Bill Pinkney's Back
This is a fantastic film which brings the story to life. It’s long I would not play it in its entirety in one sitting but would play a piece every day as you read the story.
Some teachers find it objectionable that Bill Pinkney drinks alcohol on his journey and says the d word at a time when his life is in danger. Use your best judgement and do preview the film ahead of time. Although I played only 5-10 minutes at a time, I did not edit any of it out in my classroom. Rather we used the mild bad language as a an opportunity to talk about the dangers Bill Pinkney was facing (and the importance of not swearing).
I encourage you to acquire this movie as well as a DVD player if you do not yet have one in your classroom. They’re cheaper than you think these days.
Tags: bill pinkney, journeys, open court, unit opener
