Short Film Activities for Language & Comprehension Skills | A Fox and a Mouse

Description

Build language and comprehension skills with an engaging wordless short film!

These wordless short film activities for A Fox and a Mouse give students a shared story to discuss, retell, and write about. Through the characters’ actions and expressions, students explore how an unlikely friendship develops—and practice putting their thinking into words.

Support language development through a visual story

Wordless films offer English learners a way to follow a story without needing to understand spoken dialogue. Use the film as a starting point for partner conversations, teacher-guided discussion, and written responses. Students can rehearse their ideas aloud before completing the activities.

Language and comprehension skills students practice:

• Retelling events in sequence
• Identifying characters and setting
• Making inferences using story clues and background knowledge
• Describing characters’ feelings and traits
• Explaining how and why characters change
• Drawing conclusions and supporting ideas with evidence

What’s included?

Printable PDF activities:

• Story elements and beginning, middle, and end retelling organizer
• 2 making-inferences graphic organizers
• Character and plot development organizer
• Answer keys with suggested responses

Editable Google Slides activities:

• Group activity: 4 slides for guided instruction and shared discussion
• Individual activity: 2 slides for students who can work with less teacher support

The digital activities focus on character and plot development and drawing conclusions. Printable and digital activities differ.

Flexible classroom use

Use this resource in ESL/ELD lessons, small groups, or whole-class comprehension instruction. Pause and replay parts of the film to help students notice details, discuss their ideas, and explain their responses. Choose activities based on your students’ language needs and your lesson focus.

Access and format

Includes printable PDFs, links to editable Google Slides activities, and a link to the short film. A Google account is required to use the digital activities. The video file is not included.

Already own the Short Film Comprehension Activities Bundle? This resource is included in that bundle.