Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Target level of students: S.3
Title of the film: The Kite Runner
Year of production: 2007
Director’s name: Marc Forster
Language: English, Dari, Pashtu, Urdu, Russian
Film synopsis:
In the 70’s in Afghanistan, Amir and Hassan were good friends although Hassan was the servant of
Amir. After Amir winning a competition of kitting, Hassan was beaten and raped by Assef to protect
Amir's kite. However, Amir did not help him. Later, Amir framed Hassan as a thief to force him to
leave. In 1979, the Russians invaded Afghanistan and Amir’s family escape to Pakistan. In 1988,
they had a simple life in California and Amir graduated in a public college. In 2000, Amir received
a phone call from Rahim Khan, who told him about the death of Hassan and the secrets of his
family and asked Amir to return to Pakistan for redemption.
Rationale for the reasons of choosing this film:
Although this film is not a blockbuster, one of the themes brought out by the film is related to
students’ life which is the redeeming love in friendship. Moreover, other themes such as
discrimination, human rights and national identity are some issues which can promote students’
critical thinking. Furthermore, the background of the story is a country at war. This can provide an
opportunity for students to look into a world which they have not experienced before and to see
how the people survive in that kind of society. As a result, they can have reflections on themselves
and treasure what they have now.
Teaching steps
Tasks
Teaching steps
Teaching materials
1. Watching a
trailer of The Kite
1.
Teacher distributes Worksheet 1 to
students and goes through the
Trailer
questions with them.
Teacher asks students to take notes
while watching the trailer.
Teacher plays the trailer of The Kite
Runner to students.
Teacher asks students what they have
written down.
Teacher plays the trailer for two more
times and asks students to answer the
Worksheet 1
Runner
(Listening)
2.
3.
4.
5.
1
Worksheet 2
Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
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6.
7.
2. Character
1.
analysis (Speaking 2.
- discussion)
Teacher plays the film.
Teacher asks students to form in
groups of four and discuss the ideas
they have written down.
5.
Teacher asks some groups to present
their ideas.
Teacher asks students to discuss the
questions in groups of four.
Teacher asks some students to present
their ideas.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4. Writing a film
review
Teacher gives Worksheet 3 to students. Worksheet 3 – character
Teacher asks students to take notes
analysis
when they are watching the film.
3.
4.
6.
3. Writing an
informal letter
questions.
Teacher asks students what they have
written down and asks them to rank
the film.
Teacher distributes Worksheet 2 to
students to give more information
about the background of the film.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Teacher gives Worksheet 4 to students. Worksheet 4 – writing a letter
Teacher guides students how to write
the letter and has a look at the
Rubrics for writing a letter
assessment rubrics with the students.
Students write the letters.
Teacher gives Worksheet 5 to students. Worksheet 5
Teacher guides students to write a film
review and explains the assessment
Rubrics for writing a film
rubrics to them.
review
After writing, teacher asks students to
do a peer evaluation.
Teacher collects the reviews and gives
comments to them according to the
rubrics
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Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Worksheet 1
Film
Watching a trailer
You are going to watch the trailer of a film. Look at the questions below first. Write down the
information you have heard and seen in the table while watching.
(Trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5e6AqrNF8)
1st viewing
1. What is the title of the film?
The Kite Runner
2. What type of film is it? (genre)
Action / adventure / animation / comedy
/ crime / drama / horror / mystery /
romance / science fiction / thriller
3. What is the film about?
A story about two good friends. Later,
one of them died. Another is going to
rescue his friend’s son.
4. Where and when do the scenes in this
film takes place?
Afghanistan, Pakistan, no specific time
is told
2nd viewing
5. What does the beginning of the trailer
tell you about the film?
There are two friends as close as brother
but they are forced to separate due to
war.
6. What is the middle part of the trailer
about?
Amir graduates in a college and receives
a phone call which tells him Hassan is
dead and asks him to back home.
7. What is the dramatic climax?
Amir goes on a journey to rescue
Hassan’s son. He needs to go to a place
that he no longer knows as it is occupied
by Taliban.
9. What is shown at the end of the
trailer?
Amir finds Hassan’s son and the kites
are flying in the sky.
3rd viewing
10. Is there any studio logo? If so, what’s Yes. Dreamworks.
the name?
11. Are there any texts appeared in the
trailer?
Yes. Only the studio names and the title
of the film.
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Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
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12. Is there any voice-over narration?
What is the purpose of the
voice-over?
Yes. To tell the story and gives extra
information about the film.
13. Is there a cast run – a list of actors /
actresses that appear in the film?
No.
14. Are you interested in watching this
film?
1
2
3
4
5
(1- the least, 5 – the most)
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Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Worksheet 2
Background information of the film
Title of the film: The Kite Runner
Year of production: 2007
Director’s name: Marc Forster
Language: English, Dari, Pashtu, Urdu, Russian
Film synopsis:
In the 70’s in Afghanistan, Amir and Hassan were good friends although Hassan was the servant of
Amir. After Amir winning a competition of kitting, Hassan was beaten and raped by Assef to protect
Amir's kite. However, Amir did not help him. Later, Amir framed Hassan as a thief to force him to
leave. In 1979, the Russians invaded Afghanistan and Amir’s family escape to Pakistan. In 1988,
they had a simple life in California and Amir graduated in a public college. In 2000, Amir received
a phone call from Rahim Khan, who told him about the death of Hassan and the secrets of his
family and asked Amir to return to Pakistan for redemption.
Quick facts about Afghanistan








A land-locked country just a bit smaller than Texas. A lot of the terrain is rugged mountains.
The winters are cold and summers are hot (high of 90° F in July and August and 40° F in
January).
About 30 million people live there (about
23 million people live in Texas).
Life expectancy is low (43 years) relative
to the U.S. (78 years).
Islam is the predominant religion with
about 80% of the people being Sunni
Muslims and about 19% Shi’a Muslims.
The official languages are Dari and
Pashto.
The literacy rate, meaning those over age
15 able to read and write, is 51% for males
and 21% for females; the US literacy rate
is 97% for both males and females.
The form of government is Islamic
Republic.
5
Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Worksheet 3
The Kite Runner
Character analysis
Now, we will look at the characters in the film and analyze their personalities.
Form in groups of four, discuss and write down the ideas in the table below.
Characters
Amir
Description
- a Pashtun boy
- educated in a rich
family
What happens to them?
How did they feel?
-win the kitting
competition
-happy, exciting
-witness Hassan being
bullied
-scared, frightened, guilty 
do not help Hassan
-put his watch under
Hassan’s pillow and frame
him as a thief  force
Hassan to leave
-cannot accept his betrayal
towards Hassan
-marry Soraya but receive
opposition from her father
-happy, being loved and
accepted (as a story writer)
- son of Baba, husband
of Soraya
- a famous novelist
first
-Baba dies
-sad
-receive the news of the
-sad, surprised, unbelievable
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Personalities
Related themes
Weak (do not stand up Friendship
for others)
Violence
Creative and
intelligent (a story
Family ties
writer)
Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
death of Hassan and find
out Hassan is his brother
Hassan
- a Hazara boy
-go back to Kabul to
rescue Hassan’s son,
Sohrab
-frightened but determined
-bullied by Assef after
running the kite for Amir
-patience
-being insulted
Smart, brave (stand
up for others)
- a servant of Amir
- son of Ali / son of
Baba
Baba
Discrimination
Friendship
-betrayed by Amir and is
forced to leave Amir’s
house
- the kite runner for
Amir
-die at the hands of Taliban
for protecting Amir’s
house
- a wealthy person in
Kabul
-escape from Kabul to
California
-sad, angry
Righteous
Loyal
-stubborn but love his
son very much
National
identity
Family ties
-being a salesperson in
-sad and insulted (from high
-easy to forgive and
California
status to low status)
-do not accept the Russian
doctor to cure his diseases
-betray the country if he lets
the Russian doctor helps him
accept the others
(forgive what Hassan
does)
-patriotic
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Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
-Amir graduates and gets
married
-happy
-die of lung cancer
Discussion
Now still in groups of four, discuss the following questions and write down your ideas.
1. Do you think Amir and Hassan are friends? Why? What is friendship?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you think Amir can redeem himself at the end? Why?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you think Amir, Soraya and Sohrab would be doing if the story continued?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Worksheet 4
The Kite Runner
Writing an informal letter
In the film, Hassan writes a letter to Amir. Although Amir betrays him, he forgives him.
In your real life, have you done something on your friend and you want him / her to forgive you?
Now, it is an opportunity for you to write a letter to express your love to him / her. Write in 250
words.
Questions to think:
 What have you done on your friend?
 Why do you want your friend to forgive you?

What will you do if your friend forgives you?
Dear __________,
Love,
______________
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Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Assessment rubrics for writing a letter to a friend
Marks
5-6
Content
Organization
Language and
Genre (tine, style &
Accuracy
register)
-Totally relevant
-Appropriate
-Few grammatical
-All appropriate
-All or most ideas
paragraphing
mistakes
features are used in
are well developed
-Most points are
-Accurate use of
an informal letter
presented in logical
grammar, spelling and -Sentence structure
sequence and
punctuation
is varied to suit the
supported by relevant
-A wide range of
purpose of writing
details
sentence structures
-An awareness of
-Strong cohesive ties
-A wide range use of
audience is shown
between and within
vocabulary
paragraphs
-A good range of
connectives
3-4
-Mostly relevant
-Appropriate
-Some grammatical
-Most appropriate
-Some ideas are
paragraphing
mistakes
features are used in
developed
-Some points are
-Moderately correct
an informal letter
presented in logical
use of grammar,
-Some awareness of
sequence
spelling and
audience is shown
-Some cohesive ties
punctuation
between and within
-Some variety of
paragraphs
sentence structures
-Appropriate use of
-Commonplace
connectives
vocabulary but
correctly used
1-2
-Partly relevant
-Not appropriate
-Some grammatical
-Some appropriate
-Some ideas but
paragraphing
mistakes which affect
features are used in
not developed
-Some points are not
meaning
an informal letter
-Too short
presented in a logical
-Partially correct use
-Very limited
sequence
of grammar, spelling
awareness of
-Weak cohesive ties
and punctuation
audience is shown
between and within
-Accurate use of
paragraphs
simple sentences
-Occasional use of
- Commonplace
connectives
vocabulary sometimes
used incorrectly
10
Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Worksheet 5
The Kite Runner
After watching the movie, you are now asked to write a film review for the school magazine, you
can follow the steps below.
Step 1: Write an outline for your film review
Introduction
1. Name of film:______________________________________________________
2. Films characters:____________________________________________________
3. Film director and producer:____________________________________________
4. What is the film about? Describe the story in three or four sentences.
Body / Reflection
1. Which character do you like the most and why?
2. Which is the most impressive scene and why? Describe the scenes in two to three sentences.
3. What have you learnt in this film? (You can think of the themes of the film)
Conclusion
Would you recommend the film? If so, what sort of people will like it?
Step 2: Write a film review
It’s time for you to write the article. You need to write about 300 words.
Assessment rubrics for writing a film review (peer evaluation and teacher’s evaluation)
11
Tang Wing Shan, Candy
Teaching materials on The Kite Runner
Copyrights owned by the author
Name: ________________________________
Exemplary
Content
Satisfactory
Needs Improvement
Elaborates favourite
Elaborates favourite
Fails to elaborate favourite
character and impressive
character and impressive
character and impressive
scenes with good description
scenes with very brief
scenes
□
description
□
□
Provides a succinct plot
Provides an simple plot
Provides so little information
synopsis, explores the theme
synopsis of the film but no
about the plot that the reader
of the film
exploration of the theme
can not determine whether or
□
□
not to see the film
□
Provides personal reflection
Provides little personal
Includes no personal reflection
with relevant examples /
reflection
□
illustrations from the film
□
□
Language
A few grammatical errors
A number of grammatical
Multiple grammatical errors
□
errors
□
□
Inspired word choices
Appropriate word choices
Inappropriate word choices
□
□
□
Solid sentence structure
A number of poorly
Multiple poorly constructed
(S.V.O.)
constructed sentences
sentences
□
□
□
Overall
Other comments:
Adapted from: http://www.twyman-whitney.com/film/review_rubric.html
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