The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Movie Guide (PG13 - 2008)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Movie Guide (PG13 – 2008) is a tragic and powerful movie, based on John Boyne’s 2006 novel which encourages students to think about the horrors of WWII and identify why critical thinking is necessary to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of history. Ask students to explore the concept of group think and use details from the film to broaden their understanding of propaganda and its result.

This resource is meant to supplement the viewing of the film on IMDb. See the Parents Guide for content details.

Boy In Striped Pajamas Movie Guide for the Classroom | Quick Facts

Movie Plot (for teachers)

In WWII Germany, Bruno, the son of a Nazi commandant, secretly befriends Shmuel, a Jewish boy across the camp fence—powerful for point of view, dramatic irony, and historical empathy.

Teacher Guidance

1. Print one guide per student; preview the next question before you press play.
2. Use pause points for cite-and-explain responses and targeted discussion.
3. Encourage collaboration while discouraging copying; rewind key scenes to model close viewing.

What’s Included

• Student movie guide (PDF print)
• Student movie guide (PDF digital fillable)
• Google Forms (self-graded quiz)
• Answer Key (4 pages)
• CCSS alignment one-pager (PDF, 1 page)
• CCSS note: Students apply reading-comprehension skills to film (evidence, analysis, inference).

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.