This lesson uses Village of the Damned (1960) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) to analyse, compare and contrast the reflection of historical context in mid-century film. Both films could be seen to address anxiety that the solidity of British and American post-war life might be overturned, using the metaphor of alien invasion. This project is suitable for English lessons incorporating media to teach analysis of social and historical context, and may also be useful for History schemes of work on the Cold War, as a starting point for how culture responds to international threat.

This lesson lesson for key stages 3 and 4 English uses the film Silent Running (1972) as a stimulus for debate and writing.

Part one of a two-part music lesson for key stage 3 students in which students plan, compose and perform a score for the British silent sci-fi short, The ? Motorist (1906).

A lesson for English and other subjects at key stages 3 to 5 which uses the film Attack the Block (2011) to explore social structures, and the question of ‘who is to blame’ for an imagined crime. The lesson engages students’ critical thinking skills as well as bringing up ethical issues.

This lesson uses the Wallace and Gromit film, A Grand Day Out (1989), to teach students about aerodynamics. They will design their own spaceship, trying to improve on Wallace’s original design. They will also work on maths skills by working out the speed of the ship whilst watching the film in real time.

This lesson for English and other subjects at key stages 3-5 uses the short film Pumzi (2009) to lead students into a discussion of the issue of the future. They will consider moral dilemma linked to the key sci-fi issue of the creation of utopian or dystopian futures. They then have the opportunity to design their own post-apocalyptic ‘perfect world’, consider how the world might end, and what new worlds might be created as a result.

In this lesson for key stage 4 English, students consider and explore the notion of Britishness, looking at the film A Grand Day Out (1989). Students will critically read and reinterpret the text to match it more accurately with their own view of what it means to be British in the twenty first century. (The broken link has now been fixed).

This lesson for key stage 5 RE provides a springboard for students to debate the core issues at the heart of environmental ethics, and encourages students to begin applying the normative ethics systems they have been studying to a real practical ethical problem in our current world.

In this lesson for key stage 3 English, students explore the role of the hero in fiction, using the film Flash Gordon (1980) and Attack the Block (2011).

This lesson for key stage 3 English uses A Grand Day Out (1989) and A Trip To The Moon (1902) to explore the use of surrealism, parody and fantasy for comic effect.

In this lesson for key stage 2 English, students will the characterisation of its central character: the alien in The Glitterball (1977). Students will hypothesise ideas about the glitterball and eventually produce a short non-chronological report about the alien for the police.

This lesson for key stage 4 biology uses the film The Glitterball (1977) to understand what it means for something to be alive according to 21st century biology.

A lesson for key stages 4 and 5 English, where students use the film Attack the Block (2011) to investigate the use dialect and slang.

This lesson for key stage 3 RE students provides an opportunity to explore ideas about what the creation of the universe using the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Skills of exploration and imagination should be encouraged, and it is important students understand that the lesson is not about trying to find the right or wrong answer.

In this lesson for key stage 3 History, students will be introduced to the concept of dictatorship using the film Flash Gordon (1980). Students explore the implications of living in a dictatorship through watching the film and creating a role play about overthrowing Ming the Merciless. Learners will be encouraged to use melodrama to explore the motivations of the various parties involved in Ming’s dictatorship.

BFI Education presents ‘Gothic in the classroom’ – new resources to accompany 13 Gothic film titles. This collection of resources and lesson ideas has been created by teachers for a range of subject areas from English to Art to Science. This resource uses the Hansel & Gretel story as a basis for recognising and responding to everyday risks. Requires the accompanying DVD.

BFI Education presents ‘Gothic in the classroom’ – new resources to accompany 13 Gothic film titles. This collection of resources and lesson ideas has been created by teachers for a range of subject areas from English to Art to Science. In this lesson students apply their knowledge of Kantian ethics to the experience of John Merrick, the Elephant Man. They do so through active watching, through a hot seat activity and finally by creating a trailer for a film.

In this lesson for key stage 2 DT, students watch the film Flash Gordon (1980) in order to start a discussion on what types of technologies appear in the film and other sci-fi films more generally. Students will then make a new technology for the scary, evil overlord Ming, working in groups to trial ideas and presenting their final idea to someone in role of Ming.

A lesson for primary students that explores attitudes toward race and equality and encourages discussion of students' own ideas around the topic, based around the film Jemima + Johnny (1966). The film is available to watch for free on BFI Player (http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-jemima-johnny-1966/).

A lesson that uses the film Grove Carnival (1983), about the Notting Hill carnival in London to consider whether attitudes toward race and black culture have shifted over time in Britain. A clip from Grove Carnival is available to watch on the BFI Youtube channel. The full film is available for free on BFI Player (http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-grove-carnival-1981/). This lesson is meant as a follow up to the Jemima + Johnny lesson (available as a separate download).