Silver Screen Symbols Teacher Guide Music & Meaning
Teacher Lesson Plan
7th Grade • 50 Mins
What We Are Learning
Find metaphors and idioms in a song.
Explain symbols in a music video.
Video Link
youtube.com/watch?v=UONnRMzceic
Lesson Steps
1
Warm Up (5 mins)
Ask: "What does 'the grass is always greener' mean?" Talk about how we sometimes think other people have it better than us.
2
Words & Lyrics (15 mins)
Use the Other Side Slides . Go over the definitions for Metaphor and Idiom. Have students fill out Part 1 of the Song Analysis Worksheet .
3
Video Symbols (20 mins)
Watch the video. Ask students to look for mirrors, silver clothes, and funny camera views. Fill out Part 2 together.
4
Final Reflection (10 mins)
Students answer the last question on their own. Discuss: Is the "other side" always better? Why or why not?
Simple Talk Guide
The Camera Lens
The camera makes everything look bent or curved. This shows how being jealous of others can change how we see things. We don't see the truth; we see a "bent" version of it.
The Shiny Silver
Everything is shiny and silver. This stands for the "perfect" image people show on social media. It looks great on the outside, but it might just be a reflection that hides the real person.
Student Help
Extra Support
Give them words to pick from: Jealousy, Truth, Perfect, Fake. Help them write their first sentence for the last part.
Fast Finishers
Ask them to think of another song that uses a metaphor for feeling good or bad (like "walking on sunshine").
Silver Screen Homework Silver Screen Homework
Simple Symbols & Storytelling
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Quick Lyric Check
Check the box next to ONE lyric. Then, explain what the singer really means in your own words.
"Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long."
"I’m walking on sunshine, whoa!"
"Baby, you’re a firework."
What does your chosen lyric mean?:
Part 2: Home Symbol Search
Find an object in your house. If it was in a movie, what feeling or idea would it show?
The Object I Found:
It symbolizes (stands for):
Meaning Ideas:
Time Growth Strength Sadness Family
Sketch object here
Part 3: Movie Magic
Imagine you are directing a scene where a character is happy. How would you show it without words?
Pick a Color:
Pick Lighting:
Why did you pick these?
Other Side Slides THE OTHER
SIDE
Language & Symbols
SZA + Justin Timberlake
Today's Goal
01
Find Metaphors and Idioms in the song.
02
Explain what the Symbols in the video mean.
03
Think about Comparison and self-worth.
Song Words
Metaphor
Saying one thing IS something else to show they are alike.
"You are a superstar."
Idiom
A common phrase that doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
"Break a leg!"
The Big Phrase
"The grass is always greener on the other side."
This means we think other people's lives are better than ours.
Is it always true?
Video
Symbols
Using things to stand for ideas .
The Bent Lens
Shows how jealousy can change how we see things.
Mirrors
Stand for looking at yourself and the truth.
Silver Clothes
Stand for the "perfect" image we show others.
Let's Talk
"Why is the video so shiny if the song is about feeling sad or jealous?"
Write your answer on your sheet!
Silver Screen Homework Key Homework Key
Simplified Edition • Teacher Reference
Grading Guide
Part 1: Quick Lyric Check
Sample Explanations:
Life is a highway: Life is full of adventures and moving forward toward a goal.
Walking on sunshine: The singer is so happy they feel light, bright, and positive.
Baby, you're a firework: Someone has special, beautiful talents inside that are exciting to see.
Part 2: Home Symbol Search
What to look for:
Student links a physical object to a feeling/idea from the word bank (Time, Growth, Strength, etc).
Example A:
"An old clock stands for 'Time' because it shows moments passing by."
Example B:
"A small cactus stands for 'Strength' because it lives without much water."
Part 3: Movie Magic
Logic & Reasoning:
Expect choices that align with the "Happiness" theme.
Colors: Bright yellow, gold, orange, or vibrant sky blue.Lighting: High-key, bright, warm sunlight, no heavy shadows.Reasoning: Brightness usually shows energy and positivity in film.
Score Success Criteria 3 pts All parts completed; clear symbolic connections made. 2 pts Mostly completed; basic understanding of symbols shown. 1 pt Attempted but lacks specific explanation or depth.
Prism Reflections Worksheet Song Analysis
"The Other Side" • SZA & Justin Timberlake
Name:
Date:
PART 1
Song Words
Look at the lyrics below. What kind of phrase is it? What does it mean in the song?
"You're chasing sugar rushes."
What is it? (Metaphor or Idiom?):
What does it mean?:
"The grass is always greener on the other side."
What is it? (Metaphor or Idiom?):
What does it mean?:
PART 2
Video Symbols
Watch the video. What do these things stand for in the story of the song?
Thing We See What It Means (The Big Idea) Mirrors / Glass Bent Camera Lens (Fisheye View) Shiny Silver Clothes
PART 3
Final Thinking
"I'm just trying to see it from the other side." — After watching the video and reading the words, what is the "other side"? Why is it hard to see correctly?
Prism Reflections Answer Key Answer Key
Music & Meaning: "The Other Side" Analysis
Teacher Reference
Part 1: Song Words
"Sugar rushes"
Kind of Phrase: Metaphor
Happiness that feels good for a second but goes away quickly, like eating candy.
"The grass is always greener"
Kind of Phrase: Idiom
Thinking that other people have a better or easier life than you do.
Part 2: Video Symbols
What We See What It Means Mirrors / Glass Looking at ourselves and the difference between our real life and the "perfect" one we want. Bent Camera Lens A "bent" view of reality. Being jealous makes us see things incorrectly or in a weird way. Shiny Silver Clothes The "perfect" image people show to the world. It is shiny on the outside but might hide sad feelings on the inside.
Part 3: Final Thinking
Suggested Answer:
The "other side" is what we think someone else's life is like. It is hard to see correctly because we only see the "shiny" parts. The video uses bent lenses and mirrors to show that our view of others is often not the full truth. To see clearly, we have to stop comparing and look at our own truth.
