Lesson Plans: Using Film in the History Classroom
Saving Private Ryan: Worksheet
by Catherine Rokicky

Questions while viewing film

1. What do you learn about Operation OVERLORD?
   
   
   
   
    
2. Is the plot plausible? Would the U.S. have supported the mission?
   
   
   
   
    
3. What do you learn about the background of Captain Miller? What does this tell you about the men who served during the war and the actions they took?
   
   
   
   
    
4. What attitude did the men have about their mission and the war?
   
   
   
   
    
5. What happened during the scene with the captured German soldier? Do you believe his life should have been spared?
   
   
   
   
    
6. What does the German soldier do later in the film? Does this change your attitude about whether or not he should have been released? What do you learn about the nature of fighting during the war?
   
   
   
   
    
7. What do you learn about the soldiers' experiences during the war?