Teacher Study Guide byC. K. Robertson, Ph.D. and Charlie Abourjilie

v2.11.0801

for Character EducationFILMclips

EPISODE 6VISION ・ FORGIVENESS ・ EMPATHY

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Table of Contents(CLICK A THEME OR CLIP BELOW TO JUMP TO PAGE)

(FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES CLICK HERE)

FORGIVENESSBilly Madison

Antwone FisherStar Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country

Kicking & Screaming

VISIONCoach Carter

The Great OutdoorsThe Truman Show

Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country

EMPATHYTeen Wolf

Bridge to TerabithiaThe Incredibles

Bringing Down the House

All clips are under copyright and are used with permission from copyright holders.

None of the movies represented in the Film Clips Series is rated higher than PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America, except for three of the movies in Episode Eight (“Glory”, “Born on the Fourth of July”, and “Saving Private Ryan”). No inappropriate material is included in any of the individual film clips.

Educational StandardsPages 20-24The film clips in this series meet the performance standards.

Spanish/English OptionsOptions for audio and subtitles in English or Spanish are available in “Set-tings” on the main menu of the DVD. Spanish audio is available for most, but not all film clips.

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Welcome to Film Clips for Character Education.

© Film Clips Spirit of America

The following pages contain an exciting new approach to character education which reaches students through a medium for which they have a natural affinity: Hollywood movies. In this nine-part series, clips from the movies are used to assist teachers and students engage in reflection and discussion about character and moral action.

At its core are clips from popular Hollywood movies that exemplify key character traits and issues surrounding moral development. The clips provide students with situations that relate to ‘real life’ experiences and draw them into a natural engagement with the subject. This approach not only stimulates students’ thinking on moral action and character, but enhances their engagement with the regular curriculum in the areas of Language Arts, Social Studies, and Fine Arts.

In this guide you will find resources to help you create the greatest impact with Film Clips. Four clips are listed under each key character trait, for the purpose of illustrating some positive or negative aspect of the given trait and stimulating creative reflection and discussion. This study guide provides a great deal of flexibility for the teacher to use Film Clips most effectively. You will want to use your discretion regarding the appropriateness of both the clips and the suggested activities to the age as well as the intellectual and emotional skill levels of your students.

With this in mind, this study guide can help you take a fresh approach to character education, using the letters F-I-L-M to summarize the appropriate steps:

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Fitting clips to lesson plans and standardsA list of key education standards covered by the clips and activities suggested in this guide is available on pages 20-24.

Creating a Lesson Plan:The teacher can choose to create one 45–50 minute class session, by showing all four clips under a key theme, pausing after each for reaction and discussion (25–30 minutes), and then doing one of the following exercises (15–20 minutes). Alternatively, the teacher can create four 30 minute class sessions by showing one clip, pausing for reaction and discussion (10–15 minutes), and doing one of the following exercises (15–20 minutes).

Introducing clips to students. Pages 5-16As you prepare to show a film clip, you can introduce it with a plot synopsis. This gives students who have not previously seen the movie from which the clip is taken some context for understanding the clip.

Pause the DVD after the on-screen teaser question following the clip.

Listening to students discuss the clips. Pages 5-16The on-screen teaser question following a film clip is designed to initiate thoughtful discussion. The follow-up “Going Deeper” questions should encourage further personal exploration. These questions can be addressed in the context of the whole class, or by splitting the class into small groups and then having the groups report back to the larger class after they have explored their thoughts and opinions, or through

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a written exercise to be handed in later. The quotations help students build higher order thinking skills, foster analysis of the quotation and relate the film clip to their own lives ant the topics they are discovering in class.

Moving students to action. Pages 16-20Suggested activities to engage the students more deeply with the issues raised by the film clips.

Forgiveness

Theme: Asking for ForgivenessFilm: Billy Madison (PG-13) 1:00

He may be too big to fit in the desk, but that is the least of Billy Madison’s problems as he is forced to go back to high school years later to earn his rich father’s respect. After being laughed at by his fellow students, Billy is reminded that he used to do the same thing to others. Going back and seeking forgiveness may be the most important lesson he has to learn.

This 2004 film from Universal Studios is directed by Tamara Davis, written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, and stars Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Josh Mostel, Bridgette Wilson, Norm MacDonald, and Darren McGavin.

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Teaser Question: What are the essential parts of a good apology?

Going Deeper: When should you apologize to someone?What if it has been a long time? What good does an apology do much later?

“Reversing your treatment of the man you have wronged is better than asking his forgiveness.” —Elbert Hubbard

“True forgiveness is not an action after the fact; it is an attitude with which you enter each moment.” —David Ridge

Theme: Healing Film: Antwone Fisher (PG-13) 1:58

A young sailor is full of rage and resentment until a military counselor comes into his life and challenges Fisher to deal with his anger and hurt, and to search for his roots.

This 2002 film from 20th Century Fox is directed by Denzel Washington, written by Antwone Fisher and stars Derek Luke, Denzel Washington, Joy Bryant, Sali Richardson, and Novella Nelson.

Teaser Question: How can forgiveness heal the forgiver?

Going Deeper: “Regard without ill will despite an offense” —that is the dictionary definition of forgiveness. Talk about what those words mean to you.

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“Without forgiveness there is no future.”—Desmond Tutu

“You don’t have to accept the invitation to get angry. Instead, practice forgiveness, empathy, encouragement.”

—Dan Fallon

Theme: When Anger Holds You BackFilm: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country(PG) 0:42

The crews of the Enterprise and the Excelsior must stop a plot to prevent a peace treaty between the Klingon Empire and the Federation. Among other obstacles to the success of this mission is that Captain Kirk, the person in charge of getting the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to the peace summit, holds a deadly grudge against all Klingons.

This 1991 film from Paramount Pictures is directed by Nicholas Meyer, with the screenplay by Nicholas Meyer and Denny Martin Flinn. It stars William Shatner, Leonard Nemoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Kim Cattrall, and Christopher Plummer.

Teaser Question: Could you forgive someone who hasn’t apologized to you?

Going Deeper: How do you calm down when your anger starts to rise? “I’ve never trusted Klingons, and I never will. I could never forgive them for the death of my boy. It seems to me our mission to escort the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to

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a peace summit is problematic at best. Spock says this could be an historic occasion, and I’d like to believe him, but how on earth can history get past people like me?”

—Captain James T. Kirk

“Being unable to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

—James Arthur Ray

Theme: HumilityFilm: Kicking & Screaming(PG) 0:50

A normally mild-mannered dad agrees to coach his son’s soccer team, only to end up in a bitter competition against another team coached by his own tough-as-nails father. In his quest to win at all costs, he ends up taking his own young son off the field and putting him on the bench.

This 2005 film from Universal Studios is directed by Jesse Dylan, written by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick, and stars Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall, Mike Ditka, Kate Walsh, and Dylan McLaughlin.

Teaser Question: Why is hard to admit a mistake?

Going Deeper: Have you ever had your parent ask for your forgiveness? What would you like to tell your parents or other adults about mistakes and forgiveness?

“It is the highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them. To make a mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows infirmity of character.”

—Dale E. Turner

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“The best thing you can do when you’ve made a mistake is: Admit it, admit it soon and put yourself at the mercy of the people.”

—Cathy Allen

Vision

Theme: Looking AheadFilm: Coach Carter(PG-13) 0:53

A former basketball star is asked to coach a team where the players do not believe they need to be disciplined students. As the story focuses on the backgrounds and struggles of each of the players, we see the powerful influence one person can have on the lives of others if that person can help them face their fears and move forward.

This 2005 film from Paramount Pictures and MTV Films is directed by Thomas Carter, written by Mark Schwahn and John Gatins, and stars Samuel L. Jackson, Rob Brown, Robert Richard, Rick Gonzalez, Nana Gbewonyo, Antwon Tanner, and Channing Tatum.

Teaser Question: How do you see yourself now? 10 years from now?

Going Deeper: Name the people who have been most influential in your life? Why did you choose these people?

“My chief want in life is someone who shall make me do what I can.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

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“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

—John M. Richardson, Jr.

Theme: PerspectiveFilm: The Great Outdoors(PG) 0:58

Everything seems to go wrong for two brothers-in-law as they take their families on a joint vacation, only to end up constantly battling each other. Even in a quiet moment on the porch, we see two very different views of the same beautiful lake and forest before them.

This 1988 film from Universal Studios is directed by Howard Duetch, written by John Hughes, and stars Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Stephanie Faracy.

Teaser Question: Why do people see things differently?

Going Deeper: The two men have different views of the land on around them. What is your vision for the environment?

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”

—Helen Keller

“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.”—Jonathan Swift

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Theme: EpiphanyFilm: The Truman Show(PG) 0:58

A man who has considered his life to be entirely normal has no idea he is actually the unknowing star of the ultimate reality television show, where every moment of every day of his life is broadcast live to the world. After beginning to suspect that things are not quite what they have always appeared to be, Truman finally comes face-to-face with a larger reality that he could not even have imagined before.

This 1998 film from Paramount Pictures is directed by Peter Weir, written by Andrew Niccol, and stars Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, and Ed Harris.

Teaser Question: Describe a moment when your perspective suddenly changed. How did you change?

Going Deeper: What do you think you will need to grow into the person that you want to become?

“An artist’s duty is rather to stay open-minded and in a state where he can receive information and inspiration. You always have to be ready for that little artistic Epiphany.”

—Nick Cave

“A teacher’s day is half bureaucracy, half crisis, half monotony and one-eighth epiphany. Never mind the arithmetic.”

—Susan Ohanian

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Theme: Where No One Has Gone BeforeFilm: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country(PG) 0:44

Captain Kirk reflects on his final voyage as the Enterprise sails off into the unknown future.

This 1991 film from Paramount Films is directed by Nicholas Meyer, written by Nicholas Meyer and Denny Martin Flinn, and stars William Shatner, Leonard Nemoy, and DeForest Kelley.

Teaser Question: Can you be uncertain about the future and still have a strong vision?

Going Deeper: What skills do you need to be a person who can successfully explore and discover in the world today and in the future. How can you acquire these skills?

“What is the difference between exploring and being lost?”—Don Eldon

“Sail Forth- Steer for the deep waters only. Reckless O soul, exploring. I with thee and thou with me. For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared go. And we will risk the ship, ourselves, and all.”

—Walt Whitman

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Empathy

Theme: Caring for OthersFilm: Teen Wolf(PG-13) 0:46

An ordinary teenager suddenly becomes an excellent basketball player and a popular student at school. The problem is that his new abilities are the result of becoming a werewolf! It may mean that he has the girl of his dreams and all the friends he could want, but is it worth the price of being so different? Who will listen? Whose advice can he trust?

This 1985 film from MGM/UA is directed by Rod Daniel, written by Jeph Loeb and Matthew Weisman and stars Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Susan Ursitti, Jerry Levine and Jay Tarses.

Teaser Question: What is required in a caring relationship besides empathy?

Going Deeper: Why do some people sometimes do nothing to help someone who is in need? How important is listening? Is fear a factor?

“Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for other’s good, and melt at other’s woe.”

—Homer

“When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they’ll remember and be kind to someone else. And it’ll become like wildfire.”

—Whoopie Goldberg

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Theme: Reaching Out to OthersFilm: Bridge to Terabithia(PG) 1:25

A new girl at school teaches a boy who is usually alone what it means to tap into his imagination and experience adventures beyond the ordinary.

This 2007 film from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media is directed by Gabor Csupo, written by Jeff Stockwell and David Paterson, and stars Josh Hutcherson, Anna Sophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick, and Bailee Madison.

Teaser Question: Have you ever reached out to an outcastor bully? Why? Why not?

Going Deeper: A definition of grace is “Courteous Goodwill.” How was Jess an agent of courteous goodwill to the wounded bully? Who has been an agent of grace to you? How have you been an agent of grace to others?

“By “guts” I mean grace under pressure.”—Ernest Hemingway

“If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them.”

—Francis Bacon, Sr.

Theme: The Price of EmpathyFilm: The Incredibles(PG) 1:18

When superheroes are tossed aside by the people they help, they retire

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and go into hiding. Years later, the greatest hero is simply an out-of-shape husband and father with a boring job. But even without using superpowers, he still finds ways to help others… even when it could get him in big trouble.

This 2004 animated film from Walt Disney and Pixar is directed by Brad Bird, written by Brad Bird, and stars the voice talents of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, and Wallace Shawn.

Teaser Question: What are the risks and rewards of empathy?

Going Deeper: Has anyone ever taken a risk for you and, if so, how did you feel about that? Have you ever done this for someone else?

“Men are only great as they are kind.”—Elbert Hubbard

“Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.”

—Henri F. Amiel

Theme: When It’s Hard to ListenFilm: Bringing Down the House(PG-13) 1:53

When an uptight lawyer gets stuck with a fun-loving woman charged with a crime she didn’t commit, the results are hilarious. But things turn serious when the lawyer’s daughter has been out late at night doing who knows what. The father is ready to give her the third degree, until he is urged to consider that it may be better to show care and concern than to do the predictable thing and simply get upset.

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This 2003 film from Touchstone Pictures is directed by Adam Shankman, written by Jason Filardi, and stars Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright, and Jean Smart.

Teaser Question: Why is empathy important ?

Going Deeper: What difference would it have made if he had indeed been angry with his daughter? Are there times when it is better not to simply listen and understand?

“Compassion is the basis of all morality.”—Arthur Schopenhauer

“When things go wrong don’t go with them.”—Elvis Presley

Moving students to action.Suggested activities to engage the students more deeply with the issues raised by the film clips.

Character “Word Wall” A “word wall” can help your students develop/build their vocabulary in terms of meaning, context, and relevance. The words below come directly from the video clips or the question prompt at the end of each clip. Developing a word wall is a great way to introduce key vocabulary terms at the beginning of a unit or piece by piece as your class explores a unit of study.

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Forgiveness Empathy Vision

Civility Community Dream

Risk Obstacle The Golden Rule

Reward Sympathy Compassion

Utilizing Quotes Use as journal starters and essay prompts.

A tool to strengthen student writing, as in supporting a line of thought expressed by the writer.

Develop analytical thinking. Quotes are character-based in nature which is common among many state writing tests, the SAT, and many analytical writing prompts.

Connect concepts across multiple curricula.

Homework discussion starters with parents or guardians.

Encourage students to share their own favorite maxim (one they have heard or read before, one passed down as a family favorite, or one used often in class) and reflect upon its meaning and context.

Inspire students, teams, or collaborative pairs to develop their own personal “Code of Character” or “team motto” based on one of the quotes.

Language Arts:Scribe students’ favorite maxims or motto on the board and have the class interpret it’s meaning.

This can then lead to a grammatical analysis of the quote where the students can edit the student’s rendition of the quote for spelling, punctuation, tense and part of speech.

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History and Social Studies:Have students research or discover who the author of the quote is, where the author came from and when and where the quote may have been said. Look for any special context or history behind the quote.

Select a classroom “Quote of the Week” that provides a theme for daily assignments, possibly taken from one of the suggestions above.

As students learn and analyze more quotes, they provide great material to use for extra credit questions and assignments. This is an excellent way to keep the quotes fresh and in the mind of the students.

Idea Starters!1. Have students identify or brainstorm situations in your classroom or school where there are everyday opportunities to exhibit compassion.

2. Have each student list things they have been forgiven for and things that they could forgive others for.

3. As a homework assignment or week long project, have your students practice active forgiveness and report on the response of the person they forgave and how this made them as the forgiver feel.

4. Call your local National Conference on Community and Justice (NCCJ) and ask them for activities that deal with empathy and understanding.

5. Practice the art of saying “Thank you” and “I’m sorry”; have students practice this for two weeks, noting the reactions and feelings they receive. As the teacher, role model this daily for your students in your class.

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6. Have your students adopt a lunch or reading buddy and have them talk about the virtues of empathy and forgiveness. Select stories to read that focus on these things.

7. Role play different scenarios from each movie, where applicable. Students can demonstrate the right way and wrong way to show forgiveness.

8. As a class, analyze Elvis Presley’s quote (under Bringing Down the House) by brainstorming the ways their daily lives can take a wrong turn and how they choose to handle it.

9. Ask students what their Vision is for their own lives! Be specific and ask them to plot their map for getting there.

10. Challenge each student to show kindness towards someone that has been picked on or teased by the crowd.

11. Sponsor a “Laws of Life” or “Foundations for Life” Essay contest in your school or just for your class, based on the themes in Episode 6. (See, www.lawsoflife.org/contest/ or http://charactercounts.org/programs/FFL/index.html )

12. Have your class (or when working with an individual student) write down 10 short term goals and 10 long term goals. Prioritize if needed. Then ask the students to analyze their goals and assess what it will take to reach them. Keep their recorded goals for them until the end of the year, then assess how well they have made progress towards reaching their goals. Give each student the copy of their goals to take and keep with them.

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Keeping a DiaryThe students can be asked to keep a diary with 27 entries in which they will record their favorite examples of the character trait they saw demonstrated in the clips and examples of how they have or have not shown this character trait in their own lives. Also included are guides to other resources to help you to use these film clips most effectively in your classroom. We hope that this study guide will stimulate your own creativity to help your students grow in their abilities for moral reflection and action.

Fitting clips to standards:

In recent years, assessment of the academic progress of students has been standardized through the creation of a set of measurable and obtainable goals or standards. Listed here are sample standards that we believe are fulfilled by utilizing the film clips, teaser questions, and various exercises listed in this guide.

Language Arts Standards (Elementary)Topic: Listening/Speaking

Standard: Recalls, interprets, and summarizes information presented orally.Standard: Uses oral language for different purposes: to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.Standard: Responds to literal, inferential, and evaluative questions on orally presented material. Standard: Acquires new vocabulary in each content area and uses it correctly.Standard: Participates in discussions related to curricular learning in all subject areas.Standard: Determines the meaning of a word based on how it is used in an orally presented sentence.

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Topic: Writing Standard: Uses a writing process that involves pre-

writing, drafting, revising, editing (can involve peer editing), proofreading, and publishing.

Topic: Literature Standard: Experiences traditional and contemporary

literature through a variety of media. Social Studies Standards (Elementary)Topic: Information Processing Standard: Gathers information through reading, listening,

observing and surveying. Standard: Locates and utilizes information from a variety

of sources, e.g., books, newspapers, atlases, glossaries, photographs, laser- disks, computer software, others.

Standard: Selects and discusses the main idea from a reading passage or listening activity.

Standard: Distinguishes between fiction and non-fiction stories.

Standard: Analyzes information from two or more sources for agreements, contradictions, facts, and opinions.

Topic: Problem Solving Standard: Identifies and states a problem related to topic

under study. Standard: Chooses a solution to a problem after supplying

the evidence. Standard: Shows respect toward others.

Fine Arts Standards (Elementary)Topic: Artistic Skills and Knowledge: Creating, Performing,

Producing Standard: Identifies and applies dramatic elements of plot,

setting, character, and dialogue.

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Standard: Identifies implicit and explicit main ideas, details, sequences of events, and cause-effect relationships in dramatic presentations.

Standard: Describes and demonstrates the role and responsibility of the audience.

Standard: Demonstrates an awareness that drama comes from all cultures throughout time and compares and contrasts cultures through drama activities.

Language Arts Standards (Middle & High )Topic: Listening/Speaking

Standard: Follows oral directions and asks questions for clarification.Standard: Listens and responds to various language patterns and literary forms including regional dialects.Standard: Responds to literal, inferential, and critical questions.Standard: Evaluates messages and effects of mass media (film).

Topic: Writing Standard: Uses a writing process that involves pre-

writing, drafting, revising, editing (can involve peer editing), proofreading, and publishing.

Standard: Writes paragraphs that include unifying ideas and supporting details (may include topic sentence and clincher sentence).

Standard: Produces paragraphs and compositions for a variety of purposes (exposition, description, narration, and persuasion).

Standard: Experiments with organization, style, purpose, and audience.

Standard: Uses available electronic communication technologies in writing.

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Social Studies Standards (Middle & High)Topic: Cultural Geography Standard: Identifies various ethnic groups in the Americas,

Europe, and Oceania, and describes their impact on the development of the regions (e.g., linguistic patterns and cultural contributions).

Standard: Assesses cultural expression of art, music, and literature.

Standard: Explains how social institutions (religion, government, and economics) influence the attitudes and behaviors of people.

Topic: Cultural Geography Standard: Categorizes important social and cultural

developments of the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.

Topic: Problem Solving Standard: Identifies and defines a problem. Standard: Formulates possible alternatives/solutions to a

given problem. Standard: Collects evidence using appropriate, reliable

data. Standard: Chooses a reasonable solution from among the

various alternatives. Standard: Identifies areas for further study. Standard: Follows established rules. Standard: Shows respect toward others. Standard: Works with a group, following set rules of

procedure to complete an assigned task. Standard: Formulates and defends position on issues. Standard: Identifies and uses alternative methods of conflict

resolution. Standard: Participates in planning for effective civic actions

and demonstrates effective civic actions. Standard: Recognizes the rights of others to present

different viewpoints.

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Fine Arts Standards (Middle & High)Topic: Artistic Skills and Knowledge: Creating, Performing,

Producing Standard: Demonstrates social discipline and appropriate

group contribution. Standard: Uses imagination to form and express thought, feeling, and character.

Character-related StandardsStandard: Retells stories that illustrate positive character traits and will explain how the people in the stories show the qualities of honesty, patriotism, loyalty, courtesy, respect, truth, pride, self-control, moderation, and accomplishment.Standard: Gives examples of how the historical figures under study demonstrate the positive citizenship traits of honesty, dependability, liberty, trustworthiness, honor, civility, good sportsmanship, patience, and compassion.Standard: Demonstrates an understanding of good citizenship.

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Special Thanks to:

North Carolina Department of Public InstructionGeorgia Department of Education

Directors Guild of AmericaScreen Actors Guild of America

Writers Guild of AmericaAmerican Federation of MusiciansOf the United States and Canada

Buena Vista PicturesDimension Films

DreamworksLions Gate Films

LucasfilmMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Films

Miramax FilmsNew Line Cinema

Paramount PicturesPixar Animation

Touchstone StudiosTwentieth Century Fox

United ArtistsUniversal Pictures

Walden MediaWalt Disney Pictures

Warner Bros.The Weinstein Company

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