Everyone looks forward to a good movie day, but they are even better when the film captivates your students and ties into course content! Read on to learn about 6 movies that make an awesome addition to any middle school science or STEM class.
Read on for a list of science movies your students will love… and you will too!
1. Science Fair (2018)
This National Geographic documentary will inspire your students as they follow the paths of a diverse group of students on their journey to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This movie is amazing anytime, but especially great to motivate your students before they start their own science fair projects.
2. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
This film is based on the true story of 14-year-old William Kamkwamba and his journey to end the drought plaguing his community by bringing wind power to his town in Malawi. Students will see William use the engineering design process to create a solution to a real world problem and the role perseverance plays in the process.
3. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
This Oscar-winning documentary, will captivate your students, as a man befriends an octopus and captures her life cycle and her daily struggles and triumphs in the kelp forest ecosystem.
4. One Strange Rock (2018)
This awesome Netflix series is hosted by NASA astronauts and explores many themes related to Earth, Space, and Life Science. You can find episodes that explore the Big Bang, erosion and deposition, biodiversity and evolution. Also, the shorter episode length means you can probably finish one in a single class period.
5. A Plastic Ocean (2016)
In this documentary, students will learn about the impact of humans on the environment. They will explore the issue of disposable plastic products and the resulting environmental and health challenges.
6. The Biggest Little Farm (2018)
This film follows a family as they leave their big city life and create a biodiverse, self-sustaining farm. Students will learn about the importance of biodiversity in ecosystems while becoming emotionally invested in the lives of the people and animals on this special farm.
Check them out!
Whether you are looking for an easy sub plan, a movie day incentive, or need some down time to catch up on grades, these science movies are sure to keep your middle school students engaged and learning throughout the entire “movie day!”
What other movies would you add to the list? Leave a comment below!
