Lesson Plans & Film Modules
Standards-based curricula and film modules accompany Independent Lens films on a broad range of topics: immigration, civil rights, women’s rights, religion, the environment, and more.
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Pushing the Elephant is a powerful family portrait that unfolds against the wider drama of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These lesson plans explore the long-term and often hidden effects of war on women and families — financial despair, increased susceptibility to rape, and social ostracism. They also ask students to consider what it means to become an active advocate for a peaceful and hopeful future.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: current events, geography, global studies, government, political science, social studies, sociology, women’s studies, and world history. -
Copyright Criminals is a dynamic documentary that explores the origins of sampling culture in hip hop music, copyright, creativity, and technological change. Four lessons investigate how hip-hop rose from the streets of New York to become a multibillion-dollar industry, and what happened when record company lawyers got involved and everything changed. Students will develop not only a deeper historical understanding of “remix” culture, but also contemplate where it is headed.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: Media Studies, Media Literacy, Social Studies, History, Sociology, Media Production, Music and Language Arts, Business, and Legal Studies. -
A groundbreaking documentary that examines representations of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. It is a “loving critique” of certain disturbing developments in rap music culture from the point of view of a fan who challenges the art form’s representations of masculinity.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Civics
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Knocking opens the door on Jehovah's Witnesses. They are moral conservatives who stay out of politics and the Culture War, but they won a record number of court cases expanding freedom for everyone. They refuse blood transfusions on religious grounds, but they embrace the science behind bloodless surgery. In Nazi Germany, they could fight for Hitler or go to the concentration camps. They chose the camps. Following two families who stand firm for their controversial and misunderstood Christian faith, Knocking reveals how one unlikely religion helped to shape history beyond the doorstep.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: Social Studies, History and Civics, Human/Civil Rights, Religion, Theology, Ethics, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology -
Putting a human face on controversial immigration policy, Sentenced Home follows three young Cambodian Americans through the deportation process. Raised in inner city Seattle, they pay an unbearable price for mistakes they made as teenagers. Caught between their tragic pasts and an uncertain future, each young man confronts a legal system that offers no second chances.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: Social Studies, History And Civics, Human/Civil Rights, New Immigrants and Refugees (Past and Present), Personal Stories, Asia, Culture Clash, Family, Men, War -
Four compelling documentaries address global issues and local concerns through personal stories of women's empowerment and leadership around the world. Meet an indigenous Bolivian leader fighting for labor rights; a young Israeli Arab karate champion with feminist ideas; three Egyptian women working for fair elections; and a Kenyan woman leading a nationwide environmental movement. Lesson plans and video modules encourage students to learn and understand international struggles and take an active role in addressing local concerns.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: Social Studies, Global Studies, Civics, Economics, Government, Political Science, Sociology, World History, Language Arts, Geography -
Please Vote For Me and Iron Ladies of Liberia offer thought-provoking perspectives on the changing nature of democracy across the globe. As the featured films in the Vote Democracy! educator guide and video modules, students and teachers will find new ways to explore democracy abroad, elections, gender, and media literacy through class discussions, activities, and home work assignments.
Lessons are directed toward high school and college students.
Subject areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Civics -
These two lessons use Afghanistan Unveiled and several websites to explore women's issues including the struggle to survive in post-war Afghanistan, the progress being made to secure the rights of women and some of the challenges that slow the process.
Lessons are directed toward grades 7 through 12.
Subject areas: History, English, Women's Studies -
These two lessons examine how the Greensboro, North Carolina sit-ins were part of a tradition of protests that included nonviolent approaches and music as a means of publicizing injustice. Students will also examine a few of the many ways in which African Americans were treated unfairly under Jim Crow, and analyze methods of nonviolent protest.
Lessons are directed toward grades 7 through 12
Subject areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Civics -
This site offers 11 lesson plans that address varied historic and modern day immigration issues. Lesson plans give students hands-on opportunities to grasp the essence of immigration to the United States, from analyzing factual data to conducting oral histories of first or second generation immigrants.
The New Americans Series Guide and Activity Kit for higher education settings, including ESOL and professional development, is available from ITVS Engagement.
The Immigration Myths and Realities Quiz offers multiple choice questions regarding immigration and its effects on American society.
The 11 lessons are directed toward grades 7 through 12.
Subject areas: Language Arts, U.S. and World History, Social Studies, Civics, Mathematics, Behavioral Studies, Humanities, Global Connections -
These lessons examine how the famed children's author was influenced by the political and social issues of the day, including racism, injustice, and especially World War II. Students will also examine how important ideas and themes are addressed in their own favorite books and analyze political cartoons, past and present.
Lessons are directed toward grades 7 through 12.
Subject areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Civics -
These two lessons allow students to deepen their understanding of the issues addressed by the women's movement and some of the general issues that affect women and girls today. While they address themes that are clearly related to women and girls, boys will also benefit from these lessons and should be encouraged to participate.
Lessons are directed toward grades 9 through 12.
Subject areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Civics
the National Endowment for the Arts