Cesar Chavez Movie Guide | Questions | Labor | Worker's Rights (PG13 - 2014)

This Cesar Chavez Movie Guide | Questions | Labor | Worker’s Rights (PG13 – 2014) covers a gripping story about the struggle for farm workers’ rights in the 1960s. Explore Cesar’s relationship with his son Fernando. Ask students to put themselves in the shoes of main characters and relate to them using their own experiences. Discuss the power of boycotting and how Chavez used it. Finally, think like a director and debate how the use of real footage from the 1960’s affects the viewer.

Check the thumbnails for high resolution sample questions to see if this movie guide is suitable for your students. This resource consists of 11 high-level, short answer reflection and essay questions that will do more than just ask your students to regurgitate information.

This resource is meant to supplement the viewing of Cesar Chavez (IMDb). See the Parents Guide for content details.

Cesar Chavez for the Classroom | Quick Facts

Movie Plot (for teachers)

The biopic traces Cesar Chavez’s organizing among farmworkers, highlighting strikes, boycotts, and coalition-building. It’s a ready bridge to lessons on civil disobedience, collective action, and rhetorical strategy—useful for DBQs and claim‑evidence‑reasoning writing.

Teacher Guidance

1. Print one, double‑sided guide per student and preview each question before resuming the film.
2. Use designated pause points to analyze rhetoric, audience, and media framing of labor actions.
3. Encourage debate and collaborative discussion; require cite‑and‑explain responses—discourage copying.
4. Rewind key scenes as needed to model close viewing and evidence gathering.

What’s Included

• Student movie guide (PDF print, 4 pages)
• Answer Key (4 pages)
• Google Slides version (make-a-copy link)
• CCSS alignment one-pager (PDF, 1 page)

Need a movie permission slip? Download the free editable template.

This independent educational resource is not affiliated with or endorsed by the film’s producers or distributors. Teachers are responsible for previewing content to ensure suitability for their students.