High School Musical-More than a Movie

OK, so I have a confession! I am a fan of the Disney Channel’s “High School Musical.” Yes, yes, it is true- I am a Disney Channel fan! I first heard the music about 6 months ago while at a local middle school and then I saw the movie and loved it.

Since then, I have used the movie as a spring board for leadership lessons. I teach a few times a week at a local private school and I have a 7th grade leadership class. For about one week we watched this movie and talked about the reality of their school and how it is similar and different to the movie.

After a few days of discussion, it was clear. Every student in the class wanted the same thing: For everyone to get along at school and for everyone to be whom they really are and not be fake.

Sounds idealistic? Maybe too good to be true? Think it can ever happen? See what your class thinks….

If you are a middle or high school teacher, check out the debrief questions below and see what kind of ideas your students can come up with. If you are a student or class officer and looking to run a “leadership lesson” with your peers, check these out and see what your friends and classmates think of the movie and reality.

I hope you enjoy this lesson as much as we did!

1)Which character/characters are the most positive and impacting leaders in the school?
a. How did they use their leadership in a positive way?
b. How did they impact others?

2)What is the difference between Troy and Sharpay’s leadership style?
a. Who would you want to be on a team with and why?
b. What does Troy do well to be an effective leader in his school?
c. Want can you do to be a positive leaders at school?

3)What impact did gossip have on Gabriela and Troy?
a. How would you feel if your friends talked behind your back?
b. What can you do to in order to have open communication? What can you do to not gossip?

4)What did the students finally do to come together as a whole and become friends?
a. Do you think we have more alike or more different with people at our school?
b. What can we do as leaders to show people we are more alike than different?