London Childrens Film Festival 2006: Teachers

Resource
The Kid (u)
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_thum
b.php?fid=59427&resource=Stills
Introduction
One of Charlie Chaplins best-known films, The Kid is inspired by Charlie
Chaplins own life growing up in London. Made in 1921, this was the first fulllength feature film Charlie Chaplin produced, and it made him famous.
Watching The Kid, children can discover how story and character can be
conveyed without dialogue. It offers an opportunity to explore topics and
activities such as other times, music, comedy, mime and drama, poverty and
different family units with your class.

Synopsis
A poor woman, Edna, can't take care of her baby and seeing a big car parked
outside a mansion, she puts her new baby into the car with a note asking the
owners to look after the child. But the car is driven off by gangsters, who find
the baby and leave it in an alleyway a garbage can. Charlie the Tramp finds the
baby and the note and decides to take care of him.
Five years later, we see that Charlie is like a father to the Kid and they have
grown to love each other. Together they get up to lots of tricks and find ways to
make some money to live. During those 5 years however, Edna has become
has become a rich and famous opera star. She meets the Kid again when he is
taken ill, and it is discovered that Charlie is not his real father.
What will happen to the Kid? Will he ever see Charlie again, or find out about
his real mother?

Audiences
The Kid is suitable for KS2 pupils, with curriculum links to Literacy, History and
Music.

Curriculum Links and Suggested Classroom Activities

Literacy / Drama
Try planning your own storyboarded scenes and then acting them out in
mime. You could even have a go at filming them.
Barbican Education 2006

History
Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889 in a poor family. Find out
about what London was like then. What kind of jobs did people do?
What happened if people didnt have a job?
Like many other Europeans, Charlie Chaplin went to America to seek his
fortune. Look at documentary sources and books about emigration to
America.
The film was shot in America in 1921. How do we see people living in
the film? What clothes do they wear and what jobs do they do? What is
different and what is the same as life now?
Music
Watch silent films with the volume turned down, then try watching the
films with the soundtrack. What difference does the music make to the
story, the characters and the atmosphere of the film?
Compose your own version of the soundtrack to The Kid or another
silent film.

Weblinks
The BFI Charlie Chaplin website
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/
The Kid page on the BFI Chaplin website
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film.php?fid=59427
Follow Charlies footsteps across the globe with Google Earth:
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/world/
Films relevant to curriculum subjects, with clips to view online or
download, including silent films. Free access for teachers:
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/education/subject_list.html
Information on Charlie Chaplin, his films and his life:
http://www.charliechaplin.com/
Clips from the film:
http://www.archive.org/details/TheKid
We suggest that teachers and parents check the suitability of recommended books,
films and other media for the children in their care before use. London Childrens Film
Festival cannot be responsible for the content of any recommended media, including
websites.
Film Details
Country
Director
Running time
Language

USA, 1921
Charles Chaplin
68 min
English

Barbican Education 2006

 Barbican Education 2006

 Barbican Education 2006