Akeelah and the Bee
Akeelah and the Bee
DVD in English with English and Spanish subtitles.
A complete English lesson plan for Akeelah and the Bee — ready to open and teach.
Akeelah Anderson is eleven years old, attends a chronically underfunded school in South Los Angeles, and has a gift she is not sure she is allowed to have. Her journey from a school spelling bee to the national championship is about something much bigger than words — it is about what happens when a community decides to believe in one of its own.
Good films have natural moments — a powerful scene, a cultural encounter, a shift in the story — where the language and meaning come together. This plan identifies those moments in Akeelah and the Bee and builds a lesson around each one. For every scene, you get vocabulary and cultural notes, comprehension activities, and communicative tasks your students can work through in class or independently. A pre-film warm-up gets them ready before the first screening.
Everything is included: the teacher's guide, student worksheets in English, and an answer key.
Not sure yet? Download a free sample → See exactly what our English lesson plans include before you buy.
📅 Teach it when it counts
- September (Back to School) — Akeelah and the Bee is about what it takes to truly excel — a perfect opener for a new school year focused on growth mindset and academic courage.
- National Spelling Bee season (May/June) — The film literally follows a spelling bee — bring it in when the national competition is in the news and students can watch an underdog compete in real time.
- Black History Month (February) — Akeelah's story of a young Black girl from South Los Angeles pushing past expectation and community pressure is essential, not incidental, to this film.
Language: English | Director: Doug Atchison | Year: 2006
Level: Novice | Format: Downloadable PDF — instant delivery
Download for $29.95. Print it. Teach it.
More Information
More Information
Director: Doug Atchison
Cast: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer
Audio: DVD in English with English and Spanish subtitles.
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