Facing almost certain death in the ring of the Colosseum, Maximus knows that the only way to even try to stay alive is to work with others. He realizes that teamwork is their only hope.
This 2000 film by Dreamworks and Universal Pictures is directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni. It stars Russsell Crowe, and Joaquin Phoenix.
Teaser Question: What does it mean to work as a team?
Going Deeper: Why would it be hard to work as a team in this example? What does it take to help everyone think like a team instead of just thinking for themselves?
"No man should think himself a zero, and think he can do nothing about the state of the world." -Bernard Baruch
"The only title in our democracy superior to that of the President is the title of citizen." - Louis D. Brandeis
Theme: The Common Good Film: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (PG) 3:55
Spock, the half-Vulcan, half-human Starfleet officer who believes in logic above emotion, is challenged by his human mother to consider the fact that his teammates made an emotional decision to risk their own lives in order to save him. "The good of the one," she says, "outweighed the good of the many." Spock struggles to understand.
This 1986 film from Paramount Pictures is directed by Leonard Nimoy, written by Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Harve Bennett, and Nicholas Meyer, and stars William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForrest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, and Catherine Hicks.
Teaser Question: Does the good of the many outweigh the good of the few? Why? Why not?
Going Deeper: What does it mean to speak of majority rule? How does it relate to the rights of the individual? Have you ever had to decide between the one or the many? What did you do? Why?
"Isn't everyone a part of someone else?" - Budd Schulberg
"If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up." -Booker T. Washington
Theme: The Right Thing to Do Film: World Trade Center (PG-13) 4:55 When two New York City Port Authority police officers find themselves trapped in the rubble of September 11, 2001, both they and the people who love them must endure a horrible ordeal before they are finally found. The lessons they learned about life and hope and community will stay with them forever.
This 2006 film from Paramount Studios is directed by Oliver Stone, written by Andrea Berloff, and stars Nicholas Cage, Michael Pena, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Stephen Dorff, Jay Hernanedez, and Michael Shannon.
Teaser Question: What qualities define a good citizen?
Going Deeper: Have people ever looked down upon you because of how you look or act? Have you ever treated someone unkindly because of how they looked or acted?
"Today we are afraid of simple words like goodness and mercy and kindness. We don't believe in the good old words because we don't believe in good old values anymore. And that's why the world is sick." - Lin Yutang
"i don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains." -Anne Frank
Theme: Who Do You Play For? Film: Miracle (PG) 3:57 In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning for a distraction from world events.
This 2004 movie by Disney and Pop Pop Productions is directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Eric Guggenheim. It stars Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, and Nathan West.
Teaser Question: What is the "Spirit of America"?
Going Deeper: Why is the name of the team you play for/represent more important than your name?
"America is the greatest, freest and most decent society in existence. It is an oasis of goodness in a desert of cynicism and barbarism. This country, once an experiment unique in the world, is now the last best hope for the world." - Dinesh D'Souza
"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America." - Bill Clinton
Moving Students to Action: Character "Word Wall" A "word wall" can help your students build/develop their vocabulary in terms of meaning, context, and relevance The words below come directly from the various video clips for knowing yourself, peer pressure, ad understanding bullies or the question prompt at the end of each clip. Developing a word wall is a great way to introduce key vocabulary terms at the beginning of a unit or piece by piece as your class explores a unit of study. Honor Pride Citizen Intention Sacrifice Community Integrity Self-esteem Diversity Hero Character Perserverance
Keeping a Journal: As an in-class activity, ask your students to write four entries in their journal under the heading of "Perseverance" answering the following statement: 1. Of all the examples of knowing yourself demonstrated in the clips, which was your favorite? Why? 2. Write about some of the rights you enjoy as a citizen that children in other countries may not have. 3. If you were given 15 minutes with the President,what would you discuss with him/her? Is there anything you would ask them to change, if so what? 4. As citizens of Parkview, what should all students be required to do or what way should they be required to act?
Activity 1: Pledge Flags Performance Objective: Uses imagination to form and express thought, feeling, and character
Materials: -red, white, and blue paper and/or red, white, and blue markers, colored pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, rulers -blank sheets of paper -1 per student
Teacher Instructions: 1. Have students brainstorm a list of words/phrases that are examples of citizenship or civic duty, putting the list on the board for all to see. 2. Have students draw & color or cut out strips to create one. 3. Students will then write a pledge to their adult self. Their pledge should include ways that they plan to be a good citizen within their community, state, and country or how they can honor their civic duties to their country (anything from voting to serving in the Armed Forces or in a public office). 4. Students can display their pledges in the classroom, in their lockers, or tape/paste them into their journals.
Activity 2: Digital Citizenship Dice Performance Objective: Demonstrates social discipline and appropriate group contribution.
Materials: -2 dice -project the digital dice icons page for students (link below)
Teacher Instructions: 1. Begin a discussion about what digital citizenship means. 2. Explain to the students that they will each be given a chance to roll two dice, and their roll total will correspond with a digital icon that they will be asked to give an example of how something they impulsively do now, could haunt them later (especially as an adult). If students have a hard time coming up with examples, help them with ideas. 3. Continue until all students have had a chance to roll. If there are any icons that weren't rolled, take a minute to discuss some of the digital pitfalls of that particular kind.