Schindler’s List

Film runtime: 3 hours, 15 minutes. — We know this is a long film for classroom use. Please note that many lessons our guide can work as stand alone resources, especially our updated lesson: Antisemitism Today. More details on that lesson and its use are provided below.

Film rating: R for language, sexuality, and actuality violence. Common Sense Media rates this film as appropriate for ages 15+.

Film reviews: Read the Video Librarian review of Schindler’s List.

Where to Watch: Watch it on Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. Or buy the DVD or Blu-ray.

Literary connection: For a film-book pairing, teach Schindler’s List with with book it was based on, Schindler’s List (original title: Schindler’s Ark) by Thomas Keneally, or Keneally’s account of writing the book, Searching for Schindler: A Memoir.

Schindler’s List Curriculum Guide

Lesson 1: Nazism in Germany and the Building of the “Racial State” (Social Studies)
Lesson 2: The Man Who Was Oskar Schindler (English, Social Studies)
Lesson 3: Resistance During the Holocaust (Social Studies)
Lesson 4: “The Righteous Gentile” (English, Social Studies)
Lesson 5: In the Spirit of Schindler (Social Studies, Speech)
Lesson 6: The Art of Steven Spielberg (Film Literacy)
Lesson 7: The Making of Schindler’s List (Film Literacy, English)
Lesson 8: Antisemitism Today, Updated 2023 (Social Studies)

Preview Curriculum Guide

Glossary of Film Terms

The Glossary of Film Terms is useful for the Film Literacy lessons that are part of this curriculum guide.

Preview Glossary of Film Terms

Lesson 8: Antisemitism Today

Lesson 8: Antisemitism Today is also available as a separate download.

This updated lesson features three key sections with handouts:

1. Antisemitism Day (Response Journal),
2. An Audit of Hate Crimes in the United States, and
3. White Supremacy and Antisemitism.

These sections can be used together or separately. Additional resources on antisemitism and antiracism are included in the lesson as well.

This lesson can be used with the film, but is also designed to be a standalone lesson. If using this lesson without the film, advise students to skip the small number of questions related to the film.

Preview Antisemitism Lesson

Group Discussion Facilitation Guidelines

In this guide, you will find suggestions for leading productive conversations that broaden perspectives, encourage empathy, and build new paradigms for education. It is adaptable, flexible and useful for a variety of learning settings. We recommend pairing it with this film to create safe space for classroom engagement around these themes and subjects.

Preview Facilitation Guide

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Related Resources

• Liam Neeson was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Oskar Schindler. In this short video he makes a compelling case for teaching with Schindler’s List today and shares about his moving experiences on set: Liam Neeson Presents the Schindler’s List Curriculum for Educators.
• Journeys in Film national advisory board member Tony Shalhoub tells the story of how men, women and children of the Jewish faith were oppressed and discriminated against in Nazi-occupied Europe under Hitler’s racist rule and offers guidance on how you can show up as an upstander today in this two minute video: Are You an Upstander or a Bystander? Its an excellent introduction to Oskar Schindler that prepares students for viewing Schindler’s List.
• We highlight this film and resource, along with other films for teaching about genocide, in our article, Teach with Film for Genocide Awareness Month (April).
• Schindler’s List is one of 6 films and corresponding curriculum resources that we highlight in Teaching with Primary Sources Through Film.