Allison Kerley

June 6, 2014
Characteristics of the Gifted
Social and Emotional Issues Video Project
October Sky
October Sky would be an excellent film for guided viewing for parents struggling to
understand and relate to their gifted children. I would show specific scenes from this
movie to help them relate to what Homer, his family, and friends go through during the
film. I believe that viewing these issues on the screen will help this audience relate to
their own lives and understand their child better.
October Sky takes place in a mining town in West Virginia in October 1957. In this
town, it is very rare for anyone to grow up and leave this town, unless its on a football
scholarship. This movie is based on a true story of a boy unsatisfied with his impending
future; working in the mines like his dad. We see that the main character, Homer, is
frustrated with his lack of athletic skills. He is not very successful in school, either. He
daydreams in class and is called out by his teacher. He is also a struggling math student.
Everything changes when the first Russian satellite, Sputnik, goes into space.
Homer becomes obsessed with Sputnik and is determined to build his own rocket. He
recruits his two best friends, along with a smart outcast, Quinton, and they begin
designing and shooting off rockets. Although unsuccessful at first, the Rocketboys dont
give up and continue to improve with each rocket they build.
The boys are met with very little support from the community, peers at school, and
families. They are relentlessly teased for being so different. Homers biggest challenge is
that he is constantly disappointing his father. His father does not understand Homers
obsession with rockets and is embarrassed by it. He is disappointed that Homer is not
good at football like his older brother and thinks that he should just grow up and take
over his job working in the mines. Homer craves approval from his father, but struggles
to be true to himself and his passions.
On the other hand, the boys do receive some support along the way. A welder who
works for Homers father helps construct the pieces the boys need and an army veteran
takes interest in the boys project and shares his knowledge. The boys biggest advocate
is Ms. Riley, their teacher. She defends them when no one else will and pushes them to
compete in the National Science Fair in hopes of them winning scholarships. She also
gives Homer a highly advanced math book that pushes him to overcome his difficulty in
that subject by using math to improve his rockets.
This touching story ends with the boys beating the odds by winning the National
Science Fair. Homer and is father finally begin to understand each other and his father
comes to support him for his final rocket launching. The film shows the fate of each main
character. Each of the Rocketboys earns a scholarship and goes on to do big things with
their lives, especially Homer who goes on to work for NASA.
Homer shows several characteristics of being gifted throughout this film. He is not
a high-achieving student like his friend Quinton. Homer is not motivated by grades in
school or by pleasing his teacher. However, when he finds something he is passionate

about (rockets), there is nothing that can stop him. It finally motivates him to excel in
math and creatively problem-solve genius ways to improve his rockets.
Because of the challenges each character goes through and the positive message
of this film, I think this would be an appropriate film to show scenes from for guided
viewing. Parents may not understand their gifted children, but they can learn how to
support them and accept them for who they are.
Discussion Questions
Scene 1: Homer Tries Out for the Football Team
In October Sky, Homer was expected to be good at football like his older brother, but is
unsuccessful.
1. When you were growing up, was there anything your parents pressured you to be
good at that wasnt your dream?
2. If you had siblings (or close friends), how did it feel for them to outshine you?
Scene 2: Homer Befriends Quinton
Homer is told that he can kiss your social life goodbye if he talks to social outcast,
Quinton, at school. Homer does not give it a second thought and approaches high
achiever Quinton for help with his rockets.
3. Compare and contrast Homer and Quinton. How do they act at school? How do
their motivations to succeed differ?
4. Quinton is a better student, but is he smarter than Homer? Why or why not?
5. Quinton helps Homer with his rockets. How does Homer help Quinton?
Scene 3: Homers Rocket Lands at the Mine
The boys set off a rocket and it lands near the mine Homers father works at. His father
comes out and yells at Homer in front of everyone, Hes a menace, and a thief Dont
let me ever catch you with one of these things again. Then he throws the rocket away.
6. How do you think his fathers reaction affects Homer?
7. Did you ever innocently do something that disappointed one of your parents? How
did you feel afterwards?
Scene 4: Homer and his Father Argue
Homer knows that it would make his father proud to someday take over his job and work
in the mine. He finally stands up to him and says, No, coal mines your life, not mine.
Im never going down there again. I want to go to space!
8. This was a difficult conversation, but do you think it was necessary? Why or why
not?
9. How do you think Homers father felt when Homer said this to him?
Scene 5: Homers Last Rocket Launch
Homer invites his father to his final rocket launch after winning the national science fair.
His father comes and Homer gives him the honor of setting the rocket off.
10.
What are three emotions Homer might be feeling when he sees his father
came?
11.
Homers father made it clear earlier in the movie that he does not support
Homer launching rockets. What do you think changed his mind?
12.
What do you need from your parents to show you that they support you /
What could you do for your child to show that you support them?

Timeline and Follow-up Activity

Because I have chosen to show select scenes from the movie rather than the entire
thing, I would plan for this parent seminar to take place after school for about two hours.
During the first hour, we would watch each scene and discuss the questions that go
along with each one. For the second hour, we would work on the follow-up activity.
The follow-up activity would be for parents to give advice to Homers dad. This will help
them explore their own emotions and ideas as well as relate to their own childrens
needs. They will have two options:
a. Writing a letter to the dad relating his problem to their own experiences
b. Writing a script with a partner giving advice to the father, then act it out in front of
the group