Coach Carter Movie Guide

A complete lesson plan with discussion questions, writing activities, and leadership worksheets

This resource will help teachers use the story of Ken Carter to show students that a coach's job is much more than just being an instructor of skills...and a player's true reward is much more than a trophy.

WARNING

This is a DEEP LEARNING lesson plan to help students employ a LEADERSHIP approach to SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Included in this leadership movie guide:

Time Stamps
Answer Key
Fillable PDF Version
Google Form Version

What Educators Are Saying:

"Loved it!"

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Movie Guide Activities

Each of our leadership movie guides includes the following activities:

Reflection: allows students to journal about one of the movie's themes prior to watching.
Analysis: questions and prompts to analyze the movie's characters, plot, and climax.
Practice & Discussion: a partner/group activity that takes the principles of the movie and asks students to take action and grow in their own lives.
Extension: a RAFT (Role-Audience-Format-Topic) writing prompt to help students apply their new knowledge.
Lead for Impact: challenges students to pinpoint how the hero of the story exhibited The 12 Fundamentals of Impact and then synthesize how they can apply the lessons to writing their own story.

The activities in Coach Carter Movie Guide will challenge students to move closer to mastery in the following life skills:

leadership
cooperation with others
creativity
critical thinking
emotional intelligence
problem-solving
judgement and decision-making

1. Coach Carter Movie Guide PDF
2. Coach Carter Answer Key for Movie Guide
3. Coach Carter Fillable PDF Movie Guide
4. Coach Carter Google Form Movie Guide
5. Coach Carter Video Preview
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Social Emotional Learning Competencies

These leadership activities are designed to help students meet the following Social & Emotional Learning Competencies as outlined by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL):

Develop SELF-AWARENESS and SELF-MANAGEMENT skills to achieve school and life success.
Use SOCIAL-AWARENESS and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
Demonstrate DECISION-MAKING skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community contexts.

Movie Synopsis

Coach Carter is inspired by the true story of Ken Carter, a high school basketball coach in Richmond, California. Carter, a former standout athlete at Richmond High, returns to his struggling alma mater in 1999 to coach the Oilers, a talented but undisciplined basketball team.

Facing a group of players more focused on street life than their futures, Carter imposes strict rules: players must maintain a 2.3 GPA, attend classes, wear ties on game days, and adhere to a code of respect. His tough-love approach sparks resistance, but the team begins to win, eventually becoming undefeated and earning a shot at the state tournament.

When Carter discovers many players are failing academically despite their on-court success, he takes a drastic stand: he locks the gym and cancels games, forcing the team to prioritize education over basketball. This decision ignites controversy among parents, the school, and the community, who see the winning streak as the priority.

Facing mounting pressure, Carter holds firm, emphasizing that life skills and college opportunities outweigh temporary athletic glory. The players eventually embrace his philosophy, improving their grades and returning to the court.

In the climax, they lose a hard-fought state playoff game to St. Francis, but the film ends on a triumphant note: Carter’s mentorship leads several players to college, proving his methods transcended the scoreboard. It’s a story of discipline, sacrifice, and the transformative power of leadership.

Movie Rating

PG-13
Movie Run Time

2 hours, 16 minutes
Grade Levels

9th-12th
Ideal Classes

Career Development, English Language Arts, Leadership, Character Education, Life Skills, Basketball Teams

Coach Carter Movie Guide provides activities to help students become better leaders by focusing on the following themes:

Education over Athletics:

The film emphasizes the importance of education and personal development over athletic achievements. Coach Carter prioritizes academic success and enforces strict academic standards for his players, even if it means benching the entire team.
Discipline and Accountability:

Coach Carter instills discipline and accountability in his players, teaching them the value of hard work, dedication, and responsibility. The strict rules he imposes are meant to prepare the players for success both on and off the basketball court.
Teamwork and Unity:

The movie highlights the significance of teamwork and unity within a sports team. Despite initial resistance and conflicts among the players, they learn to work together and support each other, ultimately achieving success as a team.
Social and Economic Challenges:

The film addresses the social and economic challenges faced by the students at Richmond High School. It explores how these challenges impact the players' lives and aspirations, providing a broader context for the struggles they face both academically and personally.
Leadership and Mentorship:

Coach Carter serves as a mentor and leader for the young athletes. His guidance and mentorship go beyond the basketball court, shaping the players' character and helping them navigate life's challenges.
Ethical Decision-Making:

Coach Carter's decision to bench the entire team for academic reasons raises ethical questions and sparks debates within the community. The film prompts viewers to reflect on the ethical implications of decisions made in the pursuit of success and personal development.