Lesson Plan: Exploring Christmas Movies Through Trivia and Analysis

Objective: Students will enhance their understanding of popular Christmas movies by engaging in trivia, analyzing film elements, and discussing the cultural significance of holiday films.

Engaging students in activities like trivia, film analysis, and creative group work is far more educational and student-oriented than simply watching a movie because it fosters active participation and critical thinking. These activities encourage students to analyze themes, characters, and cinematic techniques, helping them develop media literacy and interpret cultural messages. Group discussions and collaborative brainstorming promote communication skills and creativity, making students active learners rather than passive viewers. This approach transforms holiday films into tools for deeper learning, allowing students to connect with the material on both intellectual and personal levels.

Materials Needed:

• Access to the BuzzFeed Christmas Movie Trivia Quiz:
  BuzzFeed
• Videoclips below

Standards Met:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.7: Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7: Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.

1. Introduction
   • Begin with a brief discussion on the popularity of Christmas movies.
   • Ask students to share their favorite holiday films and what they enjoy about them.
2. Trivia Activity 
   • Inform students that they will participate in a Christmas movie trivia quiz to test their knowledge.
   • Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with access to the BuzzFeed Christmas Movie Trivia Quiz.
   • Allow groups to work through the quiz, discussing and selecting answers collaboratively.
   • After completion, review the answers as a class, providing additional context or fun facts about each question.
3. Film Analysis Discussion:
   • Select a few iconic Christmas movie scenes to watch as a class. Se clips below
   • After each clip, facilitate a discussion focusing on:
     • Themes and messages presented
     • Character development
     • Cinematic techniques used to convey the holiday spirit
   • Encourage students to consider how these films reflect cultural attitudes toward the holiday season.

 

1. Group Activity – Create Your Own Christmas Movie Concept:
   • In their groups, have students brainstorm and develop a concept for an original Christmas movie.
   • They should outline:
     • Plot summary
     • Main characters
     • Central conflict and resolution
     • Themes and messages
   • Each group will present their movie concept to the class.
2. Conclusion
   • Discuss the enduring appeal of Christmas movies and their role in holiday traditions.
   • Reflect on how these films can both shape and reflect societal values and expectations during the holiday season.