Resources for Teachers - Movies

Stereotyping and Genre

In this lesson, students use fairy tales as a way of learning about the idea of genre. They explore how the typical tropes of a genre can create or perpetuate stereotypes and create a “flipped” fairy tale that sends a message that is unusual for the genre.

Close Reading Genre

The Close Reading Genre workshop trains teachers to use genre as a tool to help students engage with media. It explores how genres can be identified and analyzed through their characteristics, tropes and industry practices and demonstrates how this can be done with key genres such as advertising and news.

The Blockbuster Movie - Lesson

This lesson introduces students to the phenomenon of the“blockbuster” movie – its history,characteristics and influences. Students will also explore the role of audience in the creation of a “blockbuster” and analyze their own responses to current blockbuster films. Students will learn about the process involved in turning a film into a blockbuster by devising promotional campaigns for an imaginary movie.

Camera Shots - Lesson

In this lesson, students examine the visual codes used on television and in movies through an exploration of various camera techniques. Students begin with a discussion about camera-subject distance, and review various film techniques that are used to create visual meaning.

Film Classification Systems in Québec

In this lesson students learn about the systems used to classify films, TV programs and video games. Students are asked to take a critical look at the criteria applied to classify these media products, and then take into account and discuss the underlying social and political aspects arising from those systems.