But, for me - I say YES! I see movies in the discipline of History as an excellent opportunity to get engage kids and help them understand the content better. And here's why -
1) Movies bring visuals to ALL those abstract ideas. Kids can see and hear about the working conditions of the textile mills or see how the water frame or the cotton gin works, they will remember it. It also allows them "hang" all that information about the water frame or cotton gin on. Thereby further build their understanding of the subject.
2) Historical movies are engaging. Let's face it, who doesn't like a good movie? Even historical fiction movies underscore important and key concepts. Some historical fiction movie I showed in my US History class are:
- Uncle Tom's Cabin - No better way to drive home those important concepts of slave life before the American Civil War.
- All Quiet on the Western Front - This power story underscores life on the front lines, the loss of innocents, and the waste of war.
- All The Presidents Men - Let's face it, Watergate is very confusing for many students. So many people involved, the twists and turns. But, I used this movie before we learn about the Watergate. It helps students learn the over all scope and give them visuals to understand who the main characters were.
3) Making reference to the movie. When I use a movie in the classroom, I find the kids and myself making references to it so many times. When a student it studying for a test or trying to recall a concept, I woulds day, "Remember when..." and they quickly recall and make the connections from the movie to an academic activity.
Finally, movies can be another important tool for you to use in the classroom. And to help you, please feel free to check out all the movie guides at the Social Studies Super Store website. Click here to get your movie guides.
