Happy Labor Day!
Here’s some info about Labor Day, if you want to know more about this national holiday.
Who’s up for a movie night?
Since we are technically on a break today, our Monday Mix-ins for this week will be a list of full-length movies that relate to American History (although sometimes loosely). If your family likes to watch movies, why not choose a few that will enrich what we are already learning? You might even want to print this post out or bookmark it to use throughout the year.
This list is long, but by no means comprehensive. We’ve listed ratings when available, and grouped them somewhat by age/rating, but please use your own parental discretion about which movies are appropriate for your children/family. Generally the links are to Amazon, where you can find the dvd, sometimes rent, or in some cases stream the movie for free. Or look for these on your favorite streaming website or format of your choice.
Movies that should be good for all audiences:
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (2005, NR) – A high-spirited girl growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, just before the American Revolution.
Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004, NR) – Another movie in this popular series, about one girl’s adventures in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Fun to watch at Christmas time.
Johnny Tremain – (1957, PG) America's greatest heroes live and fight again in this adventure of our country's struggle for independence in the 1770's. The film recreates Paul Revere's ride, the Boston tea party, and decisive battles at Lexington and Concord.
Swamp Fox – (1959-1961) A TV series produced by Walt Disney about American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion. It is available on dvd as part of a larger collection, but it's expensive. So we opted to share this link on YouTube. (Thank you, Mrs. Gerhardt for suggesting this one!)
Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer – (1956, PG) Daniel Boone leads settlers into Kentucky, but must battle Shawnee Indians who have been persuaded by a French renegade that Boone and the settlers are there to kill them and steal their land.
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier – (1955, G) Legends (and myths) from the life of famed American frontiersman Davey Crockett are depicted in this feature film edited from television episodes.
Disney’s American Legends – (2001, G) American history and pioneer mythology blur in this collection of animated Disney shorts hosted by James Earl Jones.
Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill – (1995, PG) A young boy's imagination summons cowboy legend Pecos Bill; who helps him save the family farm from a greedy land-grabber. With the help of a lumberjack and a railroad worker; they all embark on a surprise-filled adventure.
How the West Was Won – (1962, G) Academy Award-winning epic follows the trials and tribulations of three generations of a frontier family as they embark to tame the wild American West.
Ken Burns’ The West – (1996) This is actually a documentary series, but one to put on your list! Packed with vivid imagery and personalities, The West reveals the triumph and tragedy of America's drive to become a continental nation.
Ken Burns’ The Civil War – (1990) Another Ken Burns series, and one of the most thorough retellings of the Civil War. Throughout the nine parts, every year of the war is covered in depth, and all major milestones and events are explained, giving personal testimony through letters on both sides.
Young Mr. Lincoln – (1939, NR) A film starring Henry Fonda, about the early days of the future president.
Newsies – (1992, PG) A musical based on the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. When young newspaper sellers are exploited beyond reason by their bosses they set out to enact change and are met by the ruthlessness of big business.
Movies for slightly older kids and adults:
John Adams – (2008, TV-14) This is another mini-series, but it’s excellent and worth including here. It tells the story of John Adams, the Founding Father and 2nd President of the U.S who played a pivotal role in fostering the American Revolution and building a republic.
AMC’s Turn – (2015, TV-14) This is also a series, not a movie, but a fun show for parents (and maybe teens) to watch as we study this time period. It’s the untold story of America's first spy ring. An unlikely team of secret agents form The Culper Ring help George Washington turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. You can watch the first 2 seasons on Netflix.
1776 – (1972, NR) Based on the award-winning Broadway production, this musical tells the (slightly fictionalized) tale of the Second Continental Congress and the great debate over whether to declare independence.
April Morning – (1988, NR) Our UMS students read this book over the summer, has anyone watched the movie? Based on the book by Howard Fast, the story centers around the morning of April 19, 1775, when the American Revolution began with the “shot heard 'round the world.”
The Crossing – (2000) A stirring dramatization based on the book by Howard Fast. It brings to life Washington's historic passage across the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776 and the lopsided fight that followed.
Northwest Passage – (1940, NR) Spencer Tracy stars as true-life explorer Major Robert Rogers, leader of the celebrated Rogers' Rangers fighting force that took on one of the most challenging expeditions in military history.
The Alamo – (2004, PG-13) In 1836, Texans hold the Alamo for 13 days while under siege.
The Searchers – (1956, PG) A classic John Wayne Western! An indelible image of the frontier and the men and women who challenged it.
A Woman Called Moses – (1978, NR) A made-for-TV movie about Harriet Tubman, who founded the Underground Railroad. At the risk of being recaptured, the abolitionist and former slave helped hundreds of enslaved African-Americans find their way to the freedom of the promised land: the northern states.
North and South – (1985, NR) A TV mini-series about two friends, one northern and one southern, who struggle to maintain their friendship as events build towards the American Civil War.
Gettysburg – (1993, PG) Filmed on location at the actual battlefield, this monumental production captures on a grand scale the legendary battle of Gettysburg.
Gone with the Wind – (1939) The classic epic of the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Based on the book by Margaret Mitchell.
Gods and Generals – (2003, PG-13) A sweeping epic charting the early years of the Civil War and how campaigns unfolded from Manassas to the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Lincoln – (2012, PG-13) An inspiring drama that focuses on Lincoln's final four months, directed by Steven Spielberg.
The Conspirator – (2011, PG-13) The riveting true story behind the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln – including the lone woman who was accused of plotting his murder.
Movies for this time period that are rated R, so while not necessarily for kids, parents might enjoy them:
The Patriot – (2000, R) A reluctant South Carolina farmer is forced to fight the British in this epic adventure of the American Revolution.
12 Years a Slave – (2013, R) A powerful film based on the true story of a man kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Amistad – (1997, R) About a 1839 mutiny aboard a slave ship that is traveling towards the Northeast Coast of America. Much of the story involves a court-room drama about the free-man who led the revolt.
Glory – (1989, R) Inspiring story of the first Black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War.
Also, have you heard of Hamilton, the Broadway musical? It won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and is a national sensation! This landmark American musical tells the story of the gifted and self-destructive founding father, Alexander Hamilton. You can find the soundtrack on music sites – it is highly entertaining and educational. Warning to parents: it does contain some language, and mature themes, so you may want to preview it first and decide what you’ll allow your kids to listen to. iTunes has a “clean” version with fewer instances of inappropriate language. Here’s a sample of the intro song, performed by writer Lin-Manuel Miranda at the White House in 2009.
One more note:
Monday Mix-ins are all about providing optional supplemental resources to further enrich your learning at home. But we never want you to feel pressure to do “one more thing.” We know there’s TOO much good stuff that we all could be doing every day, and our curriculum is rich and full!
But here’s one thing we really hope you will mix in to your week: Solitude. This is something we want to focus more on this year, along with leaning into community. Spending time alone actually enhances our relationships – they go hand in hand. So while we will continue to offer Monday Mix-Ins to give you fun ideas your kids might enjoy on home days, some Mondays (or Fridays) we will also suggest ways to mix in solitude. Sound good?
Try it today or tomorrow (since there are no classes), and encourage your kids to spend time alone too. Start small if this is difficult – try 15 minutes. Maybe you’ll just want to sit with a favorite beverage, and think about the upcoming year.
If you know of any other excellent movies that are American history-themed, please leave a comment to let us all know about them!
