Rudy Movie Guide

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

This resource will help teachers use the story of Rudy Ruettiger to inspire and motivate their students to pursue their dreams through determination and perseverance.

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:

"I love Rudy and I loved incorporating this movie into my middle school leadership class. A lot of the kids had never seen the movie and it generated great questions and discussion and this resource really helped them follow along with the movie."

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"My students really enjoyed this movie. I showed it after a lesson on grit and a growth mindset. Had great additional resources to guide discussions."

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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 Rudy 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. Rudy Movie Guide PDF
2. Rudy Answer Key for Movie Guide
3. Rudy Fillable PDF Movie Guide
4. Rudy Google Form Movie Guide
5. Rudy 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

Rudy tells the inspiring true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, a young man from a working-class family in Joliet, Illinois, who dreams of playing football for the University of Notre Dame despite overwhelming odds.

Rudy lacks the athletic ability, academic credentials, and financial means to attend Notre Dame, but he refuses to give up. After working tirelessly to improve his grades and save money, he enrolls at a nearby junior college, hoping to transfer to Notre Dame.

Through sheer determination, Rudy eventually gets accepted and walks onto the Fighting Irish football team as a practice squad player. The film builds to an emotional climax as Rudy, after years of perseverance, finally gets a chance to suit up for a game in his senior year.

With the crowd chanting his name, Rudy sacks the opposing quarterback in the final moments, achieving his lifelong dream. The movie celebrates the power of grit, heart, and an underdog spirit.

Movie Rating

PG
Movie Run Time

1 hour, 56 minutes
Grade Levels

6th-12th
Ideal Classes

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

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

Determination and Perseverance:

Rudy's unwavering determination to play football for Notre Dame despite numerous obstacles and setbacks is a central theme. The movie emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Dream Pursuit:

The film highlights the pursuit of one's dreams, no matter how challenging or unrealistic they may seem. Rudy's dream of playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish serves as a powerful example of following one's passion.
Overcoming Obstacles:

Rudy faces various obstacles, including physical limitations, financial constraints, and skepticism from others. The movie illustrates the resilience needed to overcome challenges and achieve personal goals.
Underdog Triumph:

Rudy celebrates the triumph of the underdog. Rudy is an undersized and athletically limited player, but his heart and determination lead to a memorable achievement that inspires others.
Family and Support:

The importance of family and a support system is evident in Rudy's journey. His family and friends provide emotional and moral support, emphasizing the impact of encouragement on an individual's pursuit of goals.
Teamwork and Camaraderie:

The film underscores the significance of teamwork and camaraderie within a sports team. Rudy's perseverance and commitment to the team ultimately earn him the respect and admiration of his fellow players.
Self-Discovery:

Rudy's journey is not only about achieving a dream but also about self-discovery. Throughout the film, he learns more about his strengths, weaknesses, and the true meaning of success.
Inspiration and Motivation:

Rudy serves as an inspirational and motivational story, encouraging viewers to pursue their goals with passion, hard work, and an unwavering belief in themselves.