Let's Explore The World With Disney Princess Movies

Each week, children will explore a different country using popular films as a starting point for discussion. We will look at how the films show that specific country and culture. Children will have the opportunity to discuss what culture is, and will look for examples of numerous cultures through film (language,  music, dance, food, belief systems/ religion, and traditional clothing). 

Children will be introduced to spatial thinking by looking at topographical and physical maps. During class webinars, we will use tools such as Google Maps and Google Earth to explore each country and region virtually. They will have maps to fill in at home, outside of the class time. The level of detail the child includes in the map will vary - based on their own knowledge of the topic and other factors, such as age and ability, but might include things such as a compass rose, a map key, landforms and features, as well as major cities, rivers, and bodies of water. 

Week 1: Beauty and the Beast - France
Children will begin with an introduction to the geography of France. We will then explore French culture during the Medieval period by listening to chansons and ballads, watching a video clip of a Medieval festival reenactment, and touring (virtually) castles and cloisters. Children will be provided with follow up commentary, materials for further investigation, activity ideas, and websites/ books to explore.


Week 2: Tangled  - Germany
Children will begin with the geography of Germany, and then explore German culture, visiting the Schwarzwald, learning basic German expressions (greetings/ goodbyes, numbers through ten, castle, cloister, woods, and tower). We will explore traditional clothing, crafts, and food. Children will be provided with follow up commentary, materials for further investigation, activity ideas, and websites/ books to explore.


Week 3: Moana - Pacific Islands 
Children will begin with the geography of the Pacific Ocean and the Islands of Oceana.  We will then explore Pacific Island cultures, stopping off at a few islands along the way, to explore the sights, sounds, and flavors. We will discuss the music, dress, and explorer culture as depicted in the movie. Children will watch a brief introductory lesson of Hawaiian language. Children will be provided with follow up commentary, materials for further investigation, activity ideas, and websites/ books to explore.


Week 4: Frozen - Norway
Children will begin with the geography of Norway, looking at fjords and life above the arctic circle. We will look at the musical traditions of Norway, listening to various clips. We will then delve into other traditional crafts, as seen in the clothing and other details from the movies. Children will be provided with follow up commentary, materials for further investigation, activity ideas, and websites/ books to explore.

For all sessions, children should watch the films prior to class. This is helpful even if they have seen them in the past. (For those films that have sequels, children should consider viewing both).