10 movies every social studies teacher should see

Okay, I lied.

I started off with the idea that I could create a short little list of my ten favorite social studies related movies. But I was wrong. As I started thinking about great history movies and talking with others, the list grew quickly. And I couldn’t narrow it down to just ten. Then it got worse. This month’s Social Education journal showed up in my mailbox with their movie list.

So.

Things have changed. I created a list of my ten favorite history movies, a list of other history movies, and another list of great feel-good teacher movies. The criteria for inclusion on the list is pretty simple – if the movie appears while channel surfing, it takes control of the remote and must be watched through the credits.

Enjoy.

My favorites in no particular order:

• Band of Brothers
  Yes, technically a mini-series. But I love the story of Dick Winters and the others who were a part of Easy Company.
• Glory
  Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War’s first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
• Gettysburg
  Based on the book The Killer Angels, this is a long movie but it does a good job of depicting weapons, tactics, and beliefs during the Civil War.
• Schindler’s List
  Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler who managed to save about 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. A testament for the good in all of us.
• The Help
  Unlikely friendships, empowerment, and the 1960s segregated South. What else do you need for a great story?
• All the President’s Men
  Not as detailed as the book but easier to follow, this is basically a documentary about the Bill of Rights.
• 1776
  Yes. It’s a musical. But a funny, fairly historically accurate musical.
• The Mission
  Perhaps the best I’ve ever seen for depicting European colonization and expansion.
• Hotel Rwanda
  Danger. Bravery. Evil. Courage. This story of genocide exposes both the good and bad in people.
• Gandhi
  An awesome story depicting human courage fighting for human rights against the machine of British colonialism.

Other great history movies

• Saving Private Ryan
• Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
• The Last of the Mohicans
• Dances with Wolves
• Mississippi Burning
• The Boy in Stripped Pajamas
• Gladiator
• Braveheart
• Letters from Iwo Jima
• To Kill A Mocking Bird
• Memphis Belle
• Dr. Strangelove
• Armistad

Feel-Good Teacher Movies

• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  As social studies teachers, this is about the best non-example I can think of. Plus, well . . . it’s hilarious.
• The Freedom Writers
  Teaching tolerance and grading tons of papers is not easy.
• Dead Poet’s Society
  Captain, my captain. Emotional connections to content make all the difference.
• October Sky
  Perseverance and supportive teachers can change lives.
• Stand and Deliver
  This is a great movie about reaching students who feel like they have no hope of success in their life.
• Teachers
  “Half of these kids aren’t coming back.” “Yeah. But the other half is.” Best line ever.
• School of Rock
  Differentiated instruction and Jack Black. Enough said.
• Searching for Bobby Fischer
  Pushy parents and pushy teachers are not always the best thing for bright kids.
• The Emperor’s Club
  I like the interaction between teacher and students. And the teacher’s concern for quality.
• Akeelah and the Bee
  There are all sorts of ways to learn and to make friends.

What would you add to the list? What you would delete?