The Pursuit of Happyness Movie Guide

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

This resource helps teachers show their students the inspiring story of Chris Gardner as an example of going after their dreams and never giving up, even when it seems impossible.

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:

"Excellent and comprehensive film guide...relevant ?s reinforce important themes touched up in the film."

- Kaarin R. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 The Pursuit of Happyness 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. The Pursuit of Happyness Movie Guide PDF
2. The Pursuit of Happyness Answer Key for Movie Guide
3. The Pursuit of Happyness Fillable PDF Movie Guide
4. The Pursuit of Happyness Google Form Movie Guide
5. The Pursuit of Happyness 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

The Pursuit of Happyness chronicles the true story of Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, a struggling salesman who faces homelessness while trying to provide a better life for himself and his young son.

After a series of financial setbacks, Gardner takes on an unpaid internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, enduring numerous challenges and hardships while trying to make ends meet. The film highlights Gardner's determination, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of happiness as he strives to create a better future for himself and his son.

The Pursuit of Happyness is a poignant and inspirational story that explores the themes of perseverance, the bond between a father and son, and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Movie Rating

PG-13
Movie Run Time

1 hour, 57 minutes
Grade Levels

7th-12th
Ideal Classes

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

The Pursuit of Happyness Movie Guide provides activities to help students become better leaders by focusing on the following themes:

Perseverance and Determination:

One of the central themes of the movie is the unwavering determination of Chris Gardner. Despite facing homelessness, financial struggles, and numerous setbacks, Gardner persists in pursuing his goal of a better life for himself and his son. The film emphasizes the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Father-Son Relationship:

The strong bond between Chris Gardner and his son, Christopher, is a significant theme. The film portrays the challenges and sacrifices Gardner makes as a father to provide for his son and create a stable and happy life for him. The father-son relationship is a driving force behind Gardner's determination.
Struggle and Hardship:

The Pursuit of Happyness depicts the harsh realities of poverty, homelessness, and the challenges of trying to make a living in a competitive and unforgiving environment. The film explores the impact of financial struggle on individuals and families and the resilience required to overcome such hardships.
Hope and Optimism:

Despite facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the movie carries a theme of hope and optimism. Chris Gardner maintains a positive outlook on life and his future, even when circumstances are dire. The film underscores the importance of maintaining hope and a positive mindset during difficult times.
Self-Improvement and Personal Development:

Chris Gardner's decision to pursue an internship in the competitive world of stock brokerage reflects a theme of self-improvement and personal development. The film encourages the idea that through education, hard work, and continuous learning, individuals can strive for a better life and career.
The American Dream:

The pursuit of happiness, as symbolized by the American Dream, is a central theme. Chris Gardner's journey reflects the belief that with hard work, determination, and opportunity, individuals can overcome adversity and achieve success, embodying the aspirational ideals associated with the American Dream.