Pay it Forward (Teacher’s copy)
Instructions
You need to show this on your computer. Be sure the sound is working. Click on the
hyperlinks for each segment – there are 3.
Show student the 3 links (the first 26 minutes of a movie). As they watch, they answer
the following questions. (At one point, when you see the assignment on the board,
freeze so they can copy it down – ques 9)
When they finish watching, in small groups (2-4) they should help each other fill in what
they could not get.
They should finish the vocabulary work (at the end) for homework. Most of the words
cannot be found in their dictionaries. HW for next lesson.
Question 18 should be done individually, in their own words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33mE9i9ehV4&feature=related (10 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUVUPRBkghg&NR=1 (10 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00W6WnuDY9o&NR=1 (watch only until 6:11 min – when
the teacher goes over the vocabulary words he wants the students to learn)
1. Describe what happens in the first scene. (The scene of a crime, a man’s car gets bashed
into, another man sees it and give him a fancy car – out of “generosity between two
strangers”)
2. When does the next scene (the rest of the movie) take place? (4 months earlier)
3. Where does the second scene take place? (In a middle school)
4. Who are the main characters that you see in these segments (NOT the first scene)?
Character
Description
Relationship to other characters
Tervor
Student in the 7th grade
Arlene’s son
Mr. Simonet
Social studies teacher in
middle school with scars on
his face.
Trevor’s teacher
Arlene
Woman who works in a strip
show
Tervor’s mother
Homeless man (Jerry)
Poor homeless man
The person Trevor helps, then he
helps Trevor’s mother by fixing her
truck.
5. What is the class’ assignment? (FREEZE ON THE BOARD SO THEY CAN SEE THE
ASSIGNMENT – they might be able to see it only after question 9, below ) (Think of an
idea to change the world, and then put it into action)
6. How long will the class’ assignment go on? (All year long)
7. What do the students think of it? (that it is weird, hard, crazy, bummer)
8. What does the teacher think of it? (That it is possible)
9. What does the teacher expect the students to have with them at all times and why?
(Their dictionaries – so the learn to love words)
10. What do you think of this rule? Explain
11. On his way home, describe what Trevor sees: (People in an empty lot, they look poor
and hungry)
12. Why is Trevor getting his own dinner? (Because his mother is working)
13. Who is home with Trevor? (Jerry – the homeless man )
14. Where is Jerry when Trevor’s mother (Arlene) first sees him and what is he doing? (In
her garage, fixing their truck)
15. Jerry explains how he got there – what does he tell Trevor’s mother? (Trevor wanted to
help somebody get back on his feet – he gave him money – he bought shoes and
clothing and that helped him get a job. )
16. Jerry explains that he is not paying Trevor back, rather he is “paying it forward”. This is a
term that Trevor made up. What does it mean? Draw it and describe it:
(He is going to help three people, and they will help three more, and it will grow really quickly.)
17. What does the teacher think of Trevor’s idea? (He thinks it is original and admirable)
18. Vocabulary: Define the following words with your dictionary and put them into a
sentence, below. If you cannot find them in your dictionary, look them up on
http://www.merriam-webster.com/. Bring in Sunday.
Word
English Definition
Hebrew Translation
atrophy
pass the buck
utopian
enigma
quantum
variegated
effusive
Sentences using the word in a meaningful way
utopian:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
enigma
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
quantum
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
variegated
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
effusive
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
19. Explain, in your own words, how the theme of this movie is related to the poem “Count
That Day Lost”.
20. Think back to the opening scene (the crime scene). How is it connected to the
rest of what you saw?