Using movies in your homeschool
Last weekend, I had some girls-only time with my daughter. We spent a big chunk of our time watching the first four Harry Potter movies. She had read the books but had never seen the movies. I love the movies, and I was hoping she would, too. And she did!
After we would finish a movie, she would say, "They did a really good job showing (plot point)" or "They made (scenery) look exactly like I imagined." Other times, she would point out, "They skipped the part about (cut book scene)" or "What about (cut character quirk)?"
She was naturally comparing and contrasting - an important critical thinking exercise - without any intention on my part to infuse academic learning into our movie marathon.
Certain forms of media (like Hollywood movies) get a bad rep sometimes in homeschooling circles, which is unfortunate. In moderation, movies can be a great addition to your homeschool. They provide learning value and can infuse some fun by breaking up the regular day-to-day operations.
Sometimes movies help to illustrate worlds you couldn't see otherwise. You can watch a movie that takes place in ancient Egypt and get a better sense of what that civilization looked like. You can watch a movie that includes scientific components - for example, space exploration - and see what it's like to work in that field. You can watch a movie about a famous historical figure to learn about their life. In any of these cases, there's a good chance your child's curiosity will make them want to learn more, which will lead to more reading.
Movies (and even short TV episodes) can be used to develop story skills. You can figure out theme, explore characterization, and plot out cause-and-effect trajectory. Don't believe me? Even professional writing books use movies to teach story elements!
Movie adaptations of books you've read can provide yet another learning opportunity. For starters, you can compare and contrast the book and the movie. Watching the movie first (gasp!) might give easier access into the story so that your child feels more confident when reading the book. I find this particularly true if you are reading a classic in which difficult language structure may be a barrier. (I intend to use this tactic with my daughter when we get to Jane Austen.) Seeing the movie first may also inspire your child to attempt reading a difficult book they would not have tried otherwise.
You could also try watching adaptations that are derivatives of an original work. For instance, there are tons of movies that draw heavily from Pride and Prejudice. You could watch a few and tease out how these movies drew from the original story and how they branched into something new.
What movies do you want to try in your homeschool? I'd love to hear about your choices! Or maybe you completely disagree with me on this point - and that's cool - I'm happy to have respectful conversations with people whose opinions differ from my own.
I think we may watch the Cinderella movie Ever After on our next rainy day. We've been studying the Renaissance, and I think it would be a fun and age-appropriate way of getting a glimpse into that world.
Have a great weekend!
