gattaca movie assignment answer key

There is NO AI content on this website. All content on TeachWithMovies.org has been written by human beings.

• FOR TEACHERS
• FOR PARENTS
• FOR HOME SCHOOL
• TESTIMONIALS
• SOCIAL MEDIA
• DMCA COMPLIANCE
• GRATUITOUS VIOLENCE
• MOVIES IN THE CLASSROOM
• PRIVACY POLICY
• U.S. HISTORY
• WORLD HISTORY
• SUBJECT MATTER
• APPROPRIATE AGE LEVEL
• MORAL/ETHICAL EMPHASIS

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

• SNIPPETS & SHORT SUBJECTS
• MOVIES BY THE CALENDAR
• DOCUMENTARIES & NON-FICTION
• TALKING AND PLAYING WITH MOVIES: AGES 3-8
• TWM’S BEST TEACHING FILMS
• TALKING AND PLAYING WITH MOVIES
• SET-UP-THE-SUB
• ARTICLES & STUDENT HANDOUTS
• MOVIE PERMISSION SLIP
• MOVIE & TELEVISION WORKSHEETS
• MATHEMATICS
• EARTH SCIENCE
• ANY FILM THAT IS A WORK OF FICTION
• FILM ADAPTATIONS OF NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, OR PLAYS
• ANY FILM THAT IS A DOCUMENTARY
• ANY FILM THAT EXPLORES ETHICAL ISSUES
• ADAPTATION OF A NOVEL
• DOCUMENTARIES
• HERO’S JOURNEY
• SCIENCE FICTION
• WORK OF FICTION
• WORK OF HISTORICAL FICTION
• PERSUASIVE DOCUMENTARY
• FICTION (SOAPS, DRAMAS, AND REALITY/SURVIVAL SHOW)
• HISTORICAL FICTION
• INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
• NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS
• SEARCH [Custom]

SUBJECTS — Science Fiction;

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING — Breaking Out; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Human Rights; Brothers; Friendship; Suicide;

MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS — Respect; Fairness.

AGE ; 14+; Rated PG-13 for brief violent images, language, and some sexuality;

Drama; 1997; 101 minutes; Color.

THE BEST OF TWM

One of the Best! This movie is on TWM’s list of the ten best movies to supplement classes in Science, High School Level.

Benefits of the Movie Possible Problems Parenting Points Selected Awards & Cast

Helpful Background Discussion Questions Social-Emotional Learning

Moral-Ethical Emphasis Assignments and Projects Links to the Internet

MOVIE WORKSHEETS & STUDENT HANDOUTS

TWM offers the following movie worksheets to keep students’ minds on the film and to focus their attention on the lessons to be learned from the movie.

Film Study Worksheet for ELA Classes ; and

Worksheet for Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects .

Teachers can modify the worksheets to fit the needs of each class.

DESCRIPTION

The film takes place in a genetically engineered “not too distant future.” Fertilized embryos are selected and altered for intelligence, strength, resistance to disease, and physical appearance. (The genetic counselor tells parents “It’s still you, simply the best of you.”) Children conceived in the normal way, “faith babies,” are treated as second class citizens and relegated to menial jobs.

“Gattaca” is a multifaceted film. It’s the story of Vincent, a “faith baby” with strong will power who dreams of exploring space but lives in a world where only the genetically enhanced can be astronauts. Undaunted, Vincent pursues his dream in the only way possible. Jerome is the opposite. Blessed with the improvements offered by genetic engineering, he is unable to cope with the disappointments of life. “Gattaca” is also a murder mystery. Vincent gets caught up in the investigation surrounding the killing of his superior at work, a man who opposed the mission that Vincent has been scheduled to take. Is Vincent the murderer? Will the investigation expose Vincent as an “in-valid” and a “de-gene-erate?”

SELECTED AWARDS & CAST

Selected Awards:

1998 Academy Awards: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration; 1998 Golden Globe Awards Nominations: Best Original Score – Motion Picture.

Featured Actors:

Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, and Gore Vidal.

Andrew Niccol.

BENEFITS OF THE MOVIE

This film allows the viewer to work through some of the ethical implications of a society that manipulates human genes to enhance the genetic characteristics of newborns. Due to advances in genetic engineering, society will have to face this issue in the 21st century.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

SERIOUS. One of the main characters commits suicide, and it takes some serious thinking to understand that the film’s philosophy is critical of this action. On one occasion, the hero of the film is cornered and brutally beats a police officer by punching, head-butting and kicking him.

The two most sympathetic characters drink alcohol to excess on several occasions. There is scattered profanity (two “f…” words, a few scatological references and mild obscenities). We are shown the very bloody, pulpy head of a murder victim, surrounded by a pool of blood. People are shown in bed before and after sexual intercourse but there is no nudity and there are no sexually suggestive movements.

PARENTING POINTS

Tell your child that soon genetic engineering will be able to cure disease and also to make normal people stronger, taller, better looking etc. Ask what he or she thinks about that and then ask and help your child to answer the Quick Discussion Question. If your child is interested, go through some of the other Discussion Questions.

TeachWithMovies.org recommends that every child in any family in which there is any history of heavy drinking or alcohol abuse be taken to an open AA meeting beginning at the age of 12 or 13. This should be repeated every year or so. Some meetings are divided into two parts. Try to stay for the second part. That’s when specially selected speakers talk about the difficulties they encountered while intoxicated and their new lives in sobriety. Tell the kids that if they ever have trouble with alcohol, the twelve steps of AA are a way that they can avoid the destructive effects of alcoholism. For more information, see Handout on Alcohol and How it Affects Us .

HELPFUL BACKGROUND

“Gattaca” was made in 1997. Since that time, almost the entire human genome has been catalogued and discoveries in the field of bioengineering are occurring so quickly that any description of where science stands in this area would almost immediately be out-of-date. Scientists are now talking about cloning human beings as a serious possibility and the ethical questions involved are of immediate and pressing urgency. This film is an excellent device to get children thinking about the implications of the advances in biotechnology.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. See Discussion Questions for Use With any Film that is a Work of Fiction .

2. Compare Jerome and Vincent. What were their strengths and their weaknesses? In what ways were they the mirror image of each other?

3. Was Jerome mentally ill?

4. Compare Anton and Vincent, the two brothers. How was Vincent able to beat Anton at swimming despite Vincent’s weak heart?

5. Why is there such resistance to the new order imposed by this society? (Examples are: Vincent’s girlfriend and the test technician.)

6. What do you think is wrong with the society portrayed in “Gattaca”?

7. Wouldn’t every parent want to ensure that their child was perfect and had the attributes of physical attractiveness, intelligence and athletic prowess to be able to do whatever he or she wanted in life? If so, why is the society portrayed in this film so devoid of happiness, vitality and fun?

8. What made Vincent able to qualify for the Saturn mission despite his physical infirmities and lack of genetic perfection?

9. If you were the president of a corporation that could hire genetically enhanced individuals, would you do so? If you didn’t, how could you compete with corporations that did hire only the genetically improved? What are the implications of this for our future?

10. Most parents will tell you that children are born with their own peculiar personality. This can be affected by events in the child’s life, but there is definitely a strong, if not overriding genetic component. We may, in the future, be able to modify these characteristics, just as physical characteristics and intelligence could be modified. What are the implications of this?

11. Some people have countered the vision of this film by saying that our strengths are inextricably combined with our weaknesses. Do you agree with this?

12. Soon, life insurance companies, health insurance companies, employers, and the government will have the tools to predict our future health. Is this too much information for them to have? Is there any way to stop it?

13. The character of the Director (the murderer) told the investigators that there was no indication of violence in his genetic make-up. What were the screenwriters trying to tell us by this scene?

14. What were the screenwriters trying to tell us through the episode of the 12 fingered pianist? What is wrong with engineering children to have 12 fingers if, as a result, they will be able to make extraordinarily beautiful music?

15. What limits should be placed on genetic engineering? Should it be allowed at all? Should it be limited to the elimination of disease and physical imperfections?

16. Should we permit people to make human clones of themselves? What about someone who cannot have a child?

17. Should we permit people to make human clones of other people?

18. If you would permit human cloning, would the clones have all the rights of “natural” people?

19. Was Vincent justified in brutally beating the police officer outside of the nightclub?

1. Jerome committed suicide at the end of this film. What was the screenwriter’s purpose in showing this end to this character?

Suggested Response:

That a future in which human attributes are left to chance is emotionally, morally, and spiritually bankrupt.

BREAKING OUT

2. Is it true that you are more than the sum of your genes?

3. Which did Anton have more allegiance to his caste of genetically enhanced beings or his brother?

4. Were Vincent and Jerome friends by the end of the film?

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

See the Handout on Alcohol and How it Affects Us

5. What was the role of alcohol in the destruction of Jerome’s personality?

MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS (CHARACTER COUNTS)

Discussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use of this film to teach ethical principles and critical viewing. Additional questions are set out below.

(Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements)

1. What is a caste system? Describe the caste system in Gattaca. Give some examples of caste systems in other societies that have actually existed.

(Play by the rules; Take turns and share; Be open-minded; listen to others; Don’t take advantage of others; Don’t blame others carelessly)

2. Was the society described in this film one in which fairness was a value? What problems were caused by the failure of society to promote fairness?

ASSIGNMENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES

See Assignments, Projects, and Activities for Use With any Film that is a Work of Fiction .

CCSS ANCHOR STANDARDS

Multimedia: Anchor Standard #7 for Reading (for both ELA classes and for History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Classes). (The three Anchor Standards read: “Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media, including visually and quantitatively as well as in words.”) CCSS pp. 35 & 60. See also Anchor Standard # 2 for ELA Speaking and Listening, CCSS pg. 48.

Reading: Anchor Standards #s 1, 2, 7 and 8 for Reading and related standards (for both ELA classes and for History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Classes). CCSS pp. 35 & 60.

Writing: Anchor Standards #s 1 – 5 and 7- 10 for Writing and related standards (for both ELA classes and for History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Classes). CCSS pp. 41 & 63.

Speaking and Listening: Anchor Standards #s 1 – 3 (for ELA classes). CCSS pg. 48.

Not all assignments reach all Anchor Standards. Teachers are encouraged to review the specific standards to make sure that over the term all standards are met.

LINKS TO THE INTERNET

The reviews of this film are especially helpful. See for example:

• Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times
• Scott Rosenberg in Salon

This Learning Guide was last updated on July 21, 2011.

LEARNING GUIDE MENU:

Benefits of the Movie Possible Problems Parenting Points Selected Awards & Cast Helpful Background Discussion Questions Social-Emotional Learning Moral-Ethical Emphasis Assignments and Projects Links to the Internet

MOVIE WORKSHEETS:

Quick discussion question:.

If we were able to exclude the eccentric, the different, the misfits, and the weak, what would happen to society?

Society would become uninteresting and sterile and there would be less innovation if everyone were the same. Just look at the food. What would life be like without Italian food, Mexican food, Middle Eastern food, or Chinese food? It is very often the person who is different, who sees things a little differently, that will invent something or forge new ways for society to see itself. Jesus was considered by most to be a misfit. It was the Pharisees who were the “popular people” of his day. The Buddha was a prince but rejected it all for religious contemplation. And what about the next genetic innovation in mankind that perfects us, and makes us better? How would a society that can engineer genetic innovation treat that person? Chances are the mutation would be treated as a birth defect and eliminated. The beneficial nature of differences among people is an important concept for teenagers who are often slaves to conformity or miserable because they cannot conform.

BUILDING VOCABULARY:

“de-gene-erate”, “valid”, “in-valid”, “faith baby”, “genetic engineering.”

Attendance at an open AA meeting is an excellent extra-credit activity. Some meetings are divided into two parts. Tell the kids to ask permission to stay for the second part. That’s when specially selected speakers talk about the difficulties they encountered while intoxicated and their new lives in sobriety.

Search Lesson Plans for Movies

Get our free newsletter.

* we respect your privacy. no spam here!

Follow us on social media!

• International
• Education Jobs
• Schools directory
• Resources Education Jobs Schools directory News Search

Gattaca Movie Guide | Questions | Worksheet | Google Classroom (PG13 - 1997)

Subject: English language learning

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

14 April 2024

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

A very good resource.Thank you!

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Internet Cookies
• Instructional Exchange
• Educator's Toolkit
• Ayers Exclusives
• Tennessee Tools
• Education Events
• Conference Materials
• Crosswalk Charts
• Podcast Resources
• Webinar Sessions

GATTACA Movie Worksheets

This site has downloads for 12 plus worksheets to accompany the movie GATTACA.  These worksheets can focus students as they watch the movie or teacher selected parts of the movie. Gattaca is a 1997 science fiction film that presents a vision of a society driven by liberal eugenics where potential children are selected through preimplantation genetic diagnosis to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents. A genetic registry database uses biometrics to instantly identify and classify those so created as "valids" while those conceived by traditional means are derisively known as "in-valids". While genetic discrimination is forbidden by law, in practice it is easy to profile a person's genotype resulting in the valids qualifying for professional employment while the in-validsu2014considered more susceptible to disease, educational dysfunction and shorter lifespansu2014are relegated to menial jobs. The movie draws on concerns over reproductive technologies which facilitate eugenics, and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. It also explores the idea of destiny and the ways in which it can and does govern lives

Lesson Variations

Helpful hints.

The 12 sheets are to be used while watching the movie or after.

GATTACA Movie Guide Activities: Worksheets, Reading, Coloring, & more!

What educators are saying

Also included in.

Description

Unlock the Educational Value of the Video "GATTACA" in Your Classroom!

The Problem:

Most movie worksheets only check for Depth of Knolwedge Level (DOK) 1 knowledge, leaving students unchallenged and disengaged.

The Solution:

My worksheet spans all Depth of Knolwedge Level (DOK) 1-4, challenging students to not just watch the video but to analyze, evaluate, and draw conclusions.

Hello Fellow Educators! I've crafted a unique and engaging lesson plan centered around this video. This isn't just a video guide—it's an challenging, educational journey designed to elevate your students' learning experience!

Here's what's included:

• Multifaceted Worksheets : With questions escalating from Depth of Knowledge (DOK) level 1 to level 4, students are progressively challenged in their comprehension, analysis, and application of the film's rich content.
• Graphic Organizer for Taking Notes : A structured layout to help students organize their thoughts and capture key elements from the movie.
• Rubric for Addressing Level of Knowledge : A comprehensive rubric that allows you to assess how well students have grasped the material across all DOK levels.
• Insightful Close Reading Passage : A 1000-word article designed to enhance understanding of the film's key concepts.
• Fun Coloring Sheets : 2 thematically linked, creative coloring sheets to reinforce learning in a fun, relaxed way.
• Flexible Usage : Perfect for those unplanned substitute days or for a comprehensive, multi-day lesson plan. You decide how deep the rabbit hole goes!
• Digital Versions : Available in both printable and digital formats for ease of use in the classroom or for distance learning. ( EASEL & Google Slides —Just make a copy and use it in your Google Classroom)

This resource is not just about watching a movie; it's about taking your students on a journey of exploration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding the spirit of the movie. Make your lesson planning a breeze while giving your students an unforgettable learning experience.

Tips for Using the Print version of this Movie Guide:

• Prepare Worksheets: For each student, provide a double-sided printout of the worksheet.
• Engage with Upcoming Content: Regularly check upcoming questions on the worksheet while progressing through the movie to guide students' attention to key scenes and concepts.
• Interactive Discussions: Pause the movie at strategic moments to encourage lively class debates and discussions. This helps students engage more deeply with the material before writing their answers.
• Promote Original Thinking: Urge students to come up with their own answers instead of copying, fostering critical thinking and understanding.
• Student Participation: Regularly select students at random to share their answers and, if necessary, defend their viewpoints to enhance classroom engagement.
• Revisit Important Scenes: If time permits, consider replaying pivotal parts of the movie to reinforce understanding and facilitate deeper analysis.
• Time Allocation for Essays: Dedicate a portion of the class (about 5-10 minutes) for students to thoughtfully respond to the evaluative questions at the end of the film.
• Tips for a Substitute Teacher: If a substitute teacher will be using the worksheet, emphasize in the lesson plan the importance of having students read instructions carefully and think deeply about their responses.

Tips for Using Google Slides Digital Version:

• Click on the link on the second page: make a copy add then add it to your Drive.
• Log In and Select Class: Sign in to Google Classroom, and choose your class.
• Create Assignment: Click on 'Classwork', then 'Create', and select 'Assignment
• Attach Document: Click 'Add', choose your document from Google Drive or upload it, then select 'Make a copy for each student' in the dropdown menu next to the attached file.
• Assign: Enter the assignment title and instructions. Set a due date if needed. Click 'Assign' to distribute it to your students.

Mastering Digital Learning with EASEL Activities

• How to Assign Easel Activities to Students
• The Student Experience Using Easel Activities
• How to Review Student Work using Easel Activities

FREE Movie Guides & Resources: My resources are crafted to challenge your students, pushing them to engage at the deeper end of the DOK spectrum. Check out these FREE guides.

• Jackie Video Guide: Worksheets, Close Reading, Coloring Sheet, & More!
• The Ron Clark Story Video Guide: Worksheets, Close Reading, Coloring, & More!
• 'Apollo 10.5' Ultimate Movie Guide: Worksheets, Close Reading, Coloring, & More!
• '13th' Ultimate Movie Guide: Worksheets, Close Reading, Coloring Sheets, & More!
• 'Moana' Ultimate Movie Guide: Worksheets, Close Reading, Coloring, & More!

Movie Guides: Check out my arsenal of movie guides – dive into these categories below or launch a search at my TPT STORE with over 400 resources.

• Black History
• Women's History
• U.S. History
• The Ultimate U.S. War History Video Bundle

Questions & Answers

Education with aloha.

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think

The requested URL was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.