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Happy Feet: The Story of otherness in the life of Mumble the little penguin
Three classes could be devoted to watching and
working with the movie. The animated movie and the activities are suitable
for 12-14-year-old, pre-intermediate learners
- Talking about penguins, introducing the
animals, pictures, descriptions could be used. Students may be asked to
collect material, have short presentations of various types of penguins,
their behavior, and habits. Are they exotic animals to us? How?
- Activity: Imaginary conversations: Imagine your dog
or a dog that you know meets a penguin. What would the dog think, say to the
penguin?
- Alternative: draw a comic strip of the meeting.
- Interview a penguin. What do you think penguins
would complain about if they could appeal to people?
- Make a poster of the major issues mentioned for
appeal.
- Do you know any stories in which penguins are major
characters? As Homework students are referred to a website about Happy Feet
or given a copy of the storyline.
- Watch Happy Feet subtitled together in class.
As homework, students are asked to watch it again in "movie syndicates" and
write short commentary on particular parts. E.g. Mumble's relationship
to his parents; the school; friendship; his friends, the other
penguins...Discuss most liked or disliked characters. From the penguin
school find matches to characters in class.
- Language work, especially if you have access to
the script.
- Activities on how otherness is a problem and
most people are like penguins in the movie. Group discussion: Describe
clothes that are funky. Is it better to have an old worn-out cellphone
or not to have one at all? In speech? Showing pictures (family
clippings, drawings) they decide what they want to ask/learn from each
character. Incidents of excommunication/reasons
- Learn to act out some part.
- Organize tap dancing party, learn tap dancing
from the extra provided in the movie.
- And much much more... depending how you and your
students like the movie.
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