Earth Days School Screening

Bring your students to see this intriguing documentary and open up discussions and understanding of the environmental movement and its history.

The film presents a lively and evocative informal history of the modern environmental movement from the 1950s to today. Key players such as biologist Paul Ehrlich, politician Steward Udall, and Whole Earth Catalog founder Steward Brand offer their reflections on successes and setbacks. Eye-opening and often quite funny archival footage includes reactions to the first Earth Day (suspected of being a Communist plot) and suburban children playing on DDT-laced lawn. Earth Days is an inspiring look at how far we’ve come, and how far there still is to go. The film includes very brief nudity. (100 mins., 35mm)

Because of its sophisticated approach to history, this film is best suited for high school audiences. It would be a great for social studies (history or current events) science, economics, or political science classes, as well as for any class interested in discussing ecology, environmentalism, or activism. It could also relate to language arts, mass communications/journalism, and discussions of persuasive communications in many forms. For students working in film/video, it could serve as an introduction to the documentary form.

Registration in advance is required. Free admission will be offered for K–12 school and homeschool groups only. Please call (614) 292-6493 or e-mail edweb@wexarts.org for further information or to register. Need a bus subsidy? Let us know and we might be able to help!