When you think of Disney, what comes to mind? Probably magic, movies and a host of unforgettable characters.
But what if we told you that Disney can also be a powerful tool in your homeschool?
That’s right, behind those catchy tunes and colourful movie scenes lie countless opportunities for rich, creative and effective learning.
Read on for 20 magical ways to use Disney in your homeschool.
There are so many ways to use Disney in your homeschool, from literature and history to science and social-emotional development.
Whether you're a Disney die-hard or just a casual fan, you'll find plenty of ideas to spark learning and joy in your home.
Plus your kids are bound to be on board when they know today's learning will be Disney-themed!
20 Magical Ways to Use Disney in Your Homeschool
1. Character Studies
Use favorite Disney characters to spark discussions about right and wrong, choices and moral dilemmas, and character development in stories.
For instance, analyze the growth of Simba in The Lion King or the perseverance of Moana.
What values do they uphold? What mistakes do they learn from? What if they had made different choices?
Subjects integrated: Social-emotional learning, ethics, literature.
2. Disney Movie Unit Studies
Build a unit study around a Disney film.
Pocahontas, for example, could include history, geography (mapping her journey), art (Native American symbols), and environmental science.
Finding out the truth about her life, rather than the santisized version, would be an amazing lesson in histiography and bias for older kids.
Create worksheets, discussion questions, and projects based on the film’s content.
Subjects integrated: History, science, art, geography.
3. Music and Performing Arts
Disney songs are naturally a treasure trove for teaching rhythm, pitch, and musicality.
From Tim Rice through Elton John to Lin-Manual Miranda, they have employed some of the greatest songwriters over the years.
Try learning the lyrics and discussing the music composition of one movie's songs or a selection from different movies.
Look at how the subject matter influences the songs from the movie, and how cultural motifs are used within new contemporary songs.
Older students can analyze chord structures or even compose parodies or new verses.
Subjects integrated: Music theory, singing, performance, songwriting.
Grab this Encanto bingo game to play along while you listen:
4. Literature and Storytelling
Many Disney movies are adaptations of classical literature (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Jungle Book) or fairy tales (Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Tangled).
Compare the Disney versions to the originals.
Discuss what was changed, why, and how those changes affect the story.
Create a storyboard for a traiditonal tale, fairy tale or famous novel that Disney has not tackled yet.
Subjects integrated: Literature, critical thinking, creative writing.
5. Geography Through Disney Films
Travel the globe through Disney!
Use movies like Ratatouille (France), Mulan (China), and Encanto (Colombia) to study world cultures, geography, flags, and languages.
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Look at their culture and traditions, make some of their food, research and draw their traidtional dress, find out about their local landmarks.
Place pins on a map for each movie’s setting.
Perhaps you could spend a week on each movie then have a watch party at the end of the week to show friends and family what you found out.
Subjects integrated: Geography, world cultures, foreign languages.
6. Learning Languages
Take the geography idea one step further.
Disney offers a great bridge into foreign languages.
Watch your child’s favorite film in Spanish, French, or Japanese with subtitles.
Then create vocabulary lists and practice phrases.
You could even sing along in another language!
Subjects integrated: Foreign languages, listening comprehension.
7. Science Through Disney Themes
Discuss the science behind Disney’s fantastic ideas. Spells with Maleficent anyone?
More ideas:
- Frozen: States of matter, the water cycle, snowflakes, and weather.
- Finding Nemo: Ocean ecosystems and marine biology. Who else lives under the sea?
- Big Hero 6: Robotics and health sciences.
Subjects integrated: Physics, biology, chemistry, technology.
8. Disney History Project
The history of Disney itself is a fascinating topic.
Study Walt Disney's life, the rise of animation, and the evolution of the Disney parks.
Create a timeline or write a report on how Mickey Mouse became a cultural icon.
Subjects integrated: Biography, business, 20th-century history.
Some of the Disney films are set in historical periods (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, The Sword in the Stone) which could be a good jumping off point into the history of the times.
9. Art and Animation
Dive into Disney’s art styles, from the very beginning of hand drawn sequential images through Steamboat Willie to now.
Try sketching characters, designing your own, or animating short clips using stop-motion apps.
Explore different techniques like watercolor, cel shading, and digital art.
Subjects integrated: Fine arts, design, digital literacy.
10. Disney Math Challenges
Incorporate Disney themes into math problems.
Create word problems using characters (e.g. calculate how many steps Cinderella must take to clean the castle).
Or use park maps and pretend currency to practice budgeting and real-world math.
Subjects integrated: Arithmetic, money math, logic, problem-solving.
11. Creative Writing Prompts
Use Disney movies to inspire writing.
Ask your child to write an alternative ending, a prequel, or a side story from another character's point of view.
Create a crossover between two movies.
Add writing mechanics lessons to reinforce grammar and structure.
Subjects integrated: Creative writing, grammar, storytelling.
12. Philosophy and Ethics Discussions
Disney is full of teachable moments.
Ask thought-provoking questions, such as:
- Should Ariel have given up her voice?
- Was Scar’s hunger for power justified?
These discussions build critical thinking and the skill to take on different points of view.
Subjects integrated: Philosophy, ethics, debate.
13. Themed Days or Weeks
Plan entire school days or weeks around a theme like “Pixar Week” or “Princess Academy.”
Integrate learning across all subjects with a unifying theme.
Add crafts, snacks and themed cupcakes, costumes, and field trips for an immersive experience.
Subjects integrated: Cross-curricular learning, project-based education.
14. Field Trips to Disney or Related Exhibits
If you're near a Disney park or exhibition, turn it into a field trip.
Study the engineering of the rides, the storytelling of the shows, and the design of the park.
For those further away, take a virtual tour or plan a “pretend” Disney trip from home.
You could even have kids design their own dream Disney ride - and make a working model out of recycling junk.
Subjects integrated: STEM, hospitality, event planning.
15. Film Analysis and Critique
Older students can study film techniques, lighting, camera angles, and voice acting.
Compare how storytelling evolves from early Disney (Snow White) to modern classics (Zootopia).
Write critiques or make your own short film!
Subjects integrated: Media literacy, visual arts, communication.
16. Learning Through Disney Board Games and Apps
Use educational Disney board games like Disney Villainous or apps that focus on problem-solving, memory, and math.
They're a fun way to reinforce learning without screens or workbooks.
Subjects integrated: Game-based learning, logic, social skills.
17. Costume Design and Sewing
Create costumes from Disney characters and use it to teach sewing, patterns, fabric selection, and budgeting.
It's hands-on learning that also fosters creativity and life skills.
Subjects integrated: Home economics, art, fashion design.
18. Speech and Drama Practice
Use Disney scenes or monologues to practice public speaking, expression, and memorization.
Have a Disney-themed drama club at home or host a 'family play night'.
Subjects integrated: Performing arts, language arts, confidence building.
19. Cooking and Cultural Cuisine
Make dishes inspired by Disney films.
Bake beignets from The Princess and the Frog, cook ratatouille from Ratatouille, or try Colombian arepas from Encanto.
Or try these Little Mermaid cupcakes or Cinderella cupcake recipe.
Cooking incorporates math (measuring), reading (recipes), science (cooking methods and changes) and culture.
Subjects integrated: Culinary arts, math, science, cultural studies.
20. Entrepreneurship and Business Lessons
Explore how Disney grew into a multi-billion-dollar brand and their different business streams.
Study marketing, branding, theme park economics, and licensing.
Let your kids brainstorm their own Disney-inspired businesses or products and 'pitch' them.
Subjects integrated: Economics, business studies, creative thinking.
Bonus Tip: Create a Disney Homeschool Portfolio
Track all your Disney-inspired learning in a themed binder or digital portfolio.
You can include:
- Worksheets
- Art projects
- Writing samples
- Photos of activities
- Movie reviews
- Journal reflections
This not only makes a beautiful keepsake but also showcases the depth of learning that can occur in a non-traditional format.
Homeschooling doesn’t have to mean strict routines, traditional lessons and textbooks.
By integrating something as joyful and universal as Disney into your homeschool, you create magical moments of learning that your kids will remember forever.
Learning is all round us, sometimes in a lab, sometimes in a book, and sometimes in the lyrics of a Disney song!
Which Disney-inspired idea are you most excited to try in your homeschool?
Let us know over in our Homeschool Ideas Facebook group.
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