Stories, lessons, recommendations

The Movie Guide Blog

Discover movies worth showing in your classroom, with practical insights on the themes, learning opportunities, and educational value of each one.

Showing 6 posts

Grades 1–4

A Bug's Life (1998): The Pixar Classic That Gets Young Students Working as a Team

A Bug's Life follows Flik, a misfit ant who accidentally loses his colony's food supply and sets off to recruit warriors, only to return with a troupe of hapless circus bugs. Students in grades 1 to 4 are drawn into the story immediately, rooting for Flik from the first scene. This 9-page guide gives them a structured way to engage with the movie through comprehension questions, a storyboard, insect identification, and creative drawing tasks.

6 June 2026Read more →

Grades 1–6

Moana (2016): The Disney Movie That Opens Up Polynesian Mythology for Your Classroom

A warm and adventurous Disney musical about a Polynesian chief's daughter who sets sail across the ocean to save her people, guided by the demigod Maui. Culturally rich, beautifully animated, and full of material that works across multiple year groups.

1 June 2026Read more →

Grades 1–6

Coco in the Classroom: The Pixar Movie That Brings Mexican Culture to Life

A richly animated Pixar adventure about a boy who crosses into the Land of the Dead in search of his musical dream, and discovers the truth about his family along the way. Students come away with genuine curiosity about Mexican culture and traditions that most of them have never encountered before.

1 June 2026Read more →

Grades 1–6

Hoppers (2026): The Pixar Movie That Makes Environmental Science Impossible to Ignore

Pixar's most science-rich movie in years follows a young animal lover who hops her consciousness into a robotic beaver to save a woodland habitat from destruction. Funny, fast-moving, and packed with real educational value for science and environmental classrooms.

29 May 2026Read more →

Grades 1–6

Why The Magic Faraway Tree Belongs in Your Classroom

A warm, magical movie based on Enid Blyton's beloved classic that sparks imagination and opens up rich discussion about family, nature, and the pull of technology. Here's why it works in the classroom, and how my movie guide makes the most of it.

29 May 2026Read more →

Grades 1–6

Why The Emperor's New Groove Belongs in Your Classroom

A brilliantly funny Disney movie that sneaks in genuine lessons about humility, empathy, and personal growth. Here's why it works in the classroom, and how my movie guide makes the most of it.

29 May 2026Read more →