QUESTION: Success stories about using film/media for social/emotional learning (character ed)?

[Sally Lehmann Hall]

I would love to use film/media as a way of addressing issues like strengthening identity and relationships, using terms like gay and retarded, messing with people to get them riled up (even in play), disrespect, exclusion, bullying and so on. I'm especially interested in clips that would stimulate discussion about the impact of all the seemingly small everyday choices we make interacting with one another. Any stories to share?

[Justin]

I like to use the clips from the ABC show - What Would You Do? to spark discussion on some controversial topics.  You can get the clips right from the ABC website.

[Frank W. Baker]

You might be interested in FILM CLIPS FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION, which uses popular films, and support materials, all designed to engage students in character ed issues.

[Victoria Zhang]

I find some of the animation movies by Pixar and etc are quite useful. My school uses a few short clips from different movies to teach character lessons e.g. using LOTR movie clips to teach loyalty

[Johnathan Chase]

When it comes to the impact of all the seemingly small everyday choices....Its a Wonderful Life

 

http://chaseusgovernment.wikispaces.com/It%27s+A+Wonderful+Life

[Kelly Farrow]

You might consider some of the videos and other resources from http://r-word.org/  This campaign to end the R-word and replace it with a new R-word, respect, is very valuable and much needed!

[Anne Gaspers]

Glee has some great episodes that tackle all of those issues.  One episode is especially dedicated to slurs and is followed by a psa although there seems to be some controversy regarding the equivalency of racial slurs with gay/retard.

[Mary H]

To illustrate the "impact of the seemingly small everyday choices we make," I suggest that you show and discuss the short video "Validation."

[Sean]

Movies like Mean Girls are great for the bullying aspect, as well as exclusion and so many other aspects.  As far as strengthening identity: Stage Beauty can act as that but also as a Shakespeare resource, as one lead actor (Billy Crudup) is known for playing females.  When females are allowed to act in theaters, he's lost, unable to cope with his life without what he's trained all his life to do.  Then we have the female lead character, played by Claire Danes, who is a helper behind the scenes but secretly plays the part of Shakespearean females in an underground theater.  They both go on a search to find themselves, and it's amazingly brilliant, but it does have same-sex themes if your school is okay with that.