Film Studies & Movie Analysis Elective Curriculum for High School | Semester 2 | SAVE 20%

This Film Studies & Movie Analysis Elective Curriculum Semester 2 is a complete, standards-aligned film-analysis for entry-level high school classes (and mixed-readiness groups). This curriculum prioritizes clear scaffolds, broad appeal, and school-friendly films that are easy to stream and find.

Easy access to films (with subtitles):

Core titles in this curriculum are available on the three major platforms most classrooms already use: Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. Subtitles/closed captions are excellent on all three services, supporting multilingual learners and accessibility. (See Film Availability reminder for more below) s of 2025, every featured film is streaming on one or more of these platforms; however, catalogs change, so teachers should verify availability before the lesson day and have a backup plan if a title rotates.)

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Semester 2 Outline:

Unit 5 — War Movies + Cinematography (Extension)

• 1917 (R – 2019) — A survival mission told with an immersive “one-shot” style. Students examine how camera movement, sound, and production design create urgency; they discuss leadership under pressure and the accuracy of trench warfare.
• Midway (PG-13 – 2019) — Intelligence, air–sea strategy, and decision-making. Students analyze codebreaking (Rochefort), preparedness debates, and how point-of-view edits shape our understanding of risk and outcome.
• Unbroken (PG-13 – 2014) — Communication, resilience, and ethics under duress. Students track choices that keep people alive, evaluate leadership and peer influence, and interpret language that signals power and intimidation.
• The Six Triple Eight (PG-13 – 2024) — Leadership, logistics, and morale. Students study how indexing systems and workflow solve the WWII mail backlog; they analyze scenes of racism/sexism, evidence-based advocacy, and figurative lines that reveal purpose and grief.

Unit 6 — Historical Biographies + Cinematography (Extension)

• Hamilton (PG-13 – 2020) — Rhetoric, rivalry, and the power of writing. Students compare Burr and Hamilton, unpack cabinet debates, and connect mantras and staging to character development; they reference primary documents.
• Hidden Figures (PG – 2016) — Access, recognition, and technical literacy. Students map obstacles to strategies and outcomes for Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson; they argue how data and advocacy change policy.
• Remember the Titans (PG – 2000) — Coaching styles, culture change, and team unity. Students compare Boone and Yoast, analyze symbolism and music, and extract practical lessons for breaking barriers in schools and communities.
• McFarland, USA (PG – 2015) — Adaptation, community, and purpose. Students evaluate how a coach changes course, why success matters to this team, and what strong community support looks like.
• Queen of Katwe (PG – 2016) — Mentorship, agency, and opportunity. Students debate competing adult perspectives, connect chess concepts to life choices, and analyze how travel and exposure reshape goals.

Unit 7 — Literary Classics + Theme (Extension)

• Holes (PG – 2003) — Institutions and consequences at Camp Green Lake, the gap between “builds character” and practice, names and labels as social armor, justice and redemption in the Sam–Kate thread, symbolism that carries meaning (onions, rain), and friendship expressed through action.
• Treasure Island (PG – 1950) — Law, status, and early judgment; suspense craft (the “black spot”); leadership and rumor in the run-up to mutiny; Long John Silver’s persuasive rhetoric; risk, strategy, and moral responsibility.
• Of Mice and Men (PG-13 – 1992) — Friendship and dependence, power and prejudice on the ranch, foreshadowing that builds dread, blame and mercy after tragedy, and the ethics behind George’s final choice.
• A Christmas Carol (PG – 2009) — Money, empathy, and social responsibility; competing philosophies of Christmas; lessons from Past/Present/Future; what authentic change looks like and how to “keep Christmas well” beyond a single holiday.

Unit 8 — Shakespeare in Movies + Theme (Extension)

• 10 Things I Hate About You (PG-13 – 1999) — High-school labels and power, boundaries in authority at school and home, deception and consent in deal-making, what repair requires, and a clear map from The Taming of the Shrew to modern character and theme.
• West Side Story (PG-13 – 2021) — Neighborhood change, belonging, and policing; vows of loyalty and their cost; choreography and lyrics as arguments; responsibility after the rumble; a closing image about grief and the possibility of change.
• Hamlet (PG – 1990) — Grief and hesitation, line-level meaning in Shakespearean language, conscience vs. revenge, strategies to expose guilt, Gertrude’s role in the harm that follows, and character contrasts with Laertes.
• The Lion King (G – 1994) — Competing leadership philosophies, the “Circle of Life” as an ethical frame, guilt and avoidance in a coming-of-age arc, and whether “Hakuna Matata” helps or hinders growth.
• Macbeth (R – 2015) — Prophecy and ambition, persuasion between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, guilt in image and language, equivocation and false security, and how illegitimate power corrodes people and the state.

What’s included (teacher-ready & customizable)

• Planning & pacing for each quarter and unit (day-by-day breakdowns that align with movie guides and extension activities).
• Movie Guides - Student Copy (SC) & Answer Key (AK) for every title with short-answer and evidence-based writing prompts.
• Extension strands that spiral across the year and include student presentations:
• Cinematography & Student Presentations — Students master six core elements—exposure, mise en scène, camera movement, camera angles, shot size, and color/lighting. In small teams they research sub-elements (e.g., aperture, rule of thirds, dolly vs. zoom, Dutch angle, ECU, key light), present with scene stills or sketches, and then apply the vocabulary to annotated moments from each week’s film. They close with a short write-up that explains how specific visual choices shape emotion, theme, and viewer attention.
• Theme & Student Presentations — Students move beyond topic lists to write precise, declarative theme statements supported by scenes, symbols, and dialogue. They sort major vs. minor themes, refine word choice for nuance, and present a short “Name-that-Theme” talk where peers infer the film from evidence. The strand reinforces clear claims, succinct explanation, and on-the-spot discussion grounded in film details.
• Assessments for each unit: Two Comparative Analyses and a Summative Assessment task:
  • Unit 5 — War Movies + Cinematography | Summative Preview: Students define four war-film categories (e.g., glorify/critique × realistic/unrealistic), place unit films on the matrix with scene-based evidence, and argue both the industry value of each category and which approach they find most effective.
  • Unit 6 — Historical Biographies + Cinematography | Summative Preview: Students build a chronological timeline of key events or lessons across the unit’s films, each with a concise explanation of significance, and briefly present or discuss choices with a partner.
  • Unit 7 — Literary Classics + Theme | Summative Preview: Students research multiple leadership styles and evaluate one character per film, matching styles to actions and outcomes with specific scene evidence.
  • Unit 8 — Shakespeare in Movies + Theme | Summative Preview: Students either map minor themes across the unit and write a short comparative analysis, or creatively translate an iconic moment for a target audience with a rationale; an optional intergenerational interview deepens perspective.

Standards alignment (ELA strands)

Every unit targets Common Core Anchor Standards across Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language. Strand-by-strand coverage (R.1–R.9, W.1–W.9, SL.1–SL.3, L.4–L.5) with explicit standards called out on each Movie Guide and assessment.

Digital or Print—your choice

• Digital workflow: Turn on Drive › Settings › “Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format,” then drag in the folder. Docs/Slides are ready for Classroom.
• Print workflow: DOCX and PPTX files are classroom-ready; print slide decks via File → Print → Handouts → 2 per page.

Film Availability Reminder:

As of 2025, every featured film is streaming on one or more of these platforms; however, catalogs change, so teachers should verify availability before the lesson day and have a backup plan if a title rotates. Movie titles were selected that have a high chance of remaining on these platforms unlike some movies that are only available for a limited time. We include a simple spreadsheet that shows which of the 3 platforms (Disney+ / Netflix / Amazon Prime Video) every movie is currently (2025) streaming on.

Does K12MovieGuides offer two full Film Elective Curriculum Options?

Yes! Read below to find out which one is best for your needs?

Film Studies & Movie Analysis: a plug-and-play film curriculum that every class can access?

• This is a lighter, more accessible companion to our original program—built for introductory learners and mixed-readiness classes. It uses mainstream, easy-to-stream films available on the big three platforms (Disney+ / Netflix / Amazon Prime Video) with strong subtitles for accessibility.
• Audience: Grades 9–12 general ELA, newcomers, co-taught classes.
• Content: School-friendly slate (mostly G–PG-13), with only two R-rated titles
• Scope: 36 movie guides, one simple schedule (no alternates to juggle), streamlined comparative tasks.
• Standards: Hits core CCSS strands while keeping cognitive load manageable.

Film as Literature & Cinematic Arts: a deep-dive, university-prep experience with canonical titles.

• This is designed for college-level or highly skilled high school students who thrive on challenging texts and seminar-style analysis. It features more mature, gold-standard films widely recognized for film-study rigor.
• Audience: Honors, AP bridge, dual-enrollment, advanced electives.
• Content: Heavier themes and academic film language; titles chosen for canonical significance and depth.
• Scope: 45 movie guides (vs. 36 in the other edition), with alternate schedules and assessments to support varied pacing and deeper comparative work.
• Outcomes: Extended research, richer theory/application, and sustained argumentative writing—ideal for students aiming at college-level analysis.

How can I contact K12MovieGuides?

Feel free to email us anytime at k12movieguides@gmail.com

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to use all of the films included in each unit?

A: No, although it is recommended. When another film not included is more desirable for your students, it should be noted that teachers may need to prepare movie viewing questions and adjust any activities or assessments to reflect the content of the substituted film.

Q: Can Film Studies & Movie Analysis Curriculum be substituted to fulfill high school graduation requirements for an English Language Arts course?

A: Film Studies & Movie Analysis Curriculum was written with the purpose of supporting elective or enrichment selections at the high school level. Therefore, not all Common Core English Language Arts standards are explicitly introduced and spiraled as would be expected with a more traditional English course. However, K12Movieguides.com recommends working with your school or district if there is interest in using Film Studies & Movie Analysis Curriculum as a resource to supplement a core course. A Standards Alignment Guide has been provided in the “Get Started” materials for the entire year course for your reference and use.

Q: Can Film Studies & Movie Analysis Curriculum be used at the middle school level?

A: Yes. It is recommended that instructors consult with their site administrator or administrative team to determine the appropriateness of the themes and content included in each unit in relation to a middle school-age audience.

Q: What if my class can’t finish a film before the assessment window?

A: Use the guide’s pause-points to split the film across days and push any end-of-film essays by one class. For comparisons, allow clip-based evidence from previewed scenes only; do not require scenes students haven’t watched.

Q: Can I show clips instead of the full film?

A: Yes—especially for pacing or permissions. Choose clips that align with the existing question timestamps and keep the chronological flow. Document the clip start/stop times on the guide so students can cite accurately.

Q: How do I handle PG-13/R content and permissions?

A: Follow site policy. Provide a one-paragraph alternate task (same skills: theme/argument/craft) drawn from the same film’s trailer, stills, and script excerpts or from a school-approved alternate title for which you will need to create your own movie guide questions and alter the provided assessments.

Q: How do I support English Learners without diluting rigor?

A: Keep captions on; pre-teach 4–6 words; offer sentence starters (“One film-craft choice that strengthens the theme is…”) and allow oral responses recorded on a device for select prompts. Grade with the same rubric.

Q: What if different classes are using different streaming versions (ads, runtimes)?

A: Instruct students to cite scene description + approximate time (e.g., “Rumble under the highway, ~1:30”) so evidence stays verifiable even if timestamps drift.

Q: Can I swap film order inside a unit?

A: You can, but keep each unit’s Comparative Analysis pairings intact (Weeks 1–2 together; Weeks 3–4 together; Week 5 feeds the Summative). If you reorder, update pacing notes and any lead-in vocabulary.

Q: How should students use AI tools (if allowed by school policy)?

A: Permit AI for brainstorming or clarifying vocabulary only; prohibit AI-written evidence/analysis. Require in-class notes with timestamps to demonstrate original viewing-based thinking.

Q: How do I adapt for students with sensory sensitivities?

A: Offer volume-reduced seating, noise-reducing headphones (if allowed), or a transcript + stills alternative for intense scenes; grade the same skills with equivalent prompts.

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