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

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Benazir Bhutto and the Struggle for Democracy in Pakistan

Students will investigate Pakistan’s struggle to maintain a lasting democratic government, and look at various experiences in Benazir Bhutto’s life that shaped her as a leader.

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

Benazir Bhutto: First Woman Leader of a Muslim Nation

Students will study the context in which Benazir Bhutto became the first woman leader of a Muslim nation, and the complexities of being a female leader in a Muslim country.

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

Dissent in Democracy

This activity takes a look at how dissent is manifested in American democracy and gives students an opportunity to share their own voice on controversial issues. (includes 2 film modules)

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

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 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

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

Religious Tolerance in America

This lesson explores religious tolerance in America and takes students through a process designed to promote religious tolerance inside and outside the school community. (includes 1 film module)

From the Knocking Classroom collection
From the film Knocking

Standing for What You Believe

This lesson examines how Jehovah’s Witnesses have stood for their beliefs historically and calls on students to examine their own belief systems and the price they would pay to uphold their own ideas and principles. (includes 2 film modules)

From the Knocking Classroom collection
From the film Knocking

The Impact of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Civil Rights

This lesson examines the role of Jehovah’s Witnesses in influencing Civil Rights and encourages students to learn about current civil rights issues and develop ways to become actively involved in the Civil Rights issues of today. (includes 1 film module)

From the Knocking Classroom collection
From the film Knocking

Third-party Voices

This lesson examines the political party system in the U.S. and in other democracies, especially the participation of independent parties. (Includes 1 film module)

From the Vote Democracy! Classroom collection
From the film An Unreasonable Man

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