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Celebrate Islam with film all year round with these global education films that center Muslim stories plus our free teaching guides. Children of Heaven Children of Heaven follows an Iranian brother and sister and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes. The film showcases both modern and tradition Tehran and portrays a loving family […]

Journeys in Film is presenting at SXSW EDU 2025 on March 3! Join our executive director Jen Fischer and panelists from ROCO Films, Common Sense Media and Sierra College as they discuss The Power of Film in Classrooms and Teacher Training. Educators can receive continuing professional learning credit hours by attending this session. We hope […]

We’re thrilled that our article on Creating a Calm Classroom is part of the Best of Share My Lesson 2024! Check out these free tools and resources to help students manage big feelings: Creating a Calm Classroom at Share My Lesson. More of the Best at Share My Lesson Journeys in Film has been honored […]

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. […]

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 & […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]