Create your film education program

A Kit for film educators to guide children into the world of cinema

From a very young age, children are open to many different forms of art. Film, as an audiovisual medium, is particularly attractive and accessible to most children.

 

It’s proven that film can best be experienced by watching, playing and reflecting together. Thus stimulating the development of creativity and critical thinking and sparking a love for film.

How can we teach young children about film? Cinemini Europe answers this question in a practical way with films, activities and teaching materials for children between 3-6 years old.

With Cinemini Europe, children and film educators can discover the world of moving image in a meaningful and fun way.

Cinemini Europe kit

  • Film catalogue with 26 short films

  • Instruction manual for care takers / educators

  • Activity cards for the children

  • 4 prototypes of installations

  • Work session blueprints: examples of how partners used the kit

General suggestions on how to work wit the Cinemini Europe Kit

 

1. Make your own selection from the Cinemini film catalogue, for example with a theme or technique as a starting point.

2. Prepare a meaningful screening for the children, in cinema, at school or kindergarten (ideal setting: large screen, a bit of darkness, clear but not too loud sound, space for playing – potentially with an installation or else with a simple set up like table and drawing paper or light and shadow).

3. Have an introductory dialogue with the children on film in general and the project: ask about their personal experiences with film, ask if they’ve seen a film in a cinema before, tell them about the project and the visit, and discuss the rules.

4. Introduce the film(s) and watch together.

5. Allow the children to bodily articulate reactions and to share emotions, thoughts and notifications about their experience.

6. Create a safe surrounding for a discussion and encourage a dialogue. Try to let the kids talk and collect what they have to say, draw connections between what they have seen, articulate similarities and follow up on differences (why have different kids seen things differently although they have seen the same film?).

7. Let the children process the films by playing freely (with one of the installations or a simple alternative).

8. Hand out the activity cards, and let the children play in groups or individually.

9. Repeated viewing: watch films again (and again, and again: children love repetition and learn from it).