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To help you quickly find what you need, I’ve broken down the 30 recommended movies for middle schoolers into the following categories (click the link to quickly jump to a specific category!): Based on a Novel; Based on a True Story; Documentaries; Animated Options; Timeless Classics; Classroom Movie Category #1: Based on A Novel
Feb 3, 2024 · We’ve vetted this robust list of amazing educational movies that will be sure to captivate your middle school learners! Read on to find one you can show during your next class topic! 1. My Octopus Teacher. My Octopus Teacher showcases the unusual underwater friendship forged between a South African filmmaker and an octopus.
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Apr 5, 2023 · Happily, lots of documentaries either about or targeted at middle school-age kids come with educator resources, so they're easy to integrate into an existing unit or use in after-school programs. These are a selection of our favorite documentary picks for middle school classrooms.
Mar 13, 2024 · An Atlas of Lost Kingdoms: Discover Mythical Lands, Lost Cities and Vanished Islands. By Emily Hawkins (Author), Lauren Mark Baldo (Illustrator) Published: October 4, 2022. This atlas blends history and myth to explore the lost kingdoms, phantom islands, and legendary continents once sought by explorers.
- Wonder Based on The Book by R.J. Palacio
- The Secret World of Arrietty Based on The Borrowers by Mary Norton
- Hugo Based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik
- Because of Winn-Dixie Based on The Book by Kate Dicamillo
- Coraline Based on The Book by Neil Gaiman
- Bridge to Terabithia Based on The Book by Katherine Paterson
- The Lorax Based on The Book by Theodor Geisel
- A Series of Unfortunate Events Based on The Series by Daniel Handler
- Beezus and Ramona Based on The Book by Beverly Cleary
- Holes Based on The Book by Louis Sachar
Best Example of Following the Golden Rule A poignant film that follows a young boy entering middle school for the first time after being homeschooled due to facial deformities. The film’s changing point of view emphasizes how not looking like everyone else not only impacts Auggie but also his family, friends, and frenemies. The message of “Choose K...
Best Example of a Spin on a Classic This version of the beloved book about miniature people navigating a big world is set in a Japanese household outside of Tokyo rather than a British one. The animation by Studio Ghibli magically transmits the message that one can be small but still mighty and that we are all more the same than we are different. C...
Best Example of Integrating Non-Fiction into Fiction Fictional Hugo is living in a Paris train station attempting to solve a mystery about an automaton when he becomes involved with real-life pioneering French filmmaker, Georges Méliès. As described in our review, this film directed by Scorsese makes a beautiful case for preserving film as art in a...
Best Example of the Animal-Human Connection A prerequisite for the list is a story with a child and their BFF (Best Furry Friend) because this is the age where that particular bond can be a lifesaver. While the pace of this film is slow, the tender relationship of stray dog and outcast girl is worth the wait. Did I mention it stars Cicely Tyson? Ch...
Best Example of a Cautionary Tale Anything by Neil Gaiman has the potential of being a bit disturbing but kids go back to this film again and again for a reason. There is something mesmerizing about the possibility of jumping into a parallel life that seems so much better than your own. This stop-motion animated film dazzles while cautioning viewer...
Best Example Addressing Loss Remember building a secret hideout in the woods with your best friend? This film captures that wonder of childhood: escaping into your own made-up worlds. Unfortunately, the death of a friend is inescapable. There is no attempt in this story to pretend that loss isn’t hard but it proposes moving forward as a way to hono...
Best Example of a Dr. Seuss Reimagining This film is the best of all the Dr. Seuss interpretations. The combination of a soundtrack that will leave you humming long after the viewing and a message that is more relevant than ever regarding climate change makes this film a winner. And it is animated, not live action. Enough said. Check out our review...
Best Example of a Narrator Reading the Room The narrator of this film speaks directly to the kids in the audience. He essentially says, “You know how things work. I’m not here to patronize you.” The book series and film adaptation commiserates on the feeling of childhood as a time when events are often happening to you, not always chosen byyou. Che...
Best Example of Family: Can’t Live with Them, Can’t Live Without Them This film captures the drama of ordinary life. The highlights are the interactions of the title characters who, as sisters, are equally irritating and loving to each other. Change is illustrated in multiple examples including the family house renovation, the loss of a parent’s jo...
Best Example of a Mash-Up This one is for the older kids. There is an allusion to violence and outright racism but the lessons of tolerance, forgiveness, character, and justice are prominently displayed. The beauty of this film is the riveting way it delivers its lessons through the main plot about a camp for wayward kids punctuated by sub-plots in...
CREATE LESSON PLANS FROM DOCUMENTARIES & NON-FICTION FILMS. The suggested age range appears in brackets at the end of each entry. “Moral-Ethical Emphasis” is a reference to Character Counts’ Six Pillars of Character. Topics relating to Social and Emotional Learning appear after the term “SEL”.
Jul 17, 2017 · Jul 17, 2017. We know, we know, the book is almost always better than the movie—but book-movie adaptations can be great for talking about how stories get translated into different forms (part of the Common Core standards). Here are some of our favorite book-movie adaptations to use at very grade level.
