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Collage of film posters for Big Sonia, Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down, He Named Me Malala, Hidden Figures, JANE, Queen of Katwe, Rebel Hearts, Wadjda, and Whale Rider.

Women’s History Month: Teach With Film

Free Resources for Women’s History Month These free resources to support you through Women’s History Month that all take advantage of the power of film. They include core-based lesson plans, fully prepared and ready for immediate classroom use, as they highlight the stories of women who are changemakers, thought leaders, scholars, scientists and much more. […]

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Teach Holocaust Education with Film. Across the bottom is a row of Journeys in Film Curriculum Guides for Schindler's List, Big Sonia, and Defiant Requiem. The Journeys in Film logo is in the top right corner.

Teach Holocaust Education with Film

We’re excited to share our new step-by-step guide on how to Teach Holocaust Education with Film. From award-winning documentaries to tools for fostering critical discussions, these resources help educators teach the Holocaust authentically, inspire empathy, and honor the lessons of history. Holocaust Education Guide Highlights 1. Getting Ready to Teach Holocaust Education: instructional foundations & […]

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A row of film posters for The Way Home, The Cup, and Like Stars on Earth. Text says Quote; Inspire Your Heart With Art.

Inspire Your Heart With Art

January 31 is National Inspire Your Heart With Art Day! To celebrate, we’re highlighting our favorite film-based art lessons for elementary and middle school. Like Stars on Earth: Explore Indian Block Printed Textiles. Grades 5-8. Please Vote For Me: Make your own Chinese Papercuts Folk Art. Grades 5-8. The Cup: Learn about Tibetan Mandala Art […]

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We Are Here For You

A Message from our Executive Director For many of us and our communities, this year has begun with loss, uncertainty, and other difficult challenges. Journeys works with many educators and film professionals in Los Angeles, where the effects of multiple wildfires are devastating. Others beyond L.A. may also be affected by these events as reminders […]

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Photo of an open window set in an adobe wall. Terracotta pots of red geraniums sit on the window ledge. The image is warm and inviiting.

Windows and Mirrors: Building Belonging Through Literary Perspective

When I first learned about the idea of windows and mirrors in literature, I felt a lightning bolt of recognition. As an English teacher, I appreciate when my class has a shared language around the semester’s enduring questions. Learning a concept early on and returning to it as a metaphor throughout the class discussion and […]

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Banner image featuring the following movie posters: Queen of Katwe, Summer of Soul, He Named Me Malala, Big Sonia, The Music of Strangers

What to Teach in January

Here are guides and other suggestions for educators, homeschooling individuals, community groups, and others for what to teach in January!  January Teaching Highlights January is National Mentoring Month. Queen of Katwe is the perfect film to inspire a new generation of mentors. January 15-19, 2024 is GLSEN No Name-Calling Week. Like Stars on Earth is […]

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Still photo from the hit Disney film Chevalier, showing title character Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, striking a triumphant pose with his arms outstretched, a bow in one hand and a violin in the other. Text says: "Teach with film for Violin Day".

Violin Day Teaching Resources

Looking for ways to teach with film for Violin Day on December 13? Celebrate Violin Day with these beautiful films featuring violins and violinists plus our free teaching guides with lesson plans that cover subjects across the curriculum including Music Education, Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Environmental Science and more! Four Great Films to Teach […]

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The Journeys In Film guides for The Music of Strangers and The Neighborhood Storyteller. Additional text says: "Teach about Syria with Film. Journeys in Film."

Teach about Syria with Film

Teach about Syria with film. Film is a powerful way to teach about global peoples and cultures. As part of our global education collection, we are pleased to offer free education resources to help you bring films to your classroom to teach about Syria. The Neighborhood Storyteller The Neighborhood Storyteller is a valuable resource for […]

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Boost engagement with film book pairings poster

Boost Student Engagement with Film & Book Pairings

  Get students excited about classes and boost student engagement with film-book pairings. Journeys in Film offers free lesson plans and discussion guides for films with literary connections to make film-book pairings fun and easy for teachers and students alike. Why educators love film-book pairings Films are fun! They bring joy and excitement to the […]

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Actor Michael B. Jordan stands in 3/4 profile, looking resolute, as real life lawyer Bryan Stevenson in the film Just Mercy. Text says: Can Movies Rewire Your Brain?

Can watching movies rewire your brain?

New Stanford research finds that when people lose themselves in a story, they become more empathetic: “According to findings published Oct. 21 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, watching Just Mercy increased participants’ empathy for the recently incarcerated and decreased their enthusiasm for the death penalty.” – The Hollywood Reporter, October 23, […]

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Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea in the film Whale Rider, a young Māori girl in traditional clothing. Along the right side there are posters for He Named Me Malala, Queen of Katwe, The Neighborhood Storyteller, and Wadjda. Text says: "5 Films to Celebrate Girls. Teach with film. Journeys in Film."

5 Films That Celebrate Girls

Representation matters: it’s a powerful tool for creating empathy and understanding. Diverse film representation can act as both windows and mirrors for students, providing an opportunity to see into new perspectives and experiences, while also providing mirrors that reflect back affirmation and an expanded sense of possibility. We’re pleased to offer free teaching resources for […]

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Photo of the stone-paved path between upright concrete slabs at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin. The path leads towards a distant golden light; the image feels quietly hopeful. White text says: "Holocaust Education: Seven Essential Teaching Tools. Teach with Film. Journeys in Film."

Teach Genocide Education with Film

Genocide education is more urgent and timely than ever. We recommend the following films and teaching guides to support you in mindfully teaching Holocaust education through film. These materials are  variously appropriate for elementary school, middle school and high school; they can also work well for higher education, adult education, public screenings and community group […]

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Still photo from documentary film Youth v Gov, showing a joyful group of diverse young people at a protest march. Text says: 12 Films About Young Heroes.

12 Films That Celebrate Young Heroes

We’re pleased to offer free teaching resources for award-winning documentaries and feature films with young protagonists who students can relate to. Youth-centered films are a wonderful way to boost student engagement across the curriculum and at the same time increase students’ understanding of themselves and the world around them. Show Students Heroes That They Can […]

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Photo from above of a group of people sitting in a circle, engaged in a dynamic discussion. Text says: "Easy Film Discussion Guides. Teach with Film." The Journeys in Film logo is a the bottom.

Discussion Guides Make Screening Films Easy

Simplify your film screenings with film Discussion Guides from Journeys in Film! Our free Discussion Guides for award-winning films provide questions to encourage critical thinking, powerful discussion, and expanded understanding. Our Discussion Guides make hosting rousing discussions around film screenings to boost impact and engagement simple and easy. Discussion Guide Frequently Asked Questions Who are […]

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In a bright, sunny room, a delicate white mug sits on a saucer next to a stack of silk-bound books in sunrise shades of purple, pink, raspberry and lavender. Text says: "Classroom-Ready Lesson Plans. Teach with Film." The Journeys in Film logo is at the bottom.

Make Teaching Easy with Classroom-Ready Lesson Plans

Simplify your school year with classroom-ready lesson plans from Journeys in Film! Our free curriculum guides for award-winning films contain ready-to-teach lessons for elementary, middle school, and high school instruction. Our lesson plans are created by teams of area experts and instructional designers to boost student engagement and teach critical thinking across the curriculum. The […]

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