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Great Videos and Movies for Your Classroom
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Multiple-Subject Video Resources
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, Paid The free Basic service allows users to search, browse, and save content. Contact PBS LearningMedia for a quote on Custom service, which adds standards alignment, a custom dashboard, and premium content.
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
BrainPOP Jr.
Top-notch educational 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 3 devices. School access is $1,450 per year and District access varies based on the number of schools.
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
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
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
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.
TED-Ed
Support kids' sense of wonder with outstanding short videos
Bottom line: Excellent, engaging videos and support for flipped-class lessons with an incredible community of thinkers and doers.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
Check123
Free online video library keeps it short and sweet
Bottom line: Quickly search quality videos and create video quizzes to engage students and enhance learning.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Project Ed
Aspiring filmmakers converge to create video content for the classroom
Bottom line: The site provides the most authentic learning opportunities when students and teachers go beyond watching videos to become creators.
Grades: 7–10
Price: Free
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
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
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
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
National Geographic Kids
Stunning photos and in-depth stories of Earth's peoples and wildlife
Bottom line: This amazing collection of multimedia resources teaches kids about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.
Grades: 1–6
Price: Free, Paid Online content is free; magazine subscriptions are $15 per year for print and iPad versions (digital-only subscriptions are $12 per year).
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
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
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
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 and student numbers increase.
NOVA Labs
Online science, mastered: exceptional content within meaningful tasks
Bottom line: Serious, sophisticated science engagement -- but be prepared to take some prep time to connect these labs with your classroom.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
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
Get the Math
Solve real-life algebra problems with diverse crew, delightful video
Bottom line: Fantastic proof that algebra is used to solve real problems in kid-approved professions -- basketball, music, and fashion.
Grades: 7–10
Price: Free
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
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
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
Social Studies Video Resources
NBC Learn
Video-centric resource good for discussion starters and research
Bottom line: There are a variety of worthwhile classroom applications for this interesting video content resource.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free to Try, Paid
Channel One News
Kids' daily news site a solid starting point for nonfiction learning
Bottom line: Daily news content aimed right at kids is sure to engage, though teachers may want to bring their own additions to round out the site's curriculum.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free, Paid The daily sponsored news segments are free and available on the web; paid subscriptions to the curriculum offering run approximately $200 per classroom, per year.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Global Oneness Project
Dynamic multimedia resources explore life experiences around the world
Bottom line: Unique approach to incorporating global issues into the curriculum; monthly stories capture interdisciplinary topics.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free, Paid Lesson plans and stories are free. Individual films, screening packages, and educational film toolkits are available to purchase.
ELA Video Resources
Reading is Fundamental: Leading to Reading
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
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
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, Paid One month free trial, then $4.99/month or $39.99/year.
Flocabulary
Schoolhouse Rock meets Tupac in this delightful hip-hop-based platform
Bottom line: Flocabulary has the goods: It's savvy enough to keep kids focused, and teachers will be tapping their toes to the unorthodox learning method.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free to Try, Paid Free 14-day trial, $96 per year for individual teacher or $2,000 per year for full school (other quotes available).
Grammaropolis.com
Catchy parts-of-speech instruction, from hook to assessment
Bottom line: The fun songs will stick, and so will kids' knowledge about the parts of speech.
Grades: 2–10
Price: Free to Try, Paid Accounts range from $3.99 per month to $39.99 for lifetime access.
Power Poetry
Empowering online community honors teen poets
Bottom line: Teens can freely meld multimedia poetry and activism in an open, encouraging space.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Youth Voices
Vibrant online community hosts authentic student writing
Bottom line: Supported student writing, collaboration, and communication make this a healthy space for kids to express themselves.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
