Theme: Don't Care What Others Think Film: Rocky Balboa PG 4:18
When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa, reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon retaliates by challenging the Italian Stallion to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who's faster, stronger and thirty years his junior. With the odds stacked firmly against him, Rocky takes on Dixon in what will become the greatest fight in boxing history, a hard-hitting, action-packed battle of the ages.
This 2006 film produced by MGM and Columbia Pictures, written and directed by Sylvester Stallone
Theme: Never Let Someone Tell You - You can't Do Something Film: The Pursuit of Happiness PG-13 2:15
Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "bone density scanner". He feels like he has it made selling these devices. However, they do not sell well as they are marginally better than x-ray at a much higher price. As Gardner works to make ends meet, his wife leaves him and he loses his apartment. Forced to live out in the streets with his son, Gardner continues to sell bone density scanners while concurrently taking on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker, with slim chances for advancement to a paid position. Before he can receive pay, he needs to outshine the competition through 6 months of training, and to sell his devices to stay afloat.
This 2006 film is produced by Columbia Pictures, is directed by Gabriele Muccino, and is written by Steve Conrad. It stars Will Smith, Thandie Newton, and Jaden Smith.
Teaser Question: What is your dream?
Going Deeper: Has anyone ever told you that you couldn't do something you knew you could? Did you prove them wrong? Explain.
Theme: Know Your Worth Film: The Devil Wears Prada PG-13 2:22
In New York, the simple and naive just-graduated in journalism Andrea Sachs is hired to work as the second assistant of the powerful and sophisticated Miranda Priestly, the ruthless and merciless executive of the Runway fashion magazine. Andrea dreams to become a journalist and faces the opportunity as a temporary professional challenge. The first assistant Emily advises Andrea about the behavior and preferences of their cruel boss, and the stylist Nigel helps Andrea to dress more adequately for the environment. Andrea changes her attitude and behavior, affecting her private life and the relationship with her boyfriend Nate, her family and friends. In the end, Andrea learns that life is made of choices.
This 2006 film is produced by Twentieth Century Fox is directed by David Frankel, written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger. It stars Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Adrian Greiner and Emily Blunt.
Teaser Question: What is your best skill?
Going Deeper: When finding a job, you often have to sell yourself as the best person for the job. What skills do you have know that would make you a good employee? What skills do you think you need to work on?
Theme: Believe in Yourself Film:The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh G 2:40
Pooh, a bear of very little brain, and all his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood sing their way through adventures that encompass honey, bees, bouncing, balloons, Eeyore's birthday, floods, and Pooh sticks.
This 1977 film produced by Walt Disney Studios, is directed by John Lounsberry and Wolfgang Reitherman and written by A.A. Milne, Larry Clemons. It stars the voices of Sebastian Cabot, Junius Matthews, Barbara Luddy & more.
Teaser Question: Do you have a friend who just can't seem to see the good in themselves no matter what?
Going Deeper: How do you try to build up friends with low self-esteem? What can you do?
Moving Students to Action:
Keeping a Journal: 1. Which clip was your favorite and why? 2. Write yourself a note telling yourself the things you are good at. 3. What would you do if you knew you could not fail? 4. How would your best friend describe you?
Activity 1: Campfire Circle Performance Objective: To get students to recognize and accept positive things about themselves.
Materials: - 1 Copy of the Self-Esteem Sentence Starter Sheet cut into sentence strips and folded in half - a basket or bowl
Teacher Instructions: 1. Have students sit in a circle
2. Pass the bowl/basket to one student and have them draw a sentence starter out and answer it.
3. You can have students put the sentence starter back in the bowl, or hold on to it and pass the bowl to the next student.
4. Consider joining the circle and sharing a bit of yourself as well.
Activity 2: Same Letter, Different Name PerformanceObjective: For group members to increase self-esteem by recognizing the positive traits that exist in each other.
Ambitious, athletic, artistic and altruistic, - there are plenty more words that begin with "A" that create a positive description of people we know or even of ourselves. Thinking of new words from A to Z that are descriptive of the people we know is the purpose of this game, and with added competition it's lots of fun. The best part, though, is getting to hear positive descriptive words about yourself at the end of this fast paced thinking game.
Materials: Paper Pens or pencils A timer or stopwatch An envelope filled with the letters of the alphabet (written on small slips of paper)
Teacher Instructions: 1. Divide the group into two even teams and ask each team to write down on one piece of paper all the names of the people on their team and on the other team.
2. Once all the names are written down, select a letter of the alphabet from the envelope. Inform the teams what letter was chosen and give them two minutes to work as a team to think of a positive word, or words beginning with the chosen letter that describes each person. For example, if the letter H was chosen and the names John, Amy, and Craig were on the list my team may come up with: John - Hard worker Amy - Honest, Humble Craig - Handsome
3. Once the time limit is up bring the two teams together and ask them to each read their list to the group. For added fun and competition you may give each team a point for every word on their list that isn't on the other team's list.
4. Play as many rounds of this game as you have time for. You may want to make specific rules for the activity (i.e. you must think of at least one word for each person on the list). The discussion may be held at the end of the game or hold a short discussion after each round.
5. Discussion Prompts 1. How do you feel about the words that were chosen to describe you? 2. Were you surprised by any of the words used to describe you? If so why? 3. Did anyone give any ideas for the a word that you would use to describe yourself ? 4. Is it easy or hard to think of positive words to describe others? Yourself? Why?
Variations - Don't give a time limit; instead give bonus points to the team that thinks of a word to describe everyone on the list first. - With a large group don't include your own team on your list, instead just think of words to describe the members of the other team, or break the group up into more than two teams.
Activity 3: Positive Bookmark Performance Objective: Students will create positive statements about themselves.
Materials: -Construction Paper or cardstock cut into bookmark size -Old magazines -Scissors -Glue -Markers -Other decorative items, buttons, gems, glitter, stickers, etc.
Teacher Instructions: 1. Give each student a bookmark
2. Place stacks of old magazines around for students to cut out positive words that they feel describes them or words of encouragement they want to use.
3. Students will cut out words and create a word collage of positive statements
4. Have students glue down their words and provide them a place to let them dry over night.
5. Students can decorate their bookmarks however they would like