The American Dream: Jigsaw Activity Pack for Engaging Classroom Connections

In this resource, students dive headfirst into the new year defining and discussing the elusive concept of The American Dream in the context of the holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. We're not just talking about lectures here! We're unleashing the mighty power of the Jigsaw Strategy—this not so secret strategy will transform your classroom into a bustling hub of interconnected minds.

Introducing our 'American Dream & Jigsaw Activity Pack,' a powerhouse resource designed to make your classroom buzz with collaboration and critical thinking from day one of the new year.

This is more than an assignment—the resources are designed to help you foster an environment where interdependence thrives. Starting the year with this activity isn't just a lesson plan—it's a deliberate move to reignite connections, strengthen classroom bonds, and mirror the very essence of the film's themes of interconnectedness and community. 

As your students watch It's a Wonderful Life, they'll also embark on a discovery expedition focusing on an aspect of The American Dream. Here’s what you’ll get:

• First, they’ll discuss and define The American Dream with a Gallery Walk activity
• They'll craft One-Pagers in their expert groups, dissecting aspects of The American Dream before coming together in their 
• Jigsaw groups to transform their collective knowledge into a Synthesized Mind Map about the vision of the The American Dream depicted in the film. 
• To conclude, assess students with a choice of a Written Reflection or Socratic Seminar

Why You’ll Love It:

The new year is primed for a fresh start not only for the students, but for you, too. This resource is designed to help you ease into the year with less stress, while still maintaining a high level of rigor. Jigsaws can feel intimidating, but I’ve given you everything you need in order to implement this powerful strategy effectively, and if you’d like a little more support, check out the episode of my podcast all about jigsaws: “Jigsaw Strategy: A Game-Changer for Fostering Classroom Community and Interdependence.”

The beginning of the year can be tricky. Students are out of practice from learning, and you want to help students get back into the groove of the learning and build on the community building from the beginning of the year. This resource connects your classroom community with the concepts of the film: community, renewal and second chances, relationships, and many others. 

Additional Details and Bonus Material:

I want you to feel as prepared as possible with as little effort as possible. That’s why you’re here on TPT, right? To take a little of the pressure and overwhelm off and give you some ideas to be your best teaching self? To that end, I put together a free bonus private podcast–accessible wherever you consume podcasts—to go along with this resource to give you even more ideas for how you can frame and teach this film. 

Embrace the ease and creativity in your teaching journey with these resources!