Documentary Lesson Plans

Students, in groups, produce a classroom documentary about important historical figures from the Roman Empire. They create posters to be part of a classroom timeline showing when each of these people lived and their impact on the empire.

Students are introduced to the characteristics of documentaries and making films. Individually, they write their own proposal for an idea of a documentary making sure to identify the point of view of which it is going to be filmed. After watching a video, they examine the experiences and contributions of Asian Americans to the United States.

Young scholars investigate Israeli/Palestinian relations. In this Middle East conflict lesson, students research noted documentary films and identify perspective and bias in the sources as they complete the provided analysis worksheet.

Students watch the documentary AIDS: A Pop Culture History and discuss the issues the documentary raises. Students discuss the different facts and myths about AIDS, discuss stereotypes in relation to the disease and discuss common fears associated with AIDS.

Sixth graders conduct historical research and consider the importance of photography as a data collection device. For this lesson on historical documentation, 6th graders formulate questions regarding historical documents in order to better interpret visual media as a mode for transmitting facets of history. Students will work in groups to discuss and research primary and secondary source documents.

Eighth graders view a documentary highlighting the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad. They are given the worksheet called Timeline Dates, 8th graders use the dates to construct a timeline. Pupils research a person from the abolitionist movement, they create a poster highlighting the person.

Eighth graders research the Underground Railroad. For this Civil Freedoms lesson, 8th graders view a documentary, research a historical person, and write a position paper. This is an 5 day lesson which includes differentiated instruction, extensions, and interdisciplinary connections.

Students explore the accomplishments of recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize and create outlines or storyboards for documentaries about the Nobel laureates' lives, achievements and impact.

Students research and produce an iMovie documentary about the human and natural history of a stream basin (watershed).

Explore Autism by watching the CNN presentation: Autism is a World. Upper graders view and discuss the documentary  identify the symptoms and characteristics of autism, research treatment options, and create an informational brochure.