Cinema Challenge

Overview

The Why

Reinforced Values
Freedom
Knowledge
Opportunity
Passion
Responsibility
Sound Judgment
Win-Win

Students will have a chance to be creative as they think of a popular movie, TV show, or other media to connect to the Foundational Values and act it out. The purpose of this activity is to develop a shared language so students can articulate what each Foundational Value means as well as internalize these values by anchoring them to a fun experience.

Intro

Having fun is the best way to anchor these Foundational Values to something positive that will be remembered. Get ready to use your imagination! You will have a chance to be creative as you think of a popular movie, TV show, or other media to connect to the Foundational Values and then act it out.

Social and Emotional Skills

1. During this activity, students will practice Relationship Skills as they must work together to determine a movie or TV Show they would like to reinvent with representation to a Foundational Value. Students will be challenged to demonstrate appropriate communication between one another as well as when they are acting their skit for the larger group. Students are more deeply challenged to critically think about the explicit and implicit actions of their chosen characters as it relates demonstration or not of their assigned Foundational Value. To accomplish this, students must take what they know about the norms of social engagement and relationships to assess what could be altered to represent their Foundational Value.
2. Students will also practice Self-Management as many of them may be uncomfortable with acting or theatrics. Students will need to recognize what makes them uncomfortable during these activities and determine what actions they can apply to remain engaged, focused, and motivated to complete the activity with enthusiasm alongside their peers.

Preparation

• Determine how you will share the activity with students.
• Determine which platform you will use to engage students in the activity.
• Have examples of movie titles you yourself would create. (Fresh Prince of Knowledge, Lion Responsibility, Willy Wonka and the Opportunity Factory, etc.).
• Set up a polling system before class.
• Decide how you will pair groups or if students will participate individually.
• Decide how you would like students to engage in the debrief.

Directions

• Tell the students that they are to think of one of their favorite TV shows or movies and replace one of the words with their respective FV that you will provide in the following directions.
• Tell them that they will be separated into groups of 3-4 and sent into breakout rooms for 9 minutes.
  • While in their breakout rooms, they are to decide on ONE of their favorite TV shows or movies and substitute the FV in the name. For example, “Mrs. Doubtfire” could be renamed “Mrs. Responsibility.”
  • They can spend time looking for props around their home that might be helpful when presenting their skit. (~ 2 minutes)
  • They will have approx. 5-7 minutes to prepare their skit.
• Give each group their Foundational Value.
  • If possible, you can rename their breakout group with the FV name, too.
• After 9 minutes, bring them back to the main virtual room and ask the groups to present their skit to the others in the class.
• Launch the virtual poll at the end for students to vote for their favorite skit.
• Award virtual YE dollars/points to the winning group. Remember to also award virtual YE dollars to students that are displaying the Foundational Values and behavior that you desire for your class.

Debrief

Students can complete the debrief in many ways. Some options include writing their responses to tie in literacy, discussing in a group setting via any virtual call platform, or by recording their feedback using EdTech tools and sharing with their classmates.

• What are the commonalities we can agree on with each foundational value?
• Where do you find challenges in the Foundational Values?
• Identify behaviors that represent each value.
• What are some behaviors that represent a lack of a Foundational Value?
  • Tell us about a scene from your movie/TV show that displays a lack of a Foundational Value?
• What are some misconceptions consistent with each value?