Fostering Growth and Inclusivity in K-12 Schools Through Film
Movies are more than just entertainment. They provide windows to different worlds, showcase diverse perspectives and can be powerful tools for education and fostering personal growth. For K-12 schools looking to enhance their curricular and extracurricular activities, films offer a wide-variety of opportunities. Below, discover ways to use films to enhance Social Emotional Learning (SEL), diversity and inclusivity in your school community, as well as for student rewards.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is vital for students' emotional, social and academic success. Incorporating SEL activities into classroom and PTA settings can help students understand and manage their emotions, build relationships, and make decisions. Movies are a great option for supporting students’ social-emotional skills. Regardless of grade level, many films can be used to help children and teens understand their emotions or the characters’ feelings, as well as helping them developing empathy by reflecting on the content afterwards.
Here are some related activities teachers or PTAs could consider:
Emotion Wheel Activity: Have students fill out an emotion wheel about how they’re feeling before the movie. After the film, have students fill it out again and discuss any shifts in feelings or emotions. This can lead to discussions about how stories and scenarios impact our emotions.
Art Reflection: Allow students to create art pieces that reflect their interpretations or feelings about the movie. It can be a drawing, sculpture or even a short story.
Role Play: Let students re-enact certain pivotal scenes from the movie but with alternative actions or endings. This allows them to consider different emotional responses and outcomes.
Diversity and Inclusivity
Celebrating differences and understanding diverse backgrounds is key in fostering an inclusive environment. Movies can serve as powerful gateways to discussions about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). By integrating film-related DEI activities into K12 curricula or after-school programs, educators can engage students in thoughtful conversations, expand their worldviews, and build a more inclusive community.
Here are some movie-related DEI activities suitable for K-12 students:
Film Festival: Organize a DEI film festival where students can watch and discuss a series of movies over a week. Include student-led Q&A sessions after each screening.
Cultural Journaling: After watching a movie that explores a specific culture or tradition, students can write journal entries reflecting on the similarities and differences between the depicted culture and their own.
Cinema Pen Pals: Collaborate with another school (possibly in a different country or state) to watch the same DEI films and have students exchange letters or emails discussing their thoughts.
Student Rewards
Recognizing and celebrating student achievements is essential for motivation. And movies are a great motivator. Not only do they provide students with a well-deserved break or reward, but they combine entertainment while still retaining some educational value. Discover our top picks for “Reel Rewards” below, as well as programming ideas to inspire, teach and commend students’ efforts!
Here are some related activities teachers or PTAs could consider:
Red Carpet Entrance: Set up a red carpet (it could just be red butcher paper) for the students to walk down as they enter the venue. If possible, take photos, just like the paparazzi!
Vote on Snacks: Allow students to vote on the snacks they'd like during the movie a few days before the screening. This can be done via a simple survey or by raising hands.
Discussion Groups: While the movie is meant as a reward, it can still be a source of good discussion. Ask students about their favorite scenes, characters and lessons they might have taken away.
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