Photo credit: © 1968 Frederick Wiseman

P.O.V. documentaries are a valuable resource for teachers and students. Use these companion lesson plans to present P.O.V. films to your class.

These classroom activities include: learning objectives; an outline of the relevant national standards met by the plans; a list of necessary tools and materials; a notation regarding the total time needed to complete the individual lessons; a teaching strategy; assessment recommendations; and extension ideas.

Note: P.O.V. documentaries can be taped off-the-air and used for educational purposes for up to one year from the initial broadcast.

9 Star Hotel
Borders Around the World
launched: July 22, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, 9 Star Hotel, which shows the daily struggles of Palestinian men who have illegally crossed the border to work in construction in Israel. Classrooms can use this lesson to examine and compare borders around the world and their related issues. Note: This film is in Arabic with English subtitles.

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The Last Conquistador
Should Tax Dollars Fund Controversial Art?
launched: July 15, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, The Last Conquistador, the story of a controversial public arts project that some view as a monument to culture and others as a glorification of genocide. Classrooms can use this lesson to role-play how city leaders might make a decision about spending tax dollars on art that is divisive. Students can also consider public art in their community and develop proposals for new art projects that would provide the perspectives of underrepresented communities.

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The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández
Using the Military at the U.S.-Mexican Border
launched: July 08, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández, the story of an American teenager who was shot and killed by U.S. Marines deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border to watch for drug smugglers. Classrooms can use this lesson to examine the pros and cons of using the military to support law enforcement activities at the U.S.-Mexican border.

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Election Day
Improving Elections
launched: July 01, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, Election Day, which shows the experiences of a number of people in various parts of the United States on Election Day 2004. Classrooms can use this lesson to study how the voting process differs around the country and to discuss issues related to elections administration.

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Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North
The History and Legacy of U.S. Slavery
launched: June 24, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, which shows one family's journey to come to terms with its roots as the largest slave-trading family in the history of the United States. Classrooms can use this lesson to explore the history and legacy of U.S. slavery and whether or not reparations should be made to the descendents of slaves.

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Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner
Drawing Creative Inspiration from Home
launched: December 12, 2007

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film "Wrestling with Angels," a film about award-winning playwright Tony Kushner. Students will see an example of how Kushner's childhood home was a source of artistic inspiration. Then, they will incorporate elements from their own homes into a creative work.

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49 Up
Create and Review Biographical Profiles
launched: October 09, 2007

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film "49 Up," the seventh installment of a series of films that profile a group of English children every seven years, beginning in 1964. This lesson asks students to create two profiles of their own lives, one for age seven and one for age 14. Another student will then review these profiles and identify factors that may have brought about changes during this stage of life.

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Lumo
Addressing Sexual Violence in War
launched: September 18, 2007

This lesson plan is designed to be used in conjunction with the film "Lumo," which takes an intimate look at the healing process of a victim of rape, a crime of political terror that is increasingly common in areas of military conflict, such as the central African country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the Congo). This lesson uses an excerpt of the film to put a human face on the high numbers of women who are victims of rape in these areas. Students will learn more about this worldwide problem and write letters to government leaders suggesting how the United States could show greater leadership in addressing sexual violence in war. The film is in Swahili, French and English with English subtitles.

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The Camden 28
Civil Disobedience: Right or Wrong?
launched: September 11, 2007

This lesson plan is designed to be used in conjunction with the film "The Camden 28," which chronicles the actions of anti-Vietnam War activists, known as the Camden 28. In 1971, the group raided a draft board office in protest and were subsequently arrested by the F.B.I and tried in court. The film explains why they took such action and shows the outcome of their criminal trial.

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Made in L.A.
Examine Labor Practices in the Garment Industry
launched: September 04, 2007

This lesson plan is designed to be used in conjunction with the film "Made in L.A.," a film that follows the struggle of three Latina immigrants working for fair labor conditions in Los Angeles's garment factories. Note: This film has bilingual subtitles throughout and is fully accessible to English and Spanish speakers. This lesson compares current conditions in the garment industry with those at the turn of the 20th century.

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