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Including documentaries in your homeschool is one of the best ways to get some in-depth yet easy learning into your day. If you plan to include movies in your lesson plans, you’re definitely going to want to read this article so that you know about the best documentaries for homeschoolers.
Documentaries are also great for those days when Mom (or the kids) need a break from the daily schoolwork and you just want to include movies for homeschooling! Take a break, pop on a child-friendly documentary, and enjoy some fun learning adventures.
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The Best Documentaries for Homeschoolers
While our very favorite documentaries are usually part of our Curiosity Stream subscription, there are plenty of other options if you don’t want to add another streaming service. (Although Curiosity Stream is extremely affordable so we definitely recommend it.)
When it comes to learning, homeschooling provides one of the most versatile ways of doing it. From boxed curriculum to online resources, there are a number of things you can use.
But there seems to be one way that takes learning outside the box – using educational shows and documentaries for homeschoolers that are streamed from some of the world’s most-watched platforms.
If you’ve never considered using Disney+, Netflix, YouTube, or even Roku for homeschooling, I hate to say it, but you’ve been missing out on an incredible way to teach your kids!
And of course, Curiosity Stream is an inexpensive way to add hundreds of options to your list of documentaries for homeschoolers. If I’m being honest, I’d say we spend more time watching documentaries on Curiosity Stream than all the other platforms combined. It’s fantastic!
All past time aside, I’ve put together an awesome documentary list that you begin using in your homeschool now. Whether your kids are learning about wildlife, arctic animals, or something from history – this list will give you some great starting points for supplementing your homeschooling adventures with movies for homeschoolers.
Documentaries to Use in Your Homeschool Learning
Before diving into the list, please keep a few things in mind:
- A subscription may be required for some of the platforms mentioned (i.e., Amazon Prime, Netflix, Curiosity Stream, etc.).
- Use your own discretion when deciding what to show your children as ratings these days are a bit more lenient than they were back in the day.
- Plan ahead so you’ll be prepared to show a documentary and/or use it to expand on a lesson.
With these quick tips in mind, let’s look at some kid-friendly documentaries you can begin using in your homeschool now.
Homeschool-Friendly Documentaries on Netflix
Netflix has a great arrangement of documentaries and you can find some for just about any subject. Below are a few I highly recommend checking out.
Geography
- Chasing Coral
- Our Great National Parks
- Our Planet
- Our Planet II
- Our Universe
- Kangaroo Valley
- Backyard Wilderness
- Surviving Paradise
- Island of the Sea Wolves
- The Unexplained
Animal (Science)
- Animal
- Puff Wonders of the Reef
- Night on Earth
- Horizon
- Life in Color
- Dancing with the Birds
- Absurd Planet
- Inside the Mind of a Cat
- Inside the Mid of a Dog
- Wild Babies
- Secret Lives of Orangutans
- Night on Earth: Shot in the Dark
- Tiny Creatures
- Chimp Empire
- My Octopus Teacher
- The Elephant Whisperers
- 72 Dangerous Animals: Latin America
- Baby Gorilla Cam
History
A variety of historical documentaries are listed below to cover all age groups.
- Tales by Light
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
- Secrets of the Neanderthals
- Churchill at War
- Attack on Pearl Harbor: Minute by Minute
- Journey of an African Colony
- Bobby Kennedy for President
- World War II: From the Frontlines
- Apollo 13: Survival
- Challenger: The Final Flight
- Who Killed Malcolm X?
Science (and Nature)
- Secret World of Sound
- Penguin Town
- Our Living World
- Our Oceans
- Exhibit A
- You vs. Wild
- Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine
- Black Holes. The Edge of All We Know
- A Trip to Infinity
- Our Living World
- Earthstorm
- The Mind Explained
- Human: The World Within
Health
- Meat Eater
- Headspace Guide to Meditation
- Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food
- Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
- Hack Your Health
- You are What You Eat
- What the Health
- The Game Changers
- The Minimalists: Less Is Now
- Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
- Take Your Pills
Disney+ Documentaries for Homeschooling
Similar to Netflix, you can find several subject-specific documentaries. The ones listed below are a round-up of some of the most popular for learning about animals, science, and biographies:
- Chimpanze
- Born in China
- Dolphin Reef
- Bears
- Living Desert
- Before the Flood
- Howard
- Frank and Ollie
- Science Fair
- Atlantis Rising
Top 10 Educational Channels on YouTube to Use for Homeschooling
You can find just about everything on YouTube, including movies and documentaries found on other platforms. In most cases, you’ll see a “rent” or “buy” option, but there are also some educational channels to consider adding to your Homeschool Playlist:
- Animal Planet (The Most Extreme is our favorite but there are plenty of great playlists.)
- TED-Ed
- Smarter Every Day
- Crash Course
- SciShow Kids
- Art for Kids Hub
- Khan Academy Kids
- FreeSchool
Roku Educational Channels for Homeschooling
If you’ve ditched cable and opted in for a Roku (or something similar), then you’re sitting on another educational gold mine. With up to 1800 channels to date, you can find a wealth of good ones to use in your homeschool. Consider looking into these to help get you started:
- After Skool
- NASA
- PBS Kids
- Smithsonian Channel
- Sing and Spell
- Grammar Revolution TV
- Future Scientists
- Genesis Science Network
- Phonics for Kids
- HappyKids
- Homeschooling Network
When it comes to homeschooling your kids, never hesitate to utilize resources that are already a part of your everyday life. Documentaries for homeschoolers are a fantastic resource. If you’re already using these platforms for leisure, then consider using them for educational purposes too! Your sanity will thank you for it. 🙂
Related Resources
Historical Movies for Kids
Movies with Books
Family-Friendly Movies
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