We Are Marshall Movie Guide

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

This resource helps teachers share the inspiring story of how the Marshall University football team, the school, and the community struggled to move forward in the face of a terrible tragedy.

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 We Are Marshall 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. We Are Marshall Movie Guide PDF
2. We Are Marshall Answer Key for Movie Guide
3. We Are Marshall Fillable PDF Movie Guide
4. We Are Marshall Google Form Movie Guide
5. We Are Marshall 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

We Are Marshall is the moving true story of the 1970 Marshall University football team plane crash, which claimed the lives of most of the team members, coaching staff, and other prominent figures associated with the program.

Following the tragedy, the film explores the aftermath as the university and the small town of Huntington, West Virginia, attempt to rebuild the football program. Jack Lengyel is appointed as the new head coach, and he faces the daunting task of leading a team of inexperienced players, along with the emotional challenges of honoring the memory of those lost in the crash.

Coach Lengyel understood the importance of putting a team on the field and showing the players and the community a way in which they could never be defeated.

We Are Marshall depicts the resilience and determination of the community as they come together to overcome adversity and revive their football program, symbolizing hope, healing, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of tragedy.

Movie Rating

PG
Movie Run Time

2 hours, 11 minutes
Grade Levels

7th-12th
Ideal Classes

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

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

Resilience and Perseverance:

The movie emphasizes the ability of individuals and communities to bounce back from devastating circumstances. Despite the profound loss of lives in the plane crash, the characters demonstrate resilience as they strive to rebuild the football program and move forward.
Community and Unity:

The film underscores the strength that comes from a close-knit community. The people of Huntington, West Virginia, come together to support one another, demonstrating the importance of unity in overcoming challenges and rebuilding after a collective tragedy.
Leadership and Mentorship:

Coach Jack Lengyel embodies leadership and mentorship. His role in guiding the inexperienced and grieving team reflects the impact that a strong leader can have on individuals and a community during times of crisis.
Memory and Tribute:

The film pays tribute to the memory of those lost in the plane crash, highlighting the importance of remembering and honoring those who came before. The characters grapple with the weight of the past while striving to create a future that respects and preserves the legacy of the fallen.
Sports as a Unifying Force:

We Are Marshall illustrates how sports, in this case, football, can serve as a unifying force for a community. The revitalization of the football program becomes a symbol of hope and a rallying point for healing and renewal.