Resources

With the growth in film, video and website content — alongside technological developments in how and where people can easily access it — teachers and parents are ever more aware of the need to support young people to safely navigate the world of visual media. The free ‘Let’s watch a film! Making choices about what to watch’ PSHE education lessons from the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) use the context of films and film classification to explore decision-making, risk management and managing peer influence. They’ve been designed to help children to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their viewing, and equip them to choose what is right for them and steer clear of what is not. The lessons promote self-regulation, resilience, and safeguarding.

The resource includes two comprehensive lesson plans for Year 5/6 pupils with supporting classroom materials, accompanied by detailed teacher guidance explaining how to ensure delivery of these lessons is most effective. The lessons will help pupils to:

• Recognise the age-ratings given to films and why these are important
• Explain how film content can invoke a range of feelings and responses in different people
• Develop the skills to evaluate which films are suitable for them and others
• Develop the skills to manage situations when not everyone agrees what to watch or they feel pressure to watch something

PSHE Association Subject Specialist Sally Martin says:
“With growing technological developments surrounding film and video content, young people are increasingly required to manage their own viewing habits. These important new PSHE education lessons from the BBFC support pupils to critically select what they watch and learn ways to handle situations where they may feel under pressure to view something they are unsure about. These lessons will help to develop pupils’ risk-assessment, decision-making and assertiveness skills as part of a planned PSHE curriculum.”