Tuning into the documentary 2040 (7-11, US)
A tuning in activity helps students to define and focus on the issues they will be dealing with in the unit of work. In this lesson, students will be immersed in and connect with the documentary film 2040 – it is a great lesson to conduct before watching the documentary in full. Students work in groups to imagine what the world might look like in 2040 based on a range of categories such as diet, fashion, buildings, transport, and technology.
United States
Fact sheet , Worksheet

Overview
In this lesson, students will be immersed in and connect with the documentary film 2040 – it is a great lesson to conduct before watching the documentary in full. Students begin by working in groups to imagine what the world might look like in 2040 based on a range of categories, such as diet, fashion, buildings, transport, and technology. They are then introduced to the 2040 documentary by watching and responding to a short clip that establishes the key messages of the film.
Students are then guided to prepare an information collection sheet, helping them respond to the film and conduct research around key messages of the film (optional).
Teaching Strategies – Facilitate class discussion, lead students in activities.
Learning objective:
Students will understand that different people have different ideas and concerns about the future.
Credits and acknowledgements:
Cool.org prepared the 2040 Curriculum Guide. Together Films adapted these lessons for US educators and will do an annual review of these resources to ensure they are still in line with the US Curriculum.
US Educator Note: Australian educational standards have been adapted and aligned by discipline, and when possible, to US standards.
Cool Australia, GoodThing Productions and Regen Studios would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of Good Pitch Australia, Shark Island Institute, Documentary Australia Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation, Global Health Film and our philanthropic partners in the development of these teaching resources.
Watching the film
Watch the full film with your class by filling in this form. If you have any questions, please contact the Together Films team at 2040@togetherfilms.org
The Schools Version of 2040 includes an educational licence and is for US elementary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host on-site screenings for the school community.
Curriculum mapping
What you'll need
- Lesson materials
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class.
Lesson materials
More from this unit

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