David is a computer hacker who has no problem using his online skills to change his grades. And he doesn't stop there. In order to impress his new girlfriend Jennifer, David decides to change her biology grade from an "F" to a "C". When Jennifer makes it clear that she does not want to be involved in something this dangerous, David assures her that no one will ever know. But does that make it right?
This 1983 film from MGM is directed by John Badham, written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter Parkes, and stars Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, John Wodd, and Ally Sheedy.
Teaser Question: Would you change your grade if you knew you wouldn't get caught?
Going Deeper: The internet makes it easier to do research and write papers, but also makes it easier to skip a lot of work. When do you cross the line by copying material from the internet? When does it become cheating?
"There is a hole in the moral ozone and it's getting bigger." - Michael Josephson
"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." - Sophocles
Theme: Responsibility Film: It's a Wonderful Life (Not Rated) 7:09
The Great Depression was a very scary time for people throughout the country. Many people lost their jobs and had no money. Only a few managed to stay on top of everything during these grim years, while others panicked. In this scene from one of the most popular movies of all time, George Bailey, owner of the local Building Savings and Loan, has just gotten married and is about to use the money he has saved for years to take his bride on a big honeymoon... until he sees a crowd gathered outside his office, a crowd that is scared and desperate.
This 1946 film from Universal Studios is directed by Frank Capra, written by Francis Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra, and stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, and Henry Travers.
Teaser Question: Do businesses and customers have responsibilities to each other?
Going Deeper: In the movie, George always put others before himself. Some people say it is important to take care of yourself first. Should he have used his own money that he had been saving for his honeymoon?
"All you can take with you is that which you have given away." - from It's a Wonderful Life
"The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life." -Hal Elrod
Theme: Integrity Film: Eight Men Out (PG) 2:34 George "Buck" Weaver and his teammates, the 1919 Chicago White Sox are possibly the best team to ever play baseball. However, when some of his underpaid teammates decided to fix the World Series, Buck decided not to join them, but he didn't turn them in.
This 1988 film from Orion Pictures and MGM is written and directed by John Sayles, from a book by Eliot Asinof, and stars John Cusak, Christopher Lloyd, John Mahoney, Charlie Sheen, David Stratham, and D.B. Sweeney.
Teaser Question: Can your friends count on your integrity? Why?
Going Deeper: Have you ever had someone you trust let you down? How did you view that person after that? What does "honor" mean to you?
"Regardless of the verdict of juries... no player who throws a ball game... no player who undertakes, or promises to throw a game... no player who sits in conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing a ball game are discussed, and does not promptly tell his club about it... will ever play professional baseball again." - Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
"The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its home." - Confucious
Theme: Honorable Intentions Film: Batman Begins (PG-13) 2:03 Billionaire playboy - that's the image Bruce Wayne, secretly the Batman, wants everyone to see. In order to fit in, he acts like something he is not. But when Bruce runs into someone very dear to him from long ago and tries to convince her that there is more to him than what he sees, he receives a tough lesson about the difference between good intentions and rights actions.
This 2005 film from Warner Brothers is directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer, and stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, and Ken Watanabe.
Teaser Question: Can intentions be honorable without action?
Going Deeper: "Actions speak louder than words" - what does that mean?
"It's not who you are underneath. It's what you do that defines you." - from Batman Begins
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." -Unknown
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. What is the most common reason for you to be dishonest? What do you think this means for you? 3. What does integrity look like in a person? 4. Returning lost items to their owner, not copying homework from someone else, admitting when you are wrong... which one of these are the hardest to do? Which ones are the easiest? Why? Activity 1: Integrity Acrostic Performance Objective: Uses imagination to form and express thought, feeling and character
Teacher Instructions: 1. Give students paper and other supplies, explaining that they will be creating a colorful acrostic poem for the word INTEGRITY. They should use words that help to describe what it means to have integrity. Students can use each letter as the first letter in the descriptor words, or they can write the words around each letter. (Example: I-important or inspIring - using the I in the middle. 2. Poems should be colorful 3. Student work can be displayed or pasted/taped into their journals.
Activity 2: Integrity PSAs Performance Objective: Demonstrates social discipline and appropriate group contribution.
Materials: -Phones or flip cameras
Teacher Instructions: 1. Group students into groups of 3-5 students. 2. Explain to students that they will create a PSA for the importance of integrity. Students can be as creative and as informative as they would like. 3. Each group will plan and then record their PSAs 4. Have students share their videos with you, and then show them to the whole class. 5. Let the kids vote on the best PSA.