TOP PICKS | 41 TOOLS

Great Videos and Movies for Your Classroom

Video content for the classroom has never been more accessible to teachers and students. Math tutorials, physics experiments, animated grammar lessons, feature-length documentaries -- you name it, it's out there. This is not to mention the ever-growing mountain of user-generated YouTube videos. Are you searching for that just-right video clip to complement your lesson? This list includes some of Common Sense Education's favorite video-based resources, as well as a few sites to help you take your search even further.

If you've found some great videos to use, you should check out our Teaching Strategies tips that will Get Students Thinking Critically About Video.

Top Picks

Print | Save as PDF

Multiple-Subject Video Resources

YouTube Kids

Kid-targeted videos are best with adult guidance

Bottom line: With adult guidance, this is a fun way for young kids to browse online videos.

Grades: Pre-K–3 Price: Free

See full review

PBS KIDS

One-stop shop for a wealth of fantastic PBS KIDS educational content

Bottom line: Amazing collection of valuable learning resources covers an impressive array of topics.

Grades: Pre-K–6 Price: Free

See full review

PBS LearningMedia

Treasure trove of lesson resources will benefit from adaptation

Bottom line: For teachers with time to sift through and adapt materials, PBS LearningMedia has a lot to offer with some highly useful support materials.

Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free

See full review

BrainPOP Jr.

Top-notch videos and activities a boon for elementary school teachers

Bottom line: BrainPOP Jr. sets the bar for top-quality online learning supplements.

Grades: K–3 Price: Paid Classroom access is $175 per year for up to three devices and school access is $1,450 per year. Coding activities require additional subscription fees.

See full review

Khan Academy

Missions boost learning with balance of focus, freedom to explore

Bottom line: A solid resource for Common Core math instruction as well as foundational knowledge in a number of other subjects.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

See full review

SchoolTube

Video-sharing site doesn't dazzle but is kid-friendly and clean

Bottom line: The site won’t wow anyone, but it does help educators control content while teaching kids some valuable media skills.

Grades: 3–8 Price: Free

See full review

Critical Media Project

Relevant media clips get students examining identity, culture

Bottom line: Teachers will need to take time to build effective lessons, but if they do, this is a useful, relevant, high-interest resource for deconstructing identity and building critical thinking and empathy skills.

Grades: 3–12 Price: Free

See full review

TED-Ed

Support kids' sense of wonder with outstanding short video lessons

Bottom line: TED-Ed includes excellent, engaging videos and support for flipped-class lessons with an incredible community of thinkers and doers.

Grades: 3–12 Price: Free

See full review

BrainPOP

Clever animated hosts Tim and Moby masterfully tackle complex topics

Bottom line: Cartoon videos in this extensive collection break down ideas in clever and thoughtful ways.

Grades: 4–8 Price: Paid From $220.

See full review

Brightstorm

Brief video lessons for kids who need a homework boost

Bottom line: Short, digestible lessons on all the major subjects are helpful for mastery but not substantial enough for kids who need more help.

Grades: 8–12 Price: Free to try, Paid

See full review

Big History Project

Fascinating look at life's bigger questions with a fresh perspective

Bottom line: A wonderfully innovative and divergent way to teach foundational concepts in history, humanities, critical thinking, and science.

Grades: 9–12 Price: Free

See full review

STEM Video Resources

NOVA

Compelling science videos have high-quality classroom applications

Bottom line: Stellar simulations, teacher guides, and other activities can stand on their own, and they're enhanced with high-quality video content.

Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free

See full review

The Kid Should See This

Kid-friendly STEM-focused videos spark interest, encourage learning

Bottom line: Regularly updated visual content stimulates interest, learning; adding better sorting capabilities would make it a stronger resource.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

See full review

National Geographic Kids

Stunning photos and in-depth stories of Earth's peoples and wildlife

Bottom line: This large collection of multimedia resources teaches younger students about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.

Grades: Pre-K–8 Price: Free, Paid Online content is free; magazine subscriptions for National Geographic Kids are $15 per year for print and iPad versions (digital-only subscriptions are $12 per year), with National Geographic Little Kids available for $15 per year for 6 print issues.

See full review

National Geographic Education

Top geography resource site provides global exploration opportunities

Bottom line: This is a must-bookmark site for classrooms across the curriculum hunting for inspiring geography-based resources.

Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free

See full review

Mystery Science

Big questions, kids' curiosity drive impressive science curriculum

Bottom line: These powerful science units capitalize on elementary school students' natural curiosity.

Grades: K–5 Price: Paid First-time users may be eligible for a free membership. Classroom memberships are $99 per year; school and district memberships are $499 for the first year and then $999 for subsequent years (if purchased before a certain date). Otherwise, regular school and district memberships are $1,499 per year.

See full review

Design Squad Global

Fun engineering problems encourage classroom competition, innovation

Bottom line: Design Squad Global makes learning STEAM concepts fun through hands-on activities and easy-to-understand scientific explanations.

Grades: 3–8 Price: Free

See full review

Mosa Mack Science

Engaging design challenges turn kids into actual science detectives

Bottom line: An engaging way to weave some engineering into your middle school science lessons.

Grades: 4–8 Price: Free, Paid Animated mysteries are free; Mosa Mack Pro starts at $500 and after 50 students shifts to $10 per student. Prices drop as student numbers increase.

See full review

AMAZE

Quirky, funny videos give thoughtful answers to kids' sex-ed questions

Bottom line: An appealingly down-to-earth way to help kids face tough questions about navigating the challenges of puberty.

Grades: 5–8 Price: Free

See full review

Our Climate Our Future

Relatable climate change resources empower youth to take action

Bottom line: This free, high-quality resource is a one-stop, self-contained series of lessons on the effects of climate change, what causes it, and how to fight it going forward.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free

See full review

Virtual Nerd

Flip a classroom with these quality video math tutorials

Bottom line: High-quality math and physics tutorials are a great classroom supplement, plus they're aligned to Common Core standards.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free, Paid

See full review

Get the Math

Solve real-life algebra problems with diverse crew, delightful video

Bottom line: Proof that algebra is used to solve real problems in kid-approved professions: basketball, music, gaming, and fashion.

Grades: 7–10 Price: Free

See full review

Periodic Videos

Chemistry videos match eccentric professor with exciting explosions

Bottom line: Share impressive, pyrotechnic-filled videos with students when otherwise hindered by time, cost, or classroom safety.

Grades: 8–12 Price: Free

See full review

BioInteractive

High-quality multimedia brings biological research to life

Bottom line: Superb multimedia tools and lesson plans help kids explore biology through real-world examples.

Grades: 9–12 Price: Free

See full review

Numberphile

Expert interviews, whimsical images illustrate the wide world of math

Bottom line: Energetic video explanations bring key math concepts and fun facts to life.

Grades: 9–12 Price: Free

See full review

Social Studies Video Resources

NBC Learn

Vast video site offers current, historical content

Bottom line: This is a great source for video-based news, thanks to the huge archive, current events coverage, and teacher-friendly extra links to Newsela articles.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to try After a 30-day trial, schools and districts can purchase annual subscriptions. Quotes are customized by need, with volume discounts.

See full review

Oddizzi

Kids travel the world, cultivate global curiosity and responsibility

Bottom line: Kids get a sense of culture and global responsibility via kid-friendly articles and great multimedia.

Grades: 3–8 Price: Free to try, Paid 95 GB Pounds/year classroom and 280 GB Pounds/year for 99 students or under, up to 800 GB Pounds/year for 700 + students

See full review

CNN 10

Digestible and engaging news coverage for kids in 10 minutes

Bottom line: These 10-minute daily video segments can be used as a springboard to deeper discussions around media literacy.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free

See full review

C-SPAN Classroom

Video clips, activities take kids inside the White House and Capitol

Bottom line: Though it's not the slickest site, you'll find great behind-the-scenes access to some excellent content.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free

See full review

IWitness

Explore survivor testimony with lessons, video on teacher-geared site

Bottom line: IWitness allows students to reflect upon the past, looking toward today’s values and society. Students build knowledge about the past using a dynamic, specific tool.

Grades: 7–12 Price: Free

See full review

PBS Newshour Extra

Accessible, interactive site for news that piques teens' interest

Bottom line: PBS Newshour Extra isn't necessarily exciting, but it does an excellent job of presenting the news in a way that's accessible (and, more important, interesting) to teens.

Grades: 7–12 Price: Free

See full review

Smarthistory

Bring traditional art education to life with fresh, interactive multimedia

Bottom line: A worthy supplement to an art history or humanities class.

Grades: 8–12 Price: Free

See full review

Global Oneness Project

Captivating digital stories infuse cultural awareness across content

Bottom line: Teachers looking to enrich curriculum with high-quality thought-provoking multimedia will find plenty of inspiration in the Global Oneness Project, but may need to create or fine tune some lessons.

Grades: 9–12 Price: Free, Paid Lesson plans and stories are free. Individual films, screening packages, and educational film toolkits are available to purchase.

See full review

ELA Video Resources

Reading is Fundamental

Teachers and kids explore the wonderful world of reading together

Bottom line: This delightful collection of online books, activities, games, and songs for the preschool set works best when shared with a grown-up.

Grades: Pre-K–K Price: Free

See full review

Storyline Online

Notable actors' read alouds bring kids' storybooks to life

Bottom line: Kids can experience the magic of books; though even better when accompanied by the site's extensions for further activities and reading

Grades: Pre-K–3 Price: Free

See full review

LeVar Burton Kids Skybrary

Kids can "go anywhere, be anything" with vast book and video library

Bottom line: Wonderful and practical way to get kids excited about learning and reading -- the greatness of the classic TV series, updated for the 21st century.

Grades: K–4 Price: Free to try One month free trial, then $4.99/month or $39.99/year.

See full review

Flocabulary

Delightful hip-hop-based platform teaches vocab across content areas

Bottom line: Flocabulary has the goods: It's savvy enough to keep kids focused, and teachers will love the engaging, multi-modal platform.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to try, Paid There's a free 30-day trial, then it's $120 per year for an individual teacher or $2,000 per year for a school. School plan includes additional features like assignable activities and progress tracking. District pricing is available by request.

See full review