Heading for the air-conditioned comfort of a movie theater this summer? Then I’ve got some fun resources for you! From the local bargain movie schedules to resources for some new and upcoming flicks, your guide to cool summer movie fun (with a little learning thrown in) is right here!
Photo in graphic courtesy of Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash
Take a break from school with a summer movie (but not really)
The summer season is here and we’re definitely feeling the heat in North Carolina! I saw many heading for the cool respite of a movie theater to take in Aladdin over the Memorial Day Weekend.
Movies can be so much fun! And, of course, they are full of opportunities to make connections to our kids’ learning. Often, we see them as separate from our schoolwork, but we can tie-in some interest-led learning, and it’s a win all around!
If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss the Lion King Unit Study already on the site, complete with free printables! We’ve been making our way through these resources and we’re all just getting more and more excited for the film’s release!
Below are some resources for newly-released films that might be on your family’s must-see list, along with some information about the summer movie discount schedules!
Aladdin
- Find out the real origin of the Aladdin tale (hint: it was not part of the original One Thousand and One Nights).
- Whether it belongs there or not, the movie is set on the Arabian Peninsula which makes a great geography study.
- Learn more about camels because, really, how much do we encounter them in regular science books?
- Usborne has a beautiful Illustrated Arabian Nights.
- Our family really enjoyed the creative retelling of Shahrazad’s adventure in Susan Fletcher’s Shadow Spinner.
- Games are a great way to add even more fun, and Ravensburger games are some of our favorites. Their Disney Villainous strategy game is a perfect match for this movie!
- Speaking of games, Labyrinth has always reminded me of the “Cave of Wonders” and it’s a family favorite here!
- I’ve heard that Subway kids’ meals have a coupon for a kids’ ticket to Aladdin right now! I’ll come back and update if I can confirm this is valid locally.
Avengers: Endgame
(Please remember to preview resources – and movies – for suitability for your family.)
- Marvel’s website has a history of the Marvel Universe, some cool podcasts about the history of the comics and women in the series, and even information about internship opportunities!
- Try your hand at being a comic book artist with some ideas from Pinterest for drawing and coloring the Avengers.
- Wake County Libraries are featuring downloadable versions of Marvel graphic novels.
- Teachers Pay Teachers Marketplace has tons of Avengers-themed units!
- My crafty kid made a crocheted Infinity Gauntlet! (Got a crafter in your house? Help them make back some of their supply money with a Masterclass on Selling on Etsy!)
- Try some Avengers Mad-Libs for side-splitting fun! Shhhh… don’t tell the kids it’s grammar practice.
- Littles that aren’t quite ready for the intensity of the movies might feel more included with an opportunity to read some Avengers stories on their own.
- Codenames is a great game, and they have an Avengers-themed version!
A word of warning: these types of studies are especially effective when they’re light and fun. Make it “schoolwork” and suddenly nobody’s interested anymore!
I love chasing these kinds of rabbit trails, though. You never know what possibilities await around the next bend.
I was a fan of everything Hollywood when I was a teen. I dreamed of walking a red carpet one day, blissfully and deliberately ignoring the fact that I was wholly unqualified for such a stroll. But then I encountered a news piece about the special effects in Jurassic Park and BOOM!
My new obsession became learning everything I could about computer-generated movie magic, and that’s ultimately how I ended up going on to study Computer Science in college! Not a bad change of plans, if I do say so myself.
You never know where the path will lead, but isn’t it usually more productive to follow the one marked “Curiosity”?
Local Summer Movie Deals
Know of any other summer movie deals? Or outdoor movies in your town? Comment below and let us know!