Democracy Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Before the Movie

What comes to mind when you hear democracy? (Tap prior knowledge)

What do you hope to learn about democracy in this movie? (Set goals) 

During the Movie (Pause Points)

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 0:47: What is the purpose of government in a democracy? (Recall) 

Timecode 2:24: What’s the difference between a direct democracy and a representative democracy? (Compare/contrast) 

Timecode 2:43: Why are direct democracies only effective for small populations? (Identify cause/effect) 

After the Movie

Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to Democracy. (Make connections) 

What does democracy require to remain an effective form of government? (Synthesize) 

BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the Democracy Topic Page to your class or have students read independently. Then have them watch the movie once through without pausing. Then, watch it again as class, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.