Coraline
Coraline, Eccentric Adults, and the Line Between Weird and Unsafe
Coraline shows kids learning bravery amid odd adults. Use these passages and guiding questions to explore safety, risk, and coming of age.
Coraline
Poe, Coraline, and Autumn Atmosphere
Close reading for figurative language, symbolism, foreshadowing, mood, and tone in chapter 1 of Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Free resource for Halloween high school ELA teaching.
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie — “It’s Alive!” Scene Comparisons
Compare the “It’s Alive!” scenes from Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, and Frankenweenie.
Film Studies
Viewing Questions for The Farewell
Over 25 short-answer questions broken into two main viewing segments that guide students to understand and apply film vocab, make inferences about theme and symbolism, and explore cultural values and emotional subtext.
Analytical Writing
How to Use ChatGPT to Turn a Film Analysis Model into Scaffolded Writing Instruction (with Into the Spider-Verse)
Help students analyze theme and character growth in Into the Spider-Verse with this scaffolded film analysis activity. Includes thesis + outline worksheets.
Into the Spider-Verse
Scene Study Notebook for Into the Spider-verse
A deep-dive film analysis tool that blends visual literacy, literary analysis, and critical thinking.
Summer Enrichment
Teaching Visual Literacy with Into the Spider-Verse (pt. 1)
Teach film analysis without a film degree! Use Into the Spider-Verse to build students’ visual literacy, critical thinking, and ELA writing skills.
Books
Comparing Opening Scenes of Bridgerton and The Duke and I
Compare/contrast the opening chapter of The Duke & I with the opening scene of Bridgerton Season 1. Explore character, relationships, theme, and style.