If you are a fan of Disney like we are, you will know that Disney movies not only have some great lessons but some very deep lessons to teach kids. This Zootopia Lesson Plan is meant to be used as a teacher resource and not to be republished.
Disney movies are really good at opening up the tough conversations with your kids that should be taught. After watching Zootopia with my family one of my initial thought was that “everyone needs to see this movie.”
There is so much truth in how people see stereotypes going in all sorts of direction that these should be seen in society. Plus there are some amazing Zootopia movie quotes like when Judy Hopps says, “I thought this city would be a perfect place where everyone got along and anyone could be anything.
Turns out, life’s a little bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real-life is messy.”
I have wanted to come up with a Zootopia Lesson Plan where teachers can use the movie, characters, and lessons as teaching tools in their classroom.
When I create lesson plans they are to be used for all ages. Depending on what age group you are working with you can alter the lesson plans and deepen the conversations!
Zootopia really teaches biases and stereotypes. Including myself, it is easy to get these two words confused. So here are the simplest definitions that I can make from the two.
Zootopia Lesson Plan
Vocabulary
Bias→ Being unfair or inaccurate.
Stereotype→ Similar to a bias but is toward a group and is a negative generalization.
Other Vocab:
Society
Predator
Prey
Levels of this lesson plan:
You can keep it really generic about what they are and you can avoid teaching the difference between the two words or you can go into the different levels of subtle and blatant biases in society (High School age students). This Zootopia Lesson Plan is meant for you to adapt to what is best for your students.
Zootopia Printable Vocab for Word Wall:
Introduce Vocabulary:
Prior to starting a lesson with my students, I find it important to introduce vocabulary. If you have younger students you might find other vocabulary words that you will want to stop and teach prior to watching the movie.
You will want to introduce Stereotypes and Bias. If you have a younger group of kids it might be easier to smudge these two vocabulary words together and worry too much about the difference between the two.
Gender is a super hot topic right now and so are gender roles (but this topic has been around forever). There is a cute video where someone interviews little kids and asks them about who works? who cleans the house? etc. etc. They are using stereotypes/biases and picking what society thinks they should say.
Zootopia Movie & Zootopia Worksheet:
Prior to the lesson: Spend a class period or two watching the movie! I created this worksheet for kids to follow along and answer while watching the movie.
This is a way to keep their brains thinking and actively learning. For older kids, it helps keep them focused and know what they are looking for and listening for next.
Zootopia Worksheet for the Classroom to have students follow along during the movie:
Teacher Section:
Lead the students in trying to define the meaning of the word “Stereotypes”. With the teacher’s guidance, once the classroom has agreed upon a definition have them all write it down on an individual sheet.
Group Section:
It is going to be the easiest and most comfortable for students to discuss the stereotypes and biases that are in Zootopia. Have them create as long a list as possible. I would suggest allowing students to use technology as they begin to think of ideas.
Partner Section:
Students are to now create a new list of stereotypes and biases in society. They are to then share with their group. Each group is to be handed a set of sticky notes on stereotypes and biases in the world. Each new idea will be placed on a sticky note.
Class Work:
Each group will list off their sticky notes and place them around the room (usually a chalkboard or one wall is plenty of room. As a new group comes up they are to place sticky notes that are similar to other group ideas near theirs and new ideas off to the side.
Individual Section:
Now since the class is aware of the stereotypes and biases that are happening in society, each student should be given a writing portion of their work. The teacher will either give the writing prompt or let students choose from them. Each writing portion should be between 3-5 paragraphs.
Writing Prompts:
The differences between bias and stereotypes? What biases and stereotypes do you feel are the most harmful to society? If you can get rid of any stereotype in the world what would it be and why?
Other Zootopia Lesson Plan Resources for different age groups:
(Coming Soon!)
Order your Zootopia Blu-ray TODAY!
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (WDAS) comedy-adventure, “Zootopia” has broken records worldwide earning more than $900 million at the global box office to date. The best reviewed movie of 2016, critics and audiences around the world have fallen in love with the wonderfully innovative animal metropolis of “Zootopia” and the comedic chemistry of rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). It’s been called one of the best buddy cop comedies in years! Viewers will not only be able to enjoy the vibrant world of Zootopia and reunite with their favorite characters, but also discover more about the evolution of this extraordinary tale through in-depth bonus offerings. The runaway hit arrives home on June 7 via Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere.
Find 4 different versions of the movie from Target.com!
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Audrey Carmosino Feitor says
Thank you!
MsW-H says
Wonderful ideas — but I was confused when I saw all the references to “going salvage” until I realized your autocorrect itself went savage and added an L to every time the word “savage” should appear on your handout. Uh oh! 🙂