Collection: Film Studies and Movie Analysis Curriculum — Semester 1 Collection (Units 1–4)
Film Studies and Movie Analysis Curriculum — Semester 1 Collection (Units 1–4)
This collection covers the first half of the full-year film elective. It’s built for entry-level high school classes and mixed-readiness groups, with school-friendly, easy-to-stream films. Day-by-day pacing aligns each lesson to the included movie guides and extension strands. Videos are not included; verify streaming availability and follow your site’s permissions policy.
What you get
- Semester 1 planning and pacing mapped to Units 1–4
- Weekly lesson plans aligned to movie guides and extensions
- Semester syllabus, parent guide, and editable permission slips
- Streaming tracker (Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video)
- Assessment outlines and rubrics for comparative and summative tasks
Units covered (Semester 1)
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Unit 1 — Dystopia & Environment: visual storytelling, systems thinking, cause-and-effect chains
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Unit 2 — The Underdog: grit, mentorship, symbolism, decision → outcome analysis
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Unit 3 — Blockbusters (Oldies) + Three Acts: act turns, set pieces, theme via spectacle and song
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Unit 4 — Blockbusters (Modern) + Three Acts: worldbuilding, antagonist argument, heist/clue chains
Representative films (Semester 1)
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Unit 1: WALL·E (2008); The Social Dilemma (2020); Before the Flood (2016); David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
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Unit 2: Rudy (1993); Greater (2016); Edward Scissorhands (1990); The Karate Kid (1984); The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
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Unit 3: Toy Story (1995); The Princess Bride (1987); Jurassic Park (1993); Aladdin (1992); Home Alone (1990)
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Unit 4: National Treasure (2004); Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023); Avatar (2009); Black Panther (2018)
Extension strands (spiral all semester)
- Loglines and student presentations
- Three acts and plot points
- Cinematography mini-lessons
- Theme statements with scene evidence
Search-friendly phrases: semester film studies curriculum, movie analysis lessons for high school, three-act structure activities, visual literacy mini-lectures, substitute-ready film guides, CCSS-aligned film course resources.
