This week, I begin a short unit surrounding the documentary "Super Size Me". If you haven't seen it, the filmmaker went on an all-McDonalds diet for 30 days to see what would happen. You can guess what happened.
The lessons that I'm planning for the first part of the unit are (in varying levels of completeness) on my wiki. I'm excited about this little unit because I think the kids will be engaged. Many of them have seen the movie already, but were excited to see it again. I'm also working in talking about cause and effect, reading and making graphs, debating personal responsibility, among other things.
I'm using this mini-unit as an introduction to talking about how stories can be persuasive. Students will be writing their own stories meant to persuade the reader.
Keep checking back for updates on the progress of the unit. In the comments, leave your own experiences with the movie or teaching the subject.
Hi Tim: I'm wondering if you are using the eeDVD version of the film for your classroom. (http://comchoice.com/what/eedvd.html) or if you are just using the traditional DVD. If you are NOT using the eeDVD can you tell me if it's b/c you 1) didn't know about it 2) didn't like it, or 3) didn't need it. btw, i have no affiliation with comchoice but I have reviewed the eeDVD and was curious about other reviews
Posted by: Josh | March 13, 2006 at 05:05 PM
Not using it because I'd never heard about it. Too bad. Looks like it might be useful.
Posted by: Tim Fredrick | March 13, 2006 at 05:33 PM
This is a great idea on many levels. I've been thinking a bit recently about how I would possibly treat a unit (or even a lesson) on nutrition recently, and couldn't come up with anything that wouldn't be either preachy or reliant on FDA guidlines (also preachy, I guess). I love that you're using this for what it is and to show the power of story telling.
Posted by: Stephen Lazar | March 13, 2006 at 11:51 PM
I am using Super Size Me this year in much the same way you are. I teach AP juniors and I hope the movie will be a great example of how to make an argument and balance logos, ethos and pathos to persuade an audience. I would love to hear more about how it went for you.
Posted by: Kim Carlton | August 28, 2006 at 12:30 AM