Watching stories captivate young minds like nothing else. They’re compelling as students watch and live through what they see on screens. Movies unite people around the globe, and they have the power to educate and influence people positively. If you’re looking for Science Movies and documentaries for your next classroom movie screening, here’s a list covering concepts like Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Health, Hygiene, Cyber work and the Internet.
Big Hero 6
This movie is an adaptation of a superhero comic that marvel fans would know. In the film, a 14-year-old genius kid invents special microbots as the main character faces a tragedy. A group of heroes comes together to overtake a crafty villain using their strengths in chemistry and engineering. Along with the robotic part, the movie also deals with complex emotions of grief, the power of friendship, brotherhood and more. The fun part is that the central robot in the film is designed to heal, not hurt. Kids would love to watch how his moral code positively influences other characters. Teachers can use this movie for a classroom screening and follow it up with a group project for kids asking them which problem they’d like to solve for their classroom/community/group. Other follow-up discussions can be on engineering, robotics, invention, technology and more. The movie can be sensitive for kids who’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, so teachers be cautious about that.
Targeted Age/Grade: The movie is ideal for students aged 7 and above.
I got to watch #Baymax over the weekend and it was an absolute blast! Great for kids with important lessons for adults as well, the show blends emotion and comedy just like #BigHero6 did in the past. Can’t wait for everyone to catch this on @disneyplus! pic.twitter.com/8w5IzfovLY — TJ Zwarych – Agents Of Fandom (@TJ_Zwarych5) June 27, 2022
Osmosis Jones (2001)
Highly underrated and a must-watch movie on this list. The best part of the movie is the live-action and cartoonish animation that will keep the child hooked till the very end. The film is about how health, hygiene and the immune system are interrelated. The story revolves around an out-of-shape dad who does not care about his health while his daughter keeps trying to change his ways. The story begins when Frank’s body is exposed to a contagious, deadly germ after he eats a hardboiled egg that fell on the ground after he gets in a wrist fight with a chimpanzee for it! It’s an entertaining watch with educational value to it. By the movie’s end, viewers will be aware of the importance of hygiene and health. Older students might be able to wrap their heads around various body parts and systems. The movie features an excellent cast, including Bill Murray and Chris Rock. This has to be on your classroom screening list.
Targeted Age/Grade: Ideal for elementary and middle school kids.
When the world needed him the most.. he vanished #OsmosisJones pic.twitter.com/qANNW2FwOj — Alex (@skaten_alecks) March 12, 2020
Dream Big: Engineering Our World
Dream Big is a STEM documentary that highlights engineers and their projects from various backgrounds. From earthquake-proof structures to developing countries and structures of footbridges, the documentary has covered how engineers are the people behind the tech innovations around us that are a vital part of our life and will be equally essential in our future. It highlights working engineers, most of whom are women. Kids will also be introduced to a young engineer who is a STEM enthusiast. Teachers can use the powerful stories in the movie and create a dialogue around technology and STEM fields. You can discuss the impact of technology on the environment and how students feel about it. Also, check out this Dream Big Guide for educators, a perfect study companion for viewers. It comprises multidisciplinary activities for students in grades K-12. Each lesson on board has an engineering challenge inspired by real engineering work. This can be a starting point to introduce the engineering mindset and introduce young students to the concept with hands-on learning activities.
Targeted Age/Grade: The movie is ideal for students aged 7 and above.
March of the Penguins (2005)
Do you know that at the end of each Antarctic summer, the emperor penguins from the South Pole journey to their traditional breeding grounds in a fascinating mating ritual? This documentary covers this journey and will give you all the information about these rituals of penguins. Morgan Freeman narrates the documentary, and the main message it conveys is the inspirational and extraordinary effort adult penguins take to rear their young. It follows Emperor Penguins’ yearly journey from the ocean to their ancestral breeding grounds in Antarctica. Students will learn exciting facts about these creatures, like how the female penguin shifts the egg to the feet of the male penguin once she lays her egg or how the male penguin is responsible for looking after the egg while the female travels back to sea to feed. The documentary does include some scenes showing the death of penguins and chicks.
Targeted Age/Grade: The movie is ideal for grade 5 and above students.
It’s DAY 16 of highlighting some of cinema’s best documentaries! Next up, March of the Penguins (2005) directed by Luc Jacquet, which won Best Documentary Feature.#documentary #movies #films #marchofthepenguins #lucjacquet pic.twitter.com/NjIjm81yQi — She Had It Coming (@SHIC_TheMovie) August 16, 2021
CyberWork and the American Dream
Artificial Intelligence is the new air of technology. It’s prevalent, and we’re constantly feeding and using it. This documentary dives into the history of technology and the impact of AI, robotics, the fourth industrial revolution and its impact on the future of work. It’s ideal for students keen to learn about the future of humans with technology evolving at light speed, the future of technology, employment and human development with technology at the centre. It also addresses the challenges of this new technological disruption. Watch the movie here.
