In today’s media-rich world, many teachers use film/video to capture the attention of their students. This is particularly effective with adolescents. While Hollywood films can be useful for illustrating the social context of the time period and entertain students, they often include historical inaccuracies. In this year's American History Film Club, 7th grade teachers learn how to use film and video effectively. Participants receive the films, additional media and viewing guides prior to each meeting. LAH Project Director, Elise Abegg, and Paul Sargent of the Paley Center for Media facilitate the film club sessions, share clips of the film and clips of other programs to provide different perspectives. Teachers work together to come up with lessons and activities to bring clips from the films into their classrooms.

Films for 2008-2009 include The New World, Pocahontas, 1776, John Adams, Amistad, and Glory.

Participating 7th grade American history teachers meet for a series of five evening sessions from October, 2008 to February, 2009 to examine themes, content, and historical accuracies/inaccuracies in these Hollywood interpretations of early American history.