Watch Lesson Plan: The Story of the Third Wave

Lesson Plan: The Story of the Third Wave is a documentary film released in 2010. The film is based on a true incident that took place in a high school history class in California in 1967. The movie is directed by Philip Neel and produced by Philip Neel and David Robert Simpson. The movie stars Ron Jones, Philip Zimbardo, and Scott Thomson. Ron Jones was a high school history teacher who conducted an experiment called "The Third Wave" with his students. Philip Zimbardo is a professor of psychology who observed the experiment, and Scott Thomson is one of the students who participated in the experiment.

The movie tells the story of how Ron Jones conducted a week-long experiment in his history class. The experiment was designed to teach his students about the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of individualism. However, the experiment took a dark turn when the students became enmeshed in the idea of groupthink and began to exhibit fascist tendencies.

As the experiment progressed, the students began to display behavior that was both shocking and disturbing. They formed a strict hierarchy, with some students taking on the role of leaders and others becoming their followers. They adopted a strict set of rules and enforced them with strict discipline.

The movie explores the psychological dynamics of the experiment and its impact on the students. It also explores how Ron Jones reacted to the experiment and the lessons he learned from it. The movie features interviews with Ron Jones, Philip Zimbardo, and some of the students who participated in the experiment.

The film raises some important questions about the nature of authority and the dangers of groupthink. It shows how easily people can be swayed by charismatic leaders and how quickly they can abandon their own moral compass. The movie is a cautionary tale about the perils of blindly following authority and the importance of critical thinking.

The movie is well-made and engaging. The filmmakers use a mix of archival footage, interviews, and dramatic re-enactments to tell the story. The re-enactments are particularly effective, as they give viewers a sense of what it must have been like to be a part of the experiment.

Overall, Lesson Plan: The Story of the Third Wave is a thought-provoking and insightful film. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the psychology of group behavior and the dangers of authoritarianism.

Lesson Plan: The Story of the Third Wave is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.