Movie Day in school is a rare, but special occurrence for students. This day is typically around a holiday, or a reward day after state testing or big event.
But what looks so simple to outsiders (I mean, it’s showing a movie… how difficult can it really be to plan, right?!), is actually one of the hardest lesson plans to write.
What many non-teachers don’t know is that we have to ask for approval to watch a movie with our students. And it can’t be just ANY movie. Oh, no… it has to be rated G (which I can totally get down on #iaintmad) and it has to be linked to a bigger lesson.
#saywhat
Yes, for real. There has to be an underlying lesson and reasoning as to why you have chosen the movie you’d like to watch. And you have to prove it to administration by writing a lesson plan for it, submitting it 10 days in advance, and crossing your fingers you get the okay.
Sure, you can totally watch the same exact movie year-after-year and use the same lesson plan for that movie too.
But that isn’t me. I can only watch Frozen so many times before Elsa’s heart needs to freeze (or is it Anna’s heart?!). And don’t get me started on how many times I’ve seen Shrek.
I love Rated G (cough *Disney* cough) movies just as much as the next person, but I like a little variety in my life too. And if I’m bored, chances are my students are bored too.
This curated list of 25 Rated G movies contains – spoiler alert – G rated movies that you can watch in your classroom, as well as lesson extensions and ideas that you can use to help you plan for Movie Day.
{ Download the Lesson Extension Guide Here. }
1. Monster’s Inc and Monster’s University
2. Homeward Bound
3. Cars / Cars 2 / Cars 3
4. The Polar Express
5. The Land Before Time
6. The Lion King
7. Wall-E
8. Babe
9. Ratatouille
10. All Dogs Go to Heaven
11. Snow White
12. Bambi
13. Dumbo
14. Finding Nemo / Finding Dory
15. Balto
16. Toy Story / Toy Story 2 / Toy Story 3
17. Tangled
18. The Hunchback of Notre Dam
19. The Secret Garden
20. The Sound of Music
21. The Princess and the Frog
22. Meet the Robinsons
23. Lady and the Tramp
24. The Little Mermaid
25. Black Beauty
{ Download the Lesson Extension Guide Here. }
What Rated G Movies would you add to this list and why?
Becky says
March 20, 2018 at 1:16 pmChitty, Chitty Bang, Bang
Mary Poppins
Heather says
March 22, 2018 at 10:19 pmA Bug’s life – Has to be a science lesson in there somewhere.
Sandy Fleming says
March 27, 2018 at 9:10 pmFern Gully – all about the rain forest & what’s happening to them.
Krista says
May 7, 2018 at 1:39 amMy kids favorite!
Tanya G Marshall says
April 11, 2018 at 10:03 pmThis list is so helpful! Thanks for sharing this post.
Katie Fields says
April 14, 2018 at 5:52 pmCharlotte’s Web-reinforces/teaches life cycle. Best when you read the book first:)
Stephanie says
April 14, 2018 at 7:32 pmThe Emperor’s New Groove – funny and a good lesson in kindness/caring about more than just yourself
Theresa says
April 17, 2018 at 6:59 pmTechnically, Tangled and Finding Dory are PG.
Kristina says
May 25, 2018 at 3:49 amFinding Dory isn’t G, it’s PG.
Jennifer says
May 26, 2018 at 10:16 amFinding Nemo can it be watched… it’s PG.
Lori says
May 27, 2018 at 9:13 pmIf you have News2You, keep the new movie release stories and when they come out on DVD or Netflix, revisit the lesson.
Mary says
May 28, 2018 at 5:42 amFox and the Hound: loyalty, responsibility, friendship, forgiveness
Lauren Romo says
May 28, 2018 at 4:28 pmHercules! Great connects when teaching Greek/Rome
Mulan – china’s Dynasty’s and invasions
Robin Hood, sword and the stone, middles ages!
Pocahontas! I know a teacher who shows the movie for kids to find the inaccuracies!
I teach 6th grade so my kids are a little older!
JP says
May 31, 2018 at 7:20 pmThese are great movies! But unless you have a Disney license to show these movies to an audience other than family (ie classroom full of students), you can’t use these in most classrooms. I would love to see more non-Disney “G” rated options!
Claire says
June 1, 2018 at 5:09 pmThe Bee Movie
Tracy says
June 6, 2018 at 7:37 pmFinding Dory is PG.
S. L. Clark says
September 9, 2018 at 5:58 amThe Buttercream Gang, The Rogue Stallion, The Pistol (Pete Maravich), Booket, Lost in the Barrens,…
Shari Costanzo says
December 11, 2018 at 6:29 pmA Tale of Despereaux