Your students may be more interested in models than you think -- Hollywood has been using them as fodder for its films and television shows for much longer than they have been alive. Below are a few of our favorite movies that address the idea of models in some way, along with a few thoughts. This list is far from complete, however, and begs for more additions. In fact, we're sure you're thinking of a favorite movie that we've missed right now. Go ahead--help out your colleagues across the state by listing your faves down below in the comments!
The Matrix
The classic model movie. People living in a simulation, finding the differences between it and the reality they knew. An excellent opportunity to talk about the important differences between models and the things they represent. (Note that this is one of the four questions you should always bring out when using models in the classroom.)
AI: Artificial Intelligence
In this Steven Spielberg movie you may have missed, a robot boy longs to become real, and much of the movie hinges on the subtle differences between the two. Seeing as recent science news has shown that people can really get as much joy from loving a robot pet as a real one, and that toddlers can bond with robots like other children, this movie could be more prescient than we realize.
The Thirteenth Floow
Don't want to give this one away if you haven't seen it. For those of you who have, you know. It's another dealing with the questions of whether things are real or a computer simulation, but with a very different feel than a film like The Matrix. Well worth a look.
The Sting
Just so we don't get stuck in science fiction completely, remember this oldie-but-goodie? The final portion is classic switcheroo, is-it-real-or-is-it-Memorex fun, and gets you thinking all over again about the important differences between real life and a model of it.
This is only a taste, but it should give you a starting point. Help us fill in the list -- add your comments below, and we'll create an archive for either your classroom or your movie room. Maybe both. |
Teaching Resources 