Wonder (2017) – Complete Movie Discussion Guide

About this resource

What's inside this resource

"Wonder" is a heartwarming movie released in 2017 based on the novel by R.J. Palacio. It tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old boy with a facial deformity who is starting fifth grade at a new school. Auggie has been homeschooled his entire life due to his condition, but his parents, Isabel and Nate, think it's time for him to experience a traditional school setting. Auggie is nervous about starting school because he knows he looks different from other kids and is afraid of being bullied or teased. The movie follows Auggie's journey as he tries to fit in at school and make new friends. He faces many challenges along the way, including being bullied by some of his classmates, but also finds support from others who accept him for who he is. In addition to Auggie's story, the movie also explores the perspectives of other characters, including Auggie's older sister Via, who feels neglected by her parents' focus on Auggie's needs, and Auggie's classmates, who struggle with their own issues and prejudices. Throughout the movie, Auggie learns important lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of being true to yourself. The movie has a positive message about accepting differences and embracing diversity. "Wonder" is a touching and inspiring movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. It's a reminder that kindness and compassion can go a long way in making the world a better place.

"Based on the New York Times bestseller, this movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time." This product includes 29-questions that will help your students get the most out of this movie. I have also included time stamps to make it easier for lesson planning. I have also included a presentation on bullying statistics that will help students understand how widespread bullying truly is. Ready to use - no prep!

Excellent film for promoting Character Education! The film is available on iTunes or on Amazon. It is also available on Netflix!

Clipart credit: AppleCheeks

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Track plot events and character choices in Wonder (2017) in chronological order while watching
Recall the film's key precepts about kindness and identity, including 'choose kind'
Connect the film's bullying theme to real national statistics on how often and why students are bullied

Teaching tips

Pause the film at each of the four time blocks (30:00, 1:00:00, 1:30:00) to have students complete that section's questions before continuing
Introduce the bullying-statistics supplement before or after the film to give students real data alongside the film's fictional depiction of bullying
Use question 18 (the precept 'Your deeds are your monuments') and question 28 (the final precept, 'choose kind') as discussion prompts, since both ask students to interpret meaning rather than recall a fact
The included answer key allows this to be used for independent viewing or a substitute lesson without additional prep

Skills covered

Chronological note-taking — students track plot events and answer questions in the same order they occur in the film.
Theme interpretation — students explain the meaning of the film's repeated precepts about kindness and identity.
Data connection — students relate the film's bullying storyline to real national statistics on school bullying.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

How does this guide connect the film's themes to something beyond the movie itself?

A separate seven-page supplement presents national school-bullying statistics from the National Center for Educational Statistics, covering how many students report being bullied, the most common reasons, and how often they tell an adult — grounding the film's bullying storyline in real data.

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Resource details

Concepts & topics

Core concepts

Empathy and kindness ('choose kind')
Bullying and its effects
Chronological film comprehension

Topics

Wonder Character Education Movie Guide Bullying Bullying Prevention Video Guide wonder 2017 full movie wonder full movie rj palacio

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Categories this resource belongs to

Worksheets By Grade Elementary Worksheets High School Worksheets 5th Grade Worksheets 6th Grade Worksheets 7th Grade Worksheets

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