The Best July Movies to Watch in Your Homeschool
Is July begging you to slow down and soak up the rest of the summer? We understand! The days are long and hot, especially down here in Florida. Nobody wants to be stuck at a desk or spend all their hours inside reading textbooks. So how can we fit in all kinds of exciting summer learning while avoiding the heat?
How can we cultivate a love of learning all summer long that doesn’t feel like schoolwork? Movies are the answer. The best July movies are underrated learning tools the whole family will enjoy.
Movies Are More Educational Than You Think
I know you’re wondering if watching movies can really count as lessons, and the answer is a resounding yes! One of the biggest mistakes homeschool parents make when it comes to movies is thinking it has to be a documentary to be educational.
Documentaries are great. We love a good documentary, but they’re not the only path to a meaningful lesson. Besides, they’re definitely not the easiest win on a hot July afternoon. When all the games are played, you can’t build any more forts in the living room, and your voice is hoarse from reading aloud, turn to the movies.
Better yet, pop in a movie first thing while you do chores or take time for yourself. Best of all: pop the popcorn and sit down together for a July movie matinee you’ll remember all summer.
One great thing about learning with movies is that they have the unique ability to meet everyone where they are and encourage deeper learning. If you’re a visual learner, you’ll love seeing it all play out on the big screen.
If your child is an auditory learner, the best movie lines will stick with them for years! Homeschooling a kinesthetic kiddo who needs to move? No rule says you have to sit on the couch while the movie plays. Let them bounce around on an exercise ball or mini trampoline. You’ll be amazed at how much they retain.
July Is Packed with Reasons to Press Play
July brings some of the very best reasons to watch movies! Independence Day on the fourth opens the door to civics, government, American history, and stories of courage. Then, Space Exploration Day on July 20 gives us all a great excuse to rewatch our favorite space-themed movies.
Our favorite week to celebrate in July is Shark Week, and that is the perfect opportunity to press play. It’s engaging for everyone! You don’t have to choose between fun and learning this summer. The best July movies can do all the heavy lifting for you. Check them out below.
1776
Starting strong with an excellent choice for Independence Day, tweens and teens normally bored by history will enjoy 1776. It’s an entertaining musical about drafting and signing the Declaration of Independence. There are arguments, human moments, and stories behind the signing that can’t really be covered in the history textbooks.
This July movie is a conversation starter that will have your family talking bout courage, compromise, and what it costs to stand up for what you believe in. It’s a must-watch for the Fourth of July.
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure
If your daughters enjoy the American Girl books, they will love this July film! Felicity is set in Colonial Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution. The movie focuses on how she navigates the rapidly changing world around her as patriots and loyalists argue around her.
It’s especially wonderful for younger learners, because Felicity is a relatable character they can anchor to history lessons. Watch this movie for Independence Day, and you’ve got a full afternoon of learning without a worksheet in sight.
The Patriot
For your older kids and teens, The Patriot offers a grittier, more emotional look at the Revolutionary War. This award-winning film is best for high schoolers. Mel Gibson plays a reluctant soldier and widowed father who is drawn into the conflict to protect his loved ones.
The Patriot tackles themes of sacrifice, loyalty, the morality of war, and what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself. It’s a genuinely powerful film that opens the door to some of the most important conversations in American history.
Dive deeper into American History with our interest-led Discovery Decks for Curious Kids. Kids of all ages will enjoy scanning the codes on these printable cards to learn more in our All Things US History Discovery Deck.
Elio
Just in time for Space Exploration Day on July 20th, Elio is an adorable Pixar adventure about a quirky, imaginative boy who is accidentally mistaken for Earth’s ambassador and whisked off to outer space. It’s a fun alien world filled with creativity and heart.
Elio is all about embracing who you are and having the courage to represent something bigger than just you. This movie is magical for elementary-age kids and still sparks conversations with middle-grade kids too.
Space Chimps
A fun and silly pick for little ones, Space Chimps follows a circus chimpanzee who is recruited for a real space mission after NASA’s probe gets pulled through a wormhole. This lighthearted film sneaks in genuine concepts about space exploration, bravery, and rising to challenges.
This one is perfect for little ones who are curious about space and need an entry point that isn’t too serious. Watch Space Chimps around July 20 and follow it up with some simple facts about real animals that have been sent to space for extra learning.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is one of those rare movies that works for kids and parents. At its heart, it’s a story about a group of misfits who find family in the most unexpected places. Comic book fans will love this July movie pick!
Beyond the incredible humor and non-stop action are deeper conversations about teamwork, loyalty, redemption, and what makes someone a hero. The space setting makes it a fun companion to any July space theme, and the fantastic soundtrack is a bonus for auditory learners who will be humming it for days.
Guardians of the Galaxy is also featured in our Lights, Camera, Marvel! curriculum, making it easy to turn movie night into a fun, meaningful learning experience with discussion prompts and activities that help kids look beyond the action.
Mars Needs Moms
If you need another animated film for all ages, Mars Needs Moms is a sweet adventure about a young boy who attempts a daring rescue mission after Martians kidnap his mom. It’s got sneaky themes of courage, sacrifice, and standing up to injustice. It’s perfect for family movie night!
Apollo 13
There is no better movie for Space Exploration Day on July 20th than Apollo 13. This one is based on the true story of NASA’s near-disastrous 1970 mission. It covers physics, engineering, and problem-solving under pressure, so it’s an ideal homeschool lesson.
Bringing three astronauts home safely when everything goes wrong is no small feat. This film will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Older kids and teens won’t even realize they’re learning as they develop a deep appreciation for the people behind our space program who never make it into the history books.
Keep learning new things about space exploration after the holiday with our flexible interest-led Space Unit Study for kids of all ages. It’s filled with custom coloring pages, hands-on activities, books, games, and more movie suggestions you don’t want to miss.
Shark Tale
Just in time for Shark Week, Shark Tale is hilarious and fast-paced. It’s an animated movie about a small fish who accidentally becomes famous for something he didn’t do. The film is packed with a fantastic voice cast, and an ocean world that is wildly creative and colorful.
While it’s more comedy than science, it’s a great gateway film for preschool and young elementary kids who are starting to get curious about ocean life. You can use it as the fun start to a Shark Week movie marathon and follow it up with something more science-based later.
You can really dive into the Shark Week fun with age-appropriate educational videos about sharks using our All About Sharks Discovery Deck with QR codes kids can scan to get the answers to all their burning questions about these fascinating animals.
Soul Surfer
Soul Surfer is the incredible story of Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack and returned to competitive surfing just months later. This powerful film is about refusing to let the worst moment of your life define you.
This is one of the most inspiring sports stories you’ll ever watch as a family. For kids and teens who are navigating their own challenges or setbacks, Bethany’s story is a real-life example that makes this July movie a big win.
Jaws
Few movies have had the cultural impact of Jaws. Released in the middle of summer, this suspense-filled classic changed filmmaking forever and is often credited with creating the modern summer blockbuster. While it’s best suited for older teens due to its intense scenes, it offers a fascinating look at storytelling, filmmaking, music, and suspense. Families with older learners can explore how camera angles, sound effects, and pacing work together to create tension without relying on constant action.
If you want to take the learning even further, Jaws is also featured in our Lights, Camera, Learn! curriculum. Instead of simply watching the movie, kids can dive into the filmmaking techniques, storytelling elements, and behind-the-scenes decisions that made it one of the most influential films ever made. It’s a fun way to turn movie night into a memorable learning experience while helping students appreciate the art of filmmaking.
Lilo & Stitch
This one is a summer favorite for good reason! If you need to cool off with an excellent summer movie, don’t miss Lilo & Stitch. Imagine adopting a dog and finding out later it’s actually an alien! That’s what happens in this classic Disney animation.
You’ll laugh out loud and fall in love with the family they build together while learninga bout island ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and what ohana really means. Plus, this one is a win for every age and learning style.
Camp Nowhere
Camp Nowhere is a hilarious 90s classic about a group of kids who fake their way into running their own summer camp that’s a great watch for July. If your tweens have ever imagined a summer free from parents, rules, and any kind of organized schedule, they need to see this film.
It’s pure summer fun and a great watch for tweens and teens who will absolutely see themselves in the chaos. Beyond the laughs, it naturally sparks conversations about responsibility, consequences, and what actually happens when kids get everything they think they want.
Troop Zero
Troop Zero is the perfect July movie for interest-led homeschoolers. When a group of kids can’t join the regular “Birdie Scouts” troop, they decide to make their own. They find their own mentor and make their own unique goals for the summer, including their passions for science and space exploration.
This story is all about finding your own way and it’s filled with laughs too. Your whole family will fall in love with Christmas Flint and her quirky club, and the soundtrack featuring David Bowie’s Space Oddity. This July film is a win for quirky, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.
Make Summer Learning Easy
You don’t need a full lesson plan or a mini-unit study for every movie you watch this summer. Most of the time, watching a great film together is all the lesson planning you need to do. Great movies are really just great stories. The questions and conversations happen naturally.
Invite your kids to ask questions, share their favorite moments, and make connections on their own without leading them to “the moral of the story” or trying to wrestle a theme out of it. You might be surprised by all the learning that happens when you let go and watch a really great movie together.
Choose one of the best July movies, grab your favorite snacks, and give yourself permission to call it school. Because the best homeschool days aren’t the ones that look the most like a classroom.
Sometimes summer learning is about everyone being curled up on the couch, completely absorbed in a story, asking questions you didn’t even think to put on a lesson plan. That’s the magic of movies, and July is the perfect time to press play and watch it happen.
More July Learning Resources
Are you ready to add more interest-led learning this July? Then don’t miss our favorite summer learning resources. These tools will help you keep the learning alive all month long.
- July Homeschool Printables That Are Absolutely Free
- The Best Games for Learning in July
- Fourth of July Printable Bundle
- 30+ Best Kids Books to Read in July
- Six Fun Ways to Learn This Summer
What summer learning adventures do you have planned for July? Share your favorite July movies to watch together in the comments. We can’t wait to check them out!
