Parallel Film Frame Analysis Practice for Into the Spider-Verse

A high-impact visual literacy + writing activity for high school ELA or Film & Media Studies classrooms

What is the Parallel Frame Analysis?

This standards-aligned activity invites students to closely analyze pairs of parallel scenes from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to explore character development, theme, and visual storytelling. Students will learn how to annotate frames, craft a thesis, and organize their analysis into either a short essay or a visual slide presentation.

What’s Included:

• A Parallel Frame Analysis activity sheet with curated scene pair options
• A Thesis Statement Prewriting Guide to help students go from observations to big ideas
• A Printable Outline Worksheet to structure their final written or visual analysis
• A ready-to-edit Canva slide deck template for students who prefer to present visually
• Built-in differentiation with scaffolded steps, optional extensions, and student choice

🎯 Skills Covered:

• Film analysis & visual literacy
• Argumentative and analytical writing
• Theme development and character arc exploration
• Comparing visual techniques (lighting, framing, mise-en-scene [props, set design, acting])
• Speaking/presenting or publishing work digitally

Who It’s For:

• ELA and Film Studies teachers (grades 7–12)
• Homeschoolers looking for creative writing + media literacy connections
• IB or honors students practicing synthesis and textual evidence
• Students who love Spider-Man and benefit from visual learning supports

Links Included in the PDF Packet:

• Prewriting worksheet: From Frame Annotation to Thesis
• Outline guide: Organizing Your Frame Analysis
• Student slide deck template (Canva): View Template
• Scene pairings visual reference: Canva Lookbook

Teacher Love:

“My students loved analyzing Into the Spider-Verse visually, and making connections to theme and character growth. The scaffolding was a lifesaver!”
— 9th Grade ELA Teacher