The two silent short films for the classroom, Miyako (by Jessica Do) and The Monster Under My Bed (by Karlijn Scholten), both feature young girls, silent storytelling, and nighttime monsters—but their moods, animation styles, and resolutions couldn’t be more different. These silent short films for the classroom make a perfect pairing for teaching narrative technique, compare‑and‑contrast writing, and media literacy. In this post, you’ll find skill‑based activities and a free printable pack designed to help students analyze sound design, visual storytelling, and theme.
This post includes skill-based activities and a free printable pack to help your students explore sound design, visual storytelling, and the deeper meaning behind “monsters.” Be sure to get the handout. It includes the printables you need to complete the activities mentioned in the post.
Teach Compare and Contrast Writing
with Silent Short Films for the Classroom
Miyako
(2:00 – CGI animated)
A wooden doll awakens at night to defend a sleeping girl from a shadowy creature under the bed. Lighting and camera angles create tension as the doll uses a lamp to enlarge its own shadow and defeat the monster.
The Monster Under My Bed
(2:37 – 2D animation)
A young girl discovers a soft-hearted monster beneath her bed who prefers cookies and companionship to causing trouble.
Both films are “silent,” relying on animation, music, and sound effects to convey character, plot, and mood.
Sample Classroom Activities
✏️ What’s Included in the Free Printable Pack
- T-chart Film Summaries
- Venn diagram for Comparing the Plot and Characters
- New! Sound Design Analysis Chart
- New! Animation Style Reflection Prompts
- New! Dialogue-Writing Prompts & Mini-Scripts
- Google Slides Version of all Student Materials
Teaching Activities with Silent Short Films for the Classroom
1. Sound & Mood T-Chart
Help students analyze how music, silence, and sound effects replace spoken dialogue in each short. A simplified chart is included to help students identify sound cues (such as drum beats, clanging swords, or cookie crinkles) and explain how they contribute to building suspense, humor, or comfort.
2. Animation Style Reflection
- Students compare the 3D animation in Miyako to the 2D hand-drawn style of The Monster Under My Bed, responding to prompts like:
- How does 3D in Miyako affect mood and action?
- How does 2D animation create charm or soften suspense?
Sample answers provided for modeling.
3. Silent Scenes, Spoken Voices
Invite students to write a short scene’s dialogue or internal monologue—what might the doll say while climbing the dresser, or the monster say while asking for more cookies?
4. Theme Extension: Facing Fear
Ask students to journal or discuss:
What do the monsters represent in each film—fear, imagination, or something else?
Then prompt them to describe or draw their own “under-the-bed” creature and how they might face it with bravery or kindness.
Ready to get started?
All activities are included in both printable and Google Slides formats. Click below to access the full resource pack.
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If you are looking to add some high interest activities to your lessons, try using animated shorts to teach reading and writing skills. This packet contains graphic organizers covering many Common Core skills. $Save$ when you purchase this mega bundle which includes all 12 units.
