Films for KS1: First Outings Teachers' Pages

Prepare your class for the trip by finding out who has visited a cinema before:

• Encourage the children to talk about the last time they visited the cinema. What was it like? Was it loud, scary or fun?
• Which films have they seen at the cinema? What were the best bits and what were the parts that they did not enjoy?
• What type of film was it? Cartoon, funny, scary or action-packed? Who did they go with? Did they like/dislike the same parts of the film?
• Can they remember what else was shown on the screen before the film ran?
• Were the seats comfortable?
• Did they have refreshments such as popcorn?
• How is going to the cinema different to watching television?

For those who have not been to the cinema before, prepare them by explaining what the experience will be like:

• Describe the type of cinema they will be visiting - a multiplex or a smaller cinema
• How far away is the cinema from the school? With assistance, can they find the location on a map?
• Describe the foyer, the kiosk and the auditorium. Provide the children with some props that they might see when they are there, e.g. ticket, popcorn box, film posters and anything related to the film the children are going to see.
• The lights in the auditorium will be on before the film begins. If you are a late arrival, you may find your group escorted to their seats by torchlight. Prepare the class for this possibility.
• Explain to the class how the film is projected onto the cinema screen. Let them know where the sound is coming from and warn them that they may find it rather loud.
• Explain to the class that they will be watching the film with other children - sometimes as many as 500 in one auditorium.

Two study FREE downloadable study guides are available. Both are designed to give primary children a greater understanding of the cinema experience through a tour of the cinema. The majority of cinema managers are often willing to allow manageable school groups into the cinema during quiet times for tours of this kind.

Cinema Senses

Cinema + Maths

This study guide is to be used on a tour around the cinema and uses Maths in the cinema setting through activities at the box office and projection room etc.