ITVS Community Classroom lesson plans pair educational film modules drawn from ITVS’s acclaimed documentary films with standards-based lesson plans, activities, and other interactive content.

Lesson Plans

Human Dignity and Human Rights

Students will consider the consequences for individuals and communities whose fundamental human rights are limited or denied, and develop a plan of action for improving the lives of women in their own community.

From the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 1 Classroom collection
From the film Waste Land

Illusions of Democracy: When Is It Not Free or Fair?

In this lesson, students look at the principles that might make an election democratic as well as ways in which elections can be inefficient, manipulated or abused. They apply these lessons toward understanding the 2005 election in Egypt, and then research the electoral process of a country of their own choosing. (includes 1 film module)

From the Women's Empowerment Classroom collection
From the film Shayfeen.com: We're Watching You

Intervention: What Works

This lesson looks at a successful and surprising intervention program for mothers in prison and is designed for students to further their knowledge of existing resources in their communities and to strengthen the skills needed to access them.

From the Women and Girls Lead, Vol. 3: Women, Girls, & the Criminal Justice System Classroom collection
From the film Troop 1500

Manhood and Gender Identity

This lesson delves deeper into understanding how gender roles, especially around manhood, are produced and projected in society as a whole and within hip-hop. (includes 1 film module)

From the Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes Classroom collection
From the film Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

Maternal Mortality and the Global Health Divide

Through the lens of the maternal mortality crisis in Somaliland, students will examine the social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to the differences in healthcare — both between and within countries, including the United States — and the importance of maternal health in their own communities.

From the Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Classroom collection
From the film Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

Media Literacy

In this lesson, students will critically view and analyze media, learning how images, especially in documentary filmmaking, are constructed. (includes 2 film modules)

From the Vote Democracy! Classroom collection
From the film Chicago 10

Media Literacy

This lesson provides students with an opportunity to do their own media research on and analysis of how media images are manufactured and marketed. (includes 1 film module)

From the Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes Classroom collection
From the film Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

Media Tactics

Students will consider the media’s role during the desegregation of Central High School and the consequences of media coverage on the private lives of those involved. They will identify Daisy Bates’s media strategies and analyze the ways in which race and gender shaped the media’s portrayal of her. Lastly, students will describe how they would use the media accessible to them to voice opposition to a specific event, policy, or practice in their community.

From the Women and Girls Lead, Vol. 2: African American Women Lead Classroom collection
From the film Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock

Muslim Feminism

Muslim women face many of the same struggles and challenges as women all over the world. In addition, there are specific issues these women face as Muslims within their families, communities and religion. This lesson explores the ways in which Muslim girls and women have made strides in asserting their rights. Students will study various voices and then compose a dialogue poem. (includes 1 film module)

From the Women's Empowerment Classroom collection
From the film Shadya

Participating in a Campaign

This lesson focuses on the mechanics of political campaigns, from campaign team roles to skills and strategies. (includes 2 film modules)

From the Vote Democracy! Classroom collection
From the films Please Vote for Me and An Unreasonable Man

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