compared statistics of the Asia Floor Wage and what a Living Wage is in a variety of countries and discussed the poorest paid countries. I used these statistics.

Together we looked at this political cartoon and discussed the implications of totally boycotting sweatshop labour: 

The students then got into groups of four to create a fashion show. They brought a variety of clothing with them. I adapted this idea for our Sweatshop Fashion Show: 

Here is the document that the groups used to create the commentary for their fashion show. They were to have one model with ethically responsible clothing and one model with non-ethically responsible clothing.

Here is the main information that they used to assess their fashions. 

I think that this session helped our students to look at clothing in a different way. Hopefully, they learned more about the fashion industry and the idea of living wages and floor wages. 

They certainly learned those companies that have changed their practices over the past 10 years. They also learned about those companies who have full disclosure and who have signed either the FLA - (Fair Labour Associations) guidelines or the ETI - (Ethical Trading Initiative).