With parents around the world suddenly thrust into the role of homeschooling their children due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the mere thought of this task can be daunting, stressful, and overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be. Today’s young people have been raised on technology. They have incorporated into their lives the way that generations before them used the TV and the radio. Think of this not as chore but an opportunity to educate your child in the most hands-on way possible!
Most educators agree young people should have no more than two hours of screen time each day. The reality is that they are going to have more than that. Given the current situation, now is the time to supplement their learning with as much visual stimuli as possible. Why not try and make it the most enriching, educational and entertaining screen time possible you can? Here is a round up of the 38 most educational titles onNetflix. Some of them might get your children to think about larger issues, while others could actually get their bodies up and moving around! Lastly, the titles on this list have been sorted by category so that you can easily find what your need for your daily lesson plan.
Nature/Geography
Our Planet- TV-PG
This incredibly well together documentary is vast in scope and actually covers the areas of both nature and geography. Viewers get to see parts of the world they most likely know nothing about. Also, wrapped up within this majestic documentary is a (not heavy handed) discussion regardingclimate change. With a runtime between 7-8 hours, and broken up into episodic parts,Our Planetis a must for any homeschool lesson plan.
Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale- TV-PG
Love elephants? Does your child? Well, get all the information you need in the enlightening documentary,Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale. While at times uplifting and at other times heartbreaking, this documentary follows the fight to help a baby elephant that was orphaned in Botswana. This fight is actually a much bigger battle to save all elephants from extinction.
This Disney documentary has just about everything you could want to help your indoor lessons not feel as claustrophobic. First of all, we are shown how important a resource water is in all existence. This is further discussed in the symbiotic relationship between oceans and how humans affect their environments. They cram a lot of information into this 84 minute documentary, and best of all it is jam-packed with lush visuals.
72 Cutest Animals- TV-PG
With 12 episodes to choose from (each not longer than a 1/2 an hour), this documentary is a great reprieve from simply working in front of a tablet or computer screen. Featuring koalas, gorillas, marsupials, and all manner of adorable creatures, there really isn’t an episode here that isn’t for somebody in your household. The best part? Eventually, we won’t be at home and hopefully the knowledge gleaned from shows like72 Cutest Animalswill go far beyond the home classroom.
72 Dangerous Animals, Asia- TV-14
This counterpoint to the above title is especially interesting because who doesn’t love learning about dangerous animals? Whether looking at Asian forestcentipedes, sun bears, or black rats,72 Dangerous Animals, Asiais as fascinating as it is scary! Also, through learning about these animals, kids, teens and adults will become privy to creatures and parts of the world they never knew anything about.
Day the Dinosaurs Died- TV-PG
Love dinosaurs? Or, simply like them? Find out just how they stopped roaming the earth in this insightful NOVA documentary from PBS. So many young people love dinosaurs but they really don’t understand what lead to their extinction. This documentary gives a look into the crater that had a hand in their abolishment. We see how factors in their environment changed that made earth a less than inhabitable place. A great documentary for the entire family.
You vs. Wild- TV-PG
Help Bear Grylls survive in the jungle, the snow, and just about every other harsh condition in this fun and interactive series. Basically, Grylls takes us into a place with a tarantulas, and it’s the viewers job to verify that he stays safe. This show is great for a number of reasons. First of all, it shows young people different places around the world that have things they may want to avoid. Secondly, it allows them to use critical thinking skills and not just be passive viewers.
Meet the Trumps: From Immigrant to President- TV-14
Get an inside look at our 45th president. See how the Trump family got their start gold-mining, which eventually led to owning properties. From there, Donald Trump was able to parlay all of that into many millions, fame, and ultimately, the Presidency of the United States. Trump, by virtue of his larger-than-life personality, may be our most recognizable president across generations. This video goes beyond the memes and the viral videos, to give homeschooled youths a broader idea of this complex man.
