Theme: Giving Your All Film: Akeelah and the Bee (PG) 4:00
Akeelah has a gift. She can spell better than anyone she knows in her neighborhood in south central Los Angeles. Working against the odds, she works hard with her coach to prepare for the National Spelling Bee. But when she makes it all the way to the final round, she overhears a heated conversation between her rival and his father. Akeelah decides to lose on purpose in order to let her rival win... and, in her mind, win the affection of his father. But is this right?
This 2006 film from Lionsgate is written and directed by Doug Atchison, and stars Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong, and J.R. Villarreal.
Teaser Question: Why is important to others that you do your best?
Going Deeper: Have you ever intentionally not given your best effort? Why?
"To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us." - Charles Caleb Colton
"Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory." - Oreson Swett Marden
Theme: Taking Pride in Your Vision Film: Star Trek: First Contact (PG-13) 3:44
The crew of the Enterprise have traveled back in time from the 24th century to make sure that a pivotal moment in their history occurs, the warp drive rocket launch would lead to human's first contact with aliens. The inventor of warp drive and captain of that crucial launch, Zephraim Cochrane, is destined to be a great hero... even if he says he wants nothing to do with that destiny.
This 1997 film from Paramount Pictures is directed by Johnathan Frakes, written by Branon Braga and Ronald D. Moore, and stars Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Alfre Woodard, James Cromwell and Alice Krieg. Teaser Question: What does it mean to be a great person?
Going Deeper: When is modesty not helpful? What are some things about yourself that you are proud of? Are there times that you feel you have to hide your talents?
"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don't give up." - Anne Lamott
"The price of victory is high...but so are the rewards." - Paul Bryant
Theme: Seeking Self-Esteem Film: Napoleon Dynamite (PG) 2:00
Napoleon's brother desperately wants to defend himself...and to feel better about himself. So, it's off to Rex Kwon Do self-defense class. But is this what he really needs?
This 2004 film from 20th Century Fox is directed by Jared Hess, written by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess, and stars Jon Heder, Jonathan Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, and Tina Majorino.
Teaser Question: What is self-esteem? Why is it important?
Going Deeper: What are some ways that people and companies around us tell us that we are not good enough? Why do believe them? Who do you know that has great self esteem? How does she or he do it?
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt
"that you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong." - William J.H. Boetcker
Theme: A Matter of Pride Film: Rudy (PG) 2:37
Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.
This 1993 film Tristar Pictures is directed by David Aunspach and written by Angelo Pizzo. It stars Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, and Ned Beatty.
Teaser Question: What makes you proud? Why?
Going Deeper: "If you don't have dreams, you don't have anything." What are some dreams that can make you want to give your all?
"We aren't born winners. We aren't born losers. We are born choosers." - Keith Davis
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." - Calvin Coolidge
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 the thing you are most proud of about yourself. 3. Write about what you think your biggest accomplishment will be. 4. Write about something that people compliment you on.
Activity 1: Pride Rocks Performance Objective: Uses imagination to form and express thought, feeling and character.
Materials: -Flat river rocks or other stones that are large enough to paint and/or write words on -paints, paintbrushes, Sharpies
Teacher Instructions: Almost every student will know the movie The Lion King, for this activity, students will be making their own version of Pride Rocks. Students will paint their rocks, or leave them natural and write a word or phrase that describes something they are proud of about themselves. These rocks can serve as reminders when they are having tough days, or if they feel they are failing at something. They can be reminded of this great quality.
Activity 2: Shield of Strength Performance Objective: Uses imagination to form and express thought, feeling and character.
Materials: -Paper, Pencils, Markers, Colored Pencils, Crayons, Scissors -Copies of Shield Pattern (1 per student)
Teacher Instructions: 1. Students will each cut out their own shield and design one corner of it that includes some kind of word art containing their name, leaving the other 3 blank. 2. Other students in your class must come up with ideas for the other 3 blanks areas for each other. Drawing symbols, pictures or word art of things they believe the shield's owner should be proud of about themselves. 3. Every student must contribute at least one attribute to someone else's shield. They may choose to do more than one area on a person's shield, or they can give someone else an idea if it is needed. 4. This continues until all students have all areas of their shields completed. Students can hang them in the classroom, in or on their lockers, put them in their binders, anywhere that will be a visual reminder of why they should be proud of themselves, and what worthy qualities others see in them.