What movies would you show in your classroom, in whole or in part?  Remember, you may be time limited.  Even part of a movie or video can make a great instructional point! Check these titles!

Designed for the Classroom

Big Changes, Big Choices - featuring comedian Michael Pritchard.  For more information, visit - http://www.goodcharacter.com/BCBC/BCBC.html.  Free preview available.

Crash Course in Calcium - National Dairy Council - Teens talk to teens, emphasizing the need for adequate calcium intake in the teen years.

HIV/AIDS Videos approved by OSPI for medical accuracy - http://www.k12.wa.us/healthfitness/ - The OSPI Health/Fitness page also includes information about the video loan library.

Feature Films of Middle School Merit

Osmosis Jones - After the stiff attempts at realism in many recent features, it's a treat to see broad cartoon-style animation on the big screen in Osmosis Jones, a spoof of cop movies set inside the human body. The title character (voice by Chris Rock) is a street-smart white blood cell, working for Frank's immune system. He and Drix (David Hyde Pierce), an over-the-counter cold capsule, are reluctant partners fighting what appears to be a minor infection. Osmosis discovers Frank has really contracted a fatal virus, Thrax (Laurence Fishburne): he battles a corrupt body politic led by a venal mayor (William Shatner) to save Frank's life and win the affection of the mayor's aide, Leah (Brandy Norwood). Rock's motor-mouth delivery can get annoying, but it contrasts nicely with straight arrow Drix (imagine a fussy Buzz Lightyear). Excellent drawing and a powerful vocal performance make Thrax a genuinely frightening villain. (Amazon review)

Pay It Forward - Pay It Forward is a multi-level marketing scheme of the heart. Beginning as a seventh-grade class assignment to put into action an idea that could change the world, young Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment) comes up with a plan to do good deeds for three people who then by way of payment each must do good turns for three other people. These nine people also must pay it forward and so on, ad infinitum. If successful, the resulting network of do-gooders ought to comprise the entire world. Trevor's attempts to get the ball rolling include befriending a junkie (James Caviezel) and trying to set up his recovering-alcoholic mother (Helen Hunt) with his burn-victim teacher (Kevin Spacey), who posed the assignment.  (Amazon review)

What's on your movie list?  Send your suggestions to Margo - margo@pnwhealth.com

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This page was created by Margo Harris for the Seattle Public Schools.  For comments about this page, contact Margo at margo@pnwhealth.com  This page was last updated February 18, 2003 .