Turning Red
- Grades: 6 to 9
- Common Sense Media: read the review
- CS strength: 1 out of 5
- SEL strength: 5 out of 5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95% critics
What happens
Mei Lee is a thirteen-year-old in Toronto in 2002 who wants to be a good daughter and also to have a life of her own. When her feelings get big, she turns into a giant red panda. Her mother says there is a ritual that can remove the panda, but Mei starts to wonder if she wants it gone, especially with a boy band concert coming up that her friends want to go to.
Why we watch it
Turning Red is about growing up, family expectations and learning to accept the parts of yourself that feel embarrassing or messy. It is the most directly about being a middle schooler of the films on this list. Some content may need a heads up: the panda is a comic stand-in for puberty, and there are jokes about periods and crushes. The worksheet is all reflection, with no computer science.
Standards alignment
Answer key and teacher notes
- A What happens to Mei when her emotions get too strong?
- A What does Mei's mother do when she finds out?
- A What do Mei and her friends want to do despite her mother's rules?
- B What does Mei learn about the panda at the concert?
- A What does Mei decide about the panda at the end?
Questions 1 to 3 are plot comprehension. Questions 4 and 5 ask students to read a family situation.
CASEL focus by question:
- Self-Awareness: identity in different settings
- Self-Management: strategies for strong emotions
- Social Awareness: a parent’s perspective and family history
- Relationship Skills: repairing a relationship, honest talk
- Personal Connection: self-reflection
Content note: Rated PG. The panda is a comic stand-in for puberty, and there are references to periods, crushes and a boy band. It is aimed at older tweens, so some sixth graders may find it embarrassing and some will love it. Check that your class is comfortable with the topic. Best for grades 7 to 9, fine for most sixth graders.