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Literature on Film - Sci-Fi and Fantasy ELA
Courtney Runchey
Star Educator
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(38)
In this 14-week class students will explore literature through film commonly taught in American high schools. Students will be expected to watch each movie before class each week. All abilities welcome and accommodated.
Class experience
US Grade 9 - 12
In this 14-week ELA class High School students will explore sci-fi and fantasy literature through film. Students will be expected to watch each movie before class each week. During each class we will cover major differences between the book and movie, themes, symbolism, genre and discuss the plot. Students should be comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas about the works. Students of all abilities are able to be successful in this class. Class Format: Welcome - Introduction to movie...
Students will gain a base knowledge of sci-fi and fantasy literature covered in class. Including overall plot, themes, major characters, and what was exceptional about this to make it a staple of high schools.
I have worked in education for over 15 years, the last 9 as a homeschool parent. My passion is helping students create a deeper understanding of complex material by examining different perspectives. The stories that are told matter, even more in today's world. Understanding another perspective and story can help us relate. I love sharing new diverse literature that is engaging and expands students' understanding. History can come alive using both novels and primary source materials in my classes. When examining history there are many factors that we will discuss including socioeconomic, religious, bias in narration and understanding who the narrator is. Critical thinking is a skill that all students will work on, while we engage in discussions about the topics covered students will be questioned to consider different perspectives and reasons for events or choices. I have taught at a local homeschool co-op for over 7 years (in person and online) During that time one of my favorite classes has been running the middle and high school book clubs. Beside introducing books to students; I have been facilitating the discussions around difficult topics. I have attended many teacher professional developments over the years focusing on how to handle these difficult topics with sensitivity and care. I started my schooling with a B.B.A. from Northwood University. After several years in the corporate climate I decided to go back to school to get a teaching degree. I attended Eastern Michigan University and finished my classes and testing required for the teaching degree. The semester I was to start student teaching one of my children became seriously ill. Once they were recovered I was starting to homeschool my children and never went back to finish the program. While I have taught at several homeschool groups and co-ops. My experience at the high school has focused on several topics: English, History, Finance, and Engineering. With my love of books I ran the middle and high school book clubs for over 5 years. During this time I have also taught classes on essay writing, short stories, grammar and mechanics of writing and novel analysis. I ran the book club and novel analysis class together exploring a new book each month. The class was split into two, one with a middle grade selection and one with a YA book selection. I worked hard to select new books that were diverse, own voices, and covered many genres.(24 books a year) I facilitated discussions about the books we read. This included plot, themes, symbolism, character development, and more. My students have also participated in NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo. I created the Literature through film series at the request of students. While we were reading excellent books and engaging with the primary source material. Students, especially my reluctant or slow readers, wanted to learn about the "classics" without giving up the book club. Some of these students had just started to enjoy reading or couldn't complete 2 novels a month. By using film students were exposed to 14 book-to-film adaptations in one semester. We were able to still discuss all the major elements of our novel analysis. I used passages from the text to discuss unique grammar usage. Some students enjoyed it so much they even read a book or two after watching the movies. With my History classes I use a combination of primary sources, articles, reference materials, and videos to teach students. I teach students to evaluate the bias of the author, the purpose of the piece of writing, and who's points of views are put forth. We were often trying to look at marginalized peoples stories that may not always be highlighted. I have taught both Howard Zinn's History for Young People, Big History Project, and History through film. The classes I taught under Finance, Entrepreneurship and Accounting. While covering the topics themselves I find that students do well with hands-on application of studies. For example my Finance class besides learning the basics of finance. Students researched careers, living locations, wages, housing expenses, job growth or decline projections in the area of their chosen field and living location. With that information they made a budget, calculated mortgage rates, loan interest rates, amount of student loan debt they anticipated and payment schedules. They considered the impact of credit scores and of credit card debt at different interest rates. We also did a class long mock investment tracking, investments over time, and retirement series. Our group was lucky enough to have access to Lego Education Kits. I taught several classes with engineering challenges and using the kits materials. My Outschool engineering classes are based on those I taught at the homeschool groups but do not require a kit.
Homework Offered
Students need to watch the movie for that week before class. For graded students they will have 4 projects of their choice to complete by the end of the class. Depending on the project time required will vary.2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students are graded 20% per project (80% total), 20% class participation. Students only need to do 4 projects. If you have any questions or need accommodations please contact me. Everyone can be successful in my classes.Grades Offered
Students are required to watch each movie before class. All are available online (many for free on streaming services) or at a library.
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Please review the movies, parent "need to knows", and suggested ages from Common Sense Media listed under each film in the before registering for class. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Week Movie
1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Rated PG-13, 135 Min. 2003
Common Sense 13+, Parents 10+
Parents need to know that Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a swashbuckling pirate adventure based on the famous Disney ride that stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, and Orlando Bloom. The movie is not especially graphic but does feature things like an undead pirate crew that may be disturbing to some kids. There are revealing bodices and mild sexual references (not explicit and showing no nudity or sexual situations). Swearing includes "bastard," "damn," and "hell," plus colorful pirate language. Characters drink rum and get tipsy.
2 Stardust 2007
Rated PG-13, 128 Min.
Common Sense 12+, Parents 11+
Parents need to know that although this highly entertaining fantasy will appeal to kids with its mix of swashbuckling adventure and romance, it's darker than cinematic cousins like The Princess Bride. It's surprisingly violent, with several deaths and lots of fights featuring knives and swords. The scenes in which an evil witch unleashes her fury are truly frightening (one with a voodoo doll may make even older tweens close their eyes), as is her transformation into an old hag. The subplots, including one about brothers vying for their father's crown trying to kill each other, may be too disturbing for younger kids.
3 Inception 2010
Rated PG-13, 148 Min.
Common Sense 14+, Parents 12+
Parents need to know that Inception is a complex, original science-fiction fantasy movie from the director of The Dark Knight. It has lots of action and violence -- including guns, blood, fighting, car crashes, etc. -- as well as some slightly scary imagery. But it's very light on language ("goddamn" and "a--hole" are as strong as it gets), sexy stuff, and drinking, so teen fans of star Leonardo DiCaprio should be able to handle it. The movie takes place in several different locations around the world but is noticeably short on diversity on-screen. Crowds in one scene in Kenya are simply used as the backdrop to action sequences. It's not an easy story to explain, but it's fairly easy to follow, and it includes positive examples of teamwork and sacrifice. Parents and teens may find themselves talking at length about the story and the notion of a dream within a dream.
4 Jurassic Park 1993
Rated PG-13 127 Min.
Common Sense 12+, Parents 10+
Parents need to know that Jurassic Park is a landmark sci-fi adventure film by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel by Michael Crichton, that spawned a franchise including several sequels and videogames. Kids will see people and animals being hunted and eaten by realistic-looking dinosaurs. While there's little blood and gore (although one scene gruesomely involves a severed arm), there's tons of suspense, many "jump-scare" scenes, and some chases/crashes. Expect a bit of swearing (including a few instances of "s--t"). Adults smoke and drink. The film shows how teamwork, determination, and intelligence can help you survive the most dangerous situations. Female characters are shown as strong and capable problem-solvers, but all of the lead characters are White and the only one who isn't thin is used as comic relief. Younger tweens may be able to handle the fright factor with an adult at hand, but sensitive children should wait a bit longer.
5 Divergent 2014
Rated PG-13, 143 Min.
Common Sense 14+, Parents 12+
Parents need to know that Divergent is the first adaptation of author Veronica Roth's best-selling dystopian trilogy. Set in a future Chicago, the movie is slightly less violent than the book but still depicts the brutal world of a post-apocalyptic society divided into factions or groups. People are killed, orphaned, injured, and thoroughly beat up in bloody hand-to-hand combat (including guy-on-girl fist fights), violent bullying, an armed occupation, and mass killings of unarmed people. There's a central romance, but it remains fairly chaste -- only some longing looks, embraces and one extended, passionate kiss. The movie features a brave, vulnerable, and fierce female main character.
6 Men In Black 1997
Rated PG-13, 113 Min.
Common Sense 12+, Parents 11+
Parents need to know that comic mayhem and gross-out creatures from other planets define Men in Black. Scary creatures and life-threatening situations are frequent. The film, however, is as clever as it is exaggerated; some of the most destructive violence is implied, happening just off-camera. Still, young or sensitive kids who can't readily distinguish fantasy from reality may be disturbed by the barrage of exploding insects, grotesque morphing from human to alien life form, and cartoon violence (characters blow up, are vaporized, stabbed, shot with ray guns, and more). There's plenty of swearing ("damn," "goddamn," "bastard," "hell," "s--t") and a few insults, including "d--k" and "pr--k").
7 Coraline 2009
Rated PG-13, 100 Min.
Common Sense 9+, Parents 10+
Parents need to know that Coraline will scare young kids. Slightly less creepy than the book on which it was based, the movie is still quite dark, and the "other" world that Coraline discovers turns into a frightening, dangerous place where she could very well die (and other ghost children already have). Your young kids may be interested in seeing the movie thanks to the massive marketing campaign, but this isn't an age-appropriate pick for them. This movie deals with mature themes -- being careful what you wish for, thinking the grass is always greener, and being disappointed in your parents -- that are best suited for tweens and up. Language is mostly insults (like "jerkwad" and "idiot"), and sexuality is limited to two scantily dressed elderly actresses in one memorable scene.
8 The Green Knight 2021
Rated R 125 Min.
Common Sense 15+ Parents 16+
Parents need to know that The Green Knight is a mature medieval fantasy-adventure rooted in the King Arthur legend -- specifically, the story of brave Sir Gawain (Dev Patel). Violence includes humans and creatures being beheaded (blood shown), a drunken fight with punching, a dead body pierced with arrows, a field full of dead bodies, cut hands (more blood), and other creepy/eerie stuff (skeletons, dead animals, etc.). A couple has sex, with thrusting but no nudity. A woman makes hand motions near a man's crotch; he writhes and moans, and white ejaculate is shown on his hands and clothing. A man's naked bottom is shown, and a band of traveling giants includes topless female giants. A man kisses a woman on the cheek and a man on the mouth. Before the quest, the main character is frequently drunk and later eats wild mushrooms and hallucinates. Overall, it's entrancing and highly recommended but also dreamlike and disorienting.
9 Arrival 2016
Rated PG-13 116 Min.
Common Sense 11+, Parents 12+
Parents need to know that Arrival is a deeply thoughtful sci-fi movie about trying to communicate with aliens rather than defeat them. It presents battle and war as last resorts, with only frightened, desperate people looking to violence as a solution. It champions education, compassion, and curiosity and has a strong female lead character (Amy Adams). Brief, upsetting hospital scenes show a girl dying of an invasive disease, and there's an explosion and the threat of war. Language is infrequent, although there is one use of "f--k." Other words heard are more along the lines of "screw it," "God no," "I hate you," and "idiot." One adult character drinks wine, and there are references to a married relationship, a budding romance, and a hug. Although the movie is slow-paced, it's a great, exceptionally compassionate pick for families with curious, thoughtful tweens and teens.
10 I am Legend 2007
Rated PG-13, 101 Min.
Common Sense 14+, Parents 14+
Parents need to know that although this cerebral action thriller is quite clean when it comes to language and sexual content, it deals with intense subjects like the fall of mankind and the fight for survival. It's not for kids who get scared, since it gets pretty terrifying, especially when the mutants take their turn onscreen. They jump out of nowhere, and the movie makes the most of that suspense to heighten the audience's response. Overall, the movie is very sobering -- and, unlike many Will Smith thrillers, it's light on the fun. Still, teens will want to see it and will be intrigued by the special effects and the edge-of-your-seat action.
11 The 5th Wave 2016
Rated PG-13 112 Min.
Common Sense 13+, Parents 12+
Parents need to know that The 5th Wave is based on Rick Yancey's best-selling YA sci-fi alien-invasion thriller. Like the book, the movie features end-of-the-world catastrophes, deaths, and violence (mostly from bullet wounds, but also from natural disasters and a worldwide killer virus), but it's not quite as graphically violent as The Hunger Games trilogy. Focusing mostly on Cassie Sullivan (Chloe Grace Moretz), the story features about as much romance as the first Divergent movie (a couple of passionate kisses, the apparently requisite shot of a shirtless hunk) and a few uses of strong language (including one exclamation of "f--king," plus "s--t," "ass," "dumbass," "bulls--t," etc.). Cassie is a brave and determined main character, but fans of the book series will want to discuss whether the filmmakers fully captured her personality -- and those of most of the characters portrayed in the movie.
12 Eragon 2006
Rated PG-13, 104 Min.
Common Sense 9+, Parents 10+
Parents need to know that the movie's content is just right for the target 'tweener audience. It has its scary moments, with several scenes featuring dark woods, eerie wind, abrupt violence, big battles and a frightening evil wizard with red and black makeup. Swords, arrows, and spears produce some bloody wounds and several dead bodies, and one-on-one fight scenes include kicking, punching, swordplay, and falling. Eragon confronts and feels guilty about a family member's death (the corpse is visible, with a bloody face).
13 Serenity 2005
Rated PG-13 119 MIn.
Common Sense 13+, Parents 14+
Parents need to know that the movie based on the cult TV series Firefly includes some rambunctious action, drawn from both Western and science-fiction conventions. They fight with their fists, guns, and other implements; they also engage in chase scenes on speedy hovering vehicles. Space battles -- between space ships -- result in some raucous explosion and shoot-out scenes. Some aggressive, martial-artsy fighting. Characters drink and smoke in a bar. One couple kisses and looks to be headed to off-screen sex; one character has designed a robot to service him (the implication is that she's a sexual companion). A woman crewmember sees her husband killed, suddenly and brutally.
14 The 13th Warrior 1999
Rated R 102 Min.
Common Sense 15+, Parents 10+
Parents need to know that The 13th Warrior is a historical action adventure with bloody violence -- including beheadings -- and some sexist language. The movie stars Antonio Banderas as real-life figure Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan -- a Muslim ambassador who journeyed across Asia and Europe in the 10th century -- although the story is broadly an adaption of the Beowulf legend. This sees Muslim and Scandinavian characters working together, which involves overcoming some initial cultural differences. But noticeably a number of characters -- including Ahmed -- are not cast in line with their ethnicity and female characters are marginalized throughout. Violence is frequent and bloody, combined with a fantasy element. Because of the era, most of the battles involve swords and other sharp instruments. Mythical beings are seen beheading humans with many bloody injuries and deaths. Sex barely features, although Ahmed is exiled after he falls in love with another man's wife. There is little swearing, but there are several instances of sexist language being used that stereotypes women as being physically weak. Derogatory comments are also made about Arabs. There is some drinking, with a number of the Viking characters shown as being drunk.
Students are required to watch each movie before class. Many are available online or at local libraries. No other accounts are required for this class.
Star Educator
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(38)
For more than 15 years, I've been deeply involved in education, spending the last 9 years as a homeschooling parent. My greatest joy lies in helping students delve into complex subjects by exploring various perspectives. In today's world,...
Group Class
$15
weekly or $200 for 14 classes1x per week, 14 weeks
50 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-12 learners per class
