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 19 posts

Grades 9–12

The Martian (2015): The Sci-Fi Survival Story That Connects Problem-Solving Under Pressure and Human Ingenuity

When a dust storm strands astronaut Mark Watney alone on Mars, the movie becomes less about the danger itself and more about how he works through it, one problem at a time, using science, logic, and a fair amount of humor. Based on Andy Weir's novel, The Martian gives students a survival story grounded in real scientific thinking. The guide pairs this with comprehension questions, a storyboard and synopsis task, and a Mars survival game built for group work.

15 June 2026Read more →

Grades 7–12

Unbroken (2014): The WWII Drama That Explores Survival, Perseverance, and the True Cost of War

Unbroken tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, a US Olympic athlete who survived a plane crash over the Pacific, 47 days adrift at sea, and years of brutal treatment in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. It is a demanding watch that rewards students who are ready for it, bringing a remarkable chapter of WWII history to life through one man's experience.

14 June 2026Read more →

Grades 6–10

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013): The Comedy Adventure That Connects Daydream Narrative to the Cost of Playing It Safe

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty follows a quietly ordinary man who has spent years shrinking from the life he actually wants, until one lost photograph forces him to finally step into the world. It is a visually inventive and genuinely funny movie that gives ELA and SEL teachers a lot to work with, particularly around narrative voice, personal growth, and the gap between imagination and action.

11 June 2026Read more →

Grades 7–12

The Book Thief (2013): The WWII Drama That Explores Wartime Indoctrination and the Power of Stolen Stories

Set in WWII Germany, The Book Thief follows young Liesel as she finds solace in stolen books while the world around her grows darker. It is a story that stays with students long after the credits roll, and one that gives English, History, and Social Studies teachers genuine material to work with.

9 June 2026Read more →

Grades 7–12

Hocus Pocus (1993): The Halloween Movie That Connects the Salem Witch Trials to Community Fear and Historical Context

Hocus Pocus has been a classroom Halloween staple for decades, and students consistently show up for it. The Sanderson Sisters, the Salem setting, and the race-against-the-clock plot give teachers a lot to work with, and this guide covers the movie from every angle.

8 June 2026Read more →

Grades 7–10

Jurassic Park (1993): The Classic Movie That Explores the Ethics of Cloning and Scientific Responsibility

Jurassic Park puts students inside a world where scientists have cloned dinosaurs from prehistoric DNA, and then asks what happens when the science goes wrong. The movie raises genuine questions about genetics, ethics, and the limits of human control over nature. This 12-page guide gives students differentiated comprehension questions, a storyboard and synopsis, and a set of creative science-based activities to extend the viewing.

5 June 2026Read more →

Grades 6–10

The Truman Show (1998): The Masterclass That Awakens Students to Media Manipulation, Surveillance, and the Definition of Reality

The Truman Show follows Truman Burbank, a man who has lived his entire life inside a giant television set without knowing it. Every person around him is an actor, every event is staged, and billions of people have been watching him since birth. It is a movie that asks serious questions about reality, consent, and who controls what we see, and it gives students a lot to think and write about.

4 June 2026Read more →

Grades 7–12

The Goonies (1985): The Adventure That Unites Students Around Community and Loyalty

The Goonies follows a group of kids in Astoria, Oregon, who discover a pirate treasure map and set off underground to find a fortune that might save their homes from demolition. It is a fast-moving adventure with genuine stakes, memorable characters, and enough humour and tension to keep a class engaged across its full 114 minutes. The 16-page guide includes a pre-watch writing task, differentiated comprehension questions, character analysis, a storyboard, and two creative writing activities.

4 June 2026Read more →