Zeezok Publishing

z-guide to the Movies

Zeezok Publishing

$12.99

 

     Every so often during our school day, we will watch a movie pertaining to what the kids are learning. For example, when Matthew was studying Concentration camps during WWII we watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. At other times we watch more lighthearted fare, but always pertaining to something we are studying. When we watch these movies, I always end up feeling like I need to ask questions and make it a true “learning experience”. No longer do I need to make something up myself, thanks to Zeezok Publishing’s z-guide to the Movies.

     Zeezok Publishing produces movie guides that incorporates media into social studies classes. There are approximately 28 movie guides available. All are available on CD-roms and some are available as an  e-book download as well. The guides are geared toward junior high and  high school, depending on the movie. The guides provide a week’s worth of learning activities based off of the chosen movie.

 

ClarkClan opinion

• Multiple learning activities
• Grading scale included with each activity
• In-depth, make you think activities
• Easy to use, “grab and go” style

   We were able to review the z-guide to the Movies based on the movie Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? I was given a choice of which guide to review and the kids and I decided that this sounded like an interesting movie. Since this guide was a high school level product I used it with both Matthew (18) and Sarah (13). The guide only includes learning activities, the movie is not included. I was able to instantly stream the movie from our NetFlix account.

     This guide includes five days worth of activities, with two activities a day for a total of ten. The guide begins with a “topic overview” and a “movie synopsis”. I had never seen the movie before and appreciated the heads up as to what we would encounter while watching. Then I surprised both Matthew and Sarah by watching the movie the first day. They loved this part, as the usual approach to movies is to do all learning type activities first, then conclude the week with the movie. The first activity is “Movie Review Questions”. I printed off copies for each of them, and they filled them out while they were watching the movie. Another activity had them thinking and analyzing “Are you ready for marriage?”.  I was impressed with the thoroughness of the directions given and how the questions made my kids think critically. Matthew is used to giving “quick” answers to questions and these were designed to draw the students out and make them think. 

While most activities can be done on paper, we used some of the essay type questions out loud as discussion questions.  I found it very interesting to listen to my two teenagers, who are four years apart in age, defend their opinions. Activity 7 has the student researching how to host a formal  dinner party, then the next activity is to prepare a meal for your family. Activity 6 is a word search, based on the movie. Sarah enjoyed this activity, but Matthew asked to be excused as word searches do not interest him. I figure this is the difference between 9th and 12th graders.  The last activity was based on The Filmmakers Art and focused on the theme, irony and comic relief elements of the movie. Since they both enjoyed the movie, we finished up the week by watching the movie a second time.

     I found this to be a great addition to our school work. While the movie did not fit exactly into what either of my two are studying right now, it brought about many interesting discussions. We were also able to relate the topic of the movie, “race relationships” into modern day. We discussed what would happen if they decided to marry a person of an entirely different religion than Christian as opposed to the movie topic of marrying a different race.

Recommendation

     After reviewing the Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? z-guide to the Movies, I would highly recommend not only this guide, but any of the guides Zeezok Publishing produces. I was very impressed the the quality of the learning activities included in this guide. I am planning on buying a few more of these guides to use during our history lessons. I am especially interested in the guide for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as Sarah is going to be studying this later this year.

Order information

     You can order the z-guide to the Movies directly from Zeezok Publishing. They are available for $12.99 each for either the CD version or the e-book version. Click here to view all the movie guides available. Also available for purchase if needed are the movies themselves.

     My TOS cremates were given an opportunity to choose and review a movie guide of their own. Visit the Crew Blog to read about the different guides available.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received the Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner z-guide to the Movies for free from Zeezok Publishing, in exchange for my honest review of their product.