Friday Night Lights Movie Guide

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

This resource helps teachers highlight the benefits and consequences of a strong desire for success in high school sports through the story of the 1988 Permian High School football team in Odessa, Texas.

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

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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 Friday Night Lights 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. Friday Night Lights Movie Guide PDF
2. Friday Night Lights Answer Key for Movie Guide
3. Friday Night Lights Fillable PDF Movie Guide
4. Friday Night Lights Google Form Movie Guide
5. Friday Night Lights 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

Friday Night Lights is a sports drama based on H.G. Bissinger’s book about the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team in Odessa, Texas.

The film follows Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) as he leads the team in a town obsessed with football, where every Friday night game carries the weight of community pride and identity.

Facing intense pressure to win the state championship, Gaines navigates a roster of talented but flawed players: star running back Boobie Miles, whose season-ending injury shatters his dreams; quarterback Mike Winchell, burdened by expectations; and fullback Don Billingsley, clashing with his alcoholic ex-player father.

As losses mount and tensions rise—among players, parents, and boosters—the team rallies for a gritty playoff run, falling just short in the state final against powerhouse Dallas Carter. The film captures the raw emotion of small-town life, the glory and cost of high school football, and the resilience of youth under pressure.

Movie Rating

PG-13
Movie Run Time

1 hour, 58 minutes
Grade Levels

9th-12th
Ideal Classes

Leadership, Character Education, Life Skills, Youth Groups, Football Teams, Career Development, English Language Arts

Friday Night Lights Movie Guide provides activities to help students become better leaders by focusing on the following themes:

Pressure and Expectations:

The film portrays the intense pressure and high expectations placed on the high school football players, coaches, and the entire community. The athletes face immense scrutiny as they carry the dreams and pride of the town on their shoulders.
Identity and Community:

High school football is more than just a sport in Odessa; it's a crucial part of the town's identity. The film delves into how the success or failure of the football team affects the self-esteem and communal spirit of the residents.
Sacrifice and Commitment:

The athletes are shown making personal sacrifices and committing themselves wholeheartedly to the sport. The physical and emotional toll of the game is explored, highlighting the dedication required to succeed in such a competitive environment.
Individual Struggles:

The movie delves into the personal struggles of the players, such as dealing with family issues, academic challenges, and the uncertainty of their futures. It humanizes the characters beyond their roles on the football field.
Social and Racial Dynamics:

Friday Night Lights also touches on social and racial dynamics within the community. It reflects the challenges and prejudices faced by individuals, both on and off the football field, and how these issues impact team dynamics.
Teamwork and Unity:

Despite the individual challenges, the film underscores the importance of teamwork and unity. The players must learn to work together cohesively to achieve success, emphasizing the collective effort required in sports and life.
Victory and Defeat:

The movie explores the emotional highs of victory and the devastating lows of defeat. It reflects on the fleeting nature of success and the resilience required to bounce back from setbacks.