Diary of a Wimpy Kid (ATOM Study Guide)

About the film

Like the books, the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Thor Freudenthal, 2010) focuses upon the life of Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), a flawed but likeable kid who has a strong sense of his own importance, but who faces daily battles arising from his own shortcomings. Small in stature, he must deal with bullies, girls, gross bodily functions – his own and others – all the while aiming to be the most popular kid in middle school. His best friend, despite his weight issue, is comfortable with who he is, enjoys what life has to offer and is instinctively loyal.

To Greg, middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. It's a place rigged with hundreds of social landmines, not the least of which are morons, wedgies, swirlies, bullies, lunchtime banishment to the cafeteria floor and, worst of all, a festering piece of cheese with nuclear cooties. To survive the never-ending ordeal and attain the recognition and status he feels he so richly deserves, Greg devises an endless series of can't-miss schemes, all of which, of course, go awry. And he's getting it all down on paper, via a diary – 'it's NOT a diary, it's a journal!' Greg insists, preferring the less-sissyfied designation – filled with his opinions, thoughts, tales of family trials and tribulations, and (would-be) schoolyard triumphs.

'No one looks back at their middle school years wishing to relive them,' says Kinney. 'You see a lot of movies about elementary school kids, high school students and college students, but very few set in middle school because those years are universally kind of ugly.'

Although live action, the film draws its style from the book's witty dialogue, humorous journal entries and cartoon-style illustrations.

Using Diary of a Wimpy Kid in the classroom

Diary of a Wimpy Kid has a PG rating in Australia. This study guide provides teachers and students from early primary to lower secondary levels with background information, a range of discussion questions and activities to support the curriculum areas of English, The Arts and SOSE/HSIE.