Fostering Growth and Inclusivity in K-12 Schools Through Film
Movies provide windows to different worlds, showcase diverse perspectives and can be powerful tools for education.
Articles
Spotlight Diversity with Movie Programming
May 14, 2026
By
Swank Motion Pictures
Movies can do more than simply entertain. The right film has the power to awaken emotions, spark discussions and add depth. Address the key social issues and movements of today by pairing diverse films with impactful programming ideas before or after you show the film. Find some of our top, easy-to-execute ideas below.
Elementary School
Akeelah and the Bee
Host a spelling bee of your own, but make it diversity focused by promoting positive words and historical figures that have worked hard to bring forth racial justice.
Wonder
Challenge students to take part in a Random Acts of Kindness day. Create a slideshow of photos of everyone’s kindness to play before the movie.
Black Panther
Conduct a writing competition asking students to share what “Black Panther” means to them.
Coco
Have aspiring musicians in your school community – especially ones that represent different cultures and styles – perform to share the magic and joy of music.
Middle School
Just Mercy
Host a video chat with a representative from a nonprofit that provides legal services to those that cannot afford representation. The representative can speak before the film about the importance of access to quality legal services and offer ideas about how students can get involved.
Harriet
Have your librarian provide background on Harriet Tubman and her lasting legacy before the show. And make sure to create a display in your school’s library featuring books and resources about the historical figure so students can further their understanding.
On the Basis of Sex
Ask faculty members to share stories of influential women in history and at your school.
Blinded By the Light
Host a virtual panel discussion on the topic of immigration. Invite political science, multicultural and sociology professionals to discuss the current political and social climate related to immigration in our country.
High School
Little Women
The March sisters have many passions. Let students on your campus share theirs with the audience before the show by hosting an open mic night. Just make sure to sanitize any mics between acts.
Bombshell
Partner with local news organizations to host a “Women in the Media” lecture series prior to your event. Not only will it give aspiring female students the opportunity to gain insight and guidance from professionals, the speakers can also provide male students with important lessons on how to be fair and respectful in the workplace.
Blindspotting
Honor the film’s form (i.e. spoken word, rap) by inviting students to perform spoken word, rap or poetry on a relevant issue impacting your school or larger community.
Stand and Deliver
Conduct a workshop on ways to build empathy and understanding to help students see different perspectives. Consider including honest discussions with campus and city police, government officials, representatives from your local prison system, and more regarding the issues raised in the film.
Related insights
See all posts
Teaching Guide: How to Use Movies in the ELA Classroom
This resource helps English teachers use film to its fullest instructional potential in the classroom. Guide includes best practices to be applied before, during and after the screening, as well as concrete suggestions for employing films as part of lesson plans.
Examples of Teaching with Film
With Swank Educational Streaming’s library of more than 40,000 movies and TV shows, it’s never been easier to press “play” on learning. Check out some of the films educators across the country use as resources for enhancing a variety of lesson plans.
Legal. Licensed. Built for K-12.
Join the schools and districts already using Swank to stream, teach, and screen with confidence.
Contact Us