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Recommended Educational YouTube Channels

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I like YouTube as an educational resource.  There are a lot of great, high-quality channels that can be used to supplement your lessons.  However, I know YouTube can get a bit of a bad wrap because it is also filled with a lot of (for lack of a better word) garbage. So here are some YouTube channels I recommend. 
  1. CrashCourse - Is a great place for all middle school and high school teachers to start.  They have playlists which cover a wide range of subjects and topics.  I particularly like to use the Crash Course History videos to help set up the historical context of literature I am reading in class. They also have a Crash Course Kids channel that focuses on upper elementary science. 
  2. SciShow/SciShow Kids - I discovered this channel looking for content for my science-minded oldest child. He really enjoys SciShow Kids which is geared to Pre-K & Lower Elementary audience.  If you are looking for older students SciShow maybe a better fit. 
  3. The Bazillions - Here you can find fun educational songs for English and Math concepts.  I think it works best for an elementary audience. 
  4. TED-Ed - These videos are created by the same group that produces TED Talks.  These short animated videos come in a wide range of subjects and are a great hook for your lesson. 
  5. Storied - This channel is produced by PBS digital studio and is for upper high school students.  It features a series called It's Lit which focuses Literary Criticism concepts and would be good for Pre-AP and AP English classrooms. 
  6. Biographics - This channel produces biography videos on famous people.  It is geared towards an older audience and I suggest it for high schoolers.  The videos are on the longer side but could be great for blended/online learning assignments.  Embed the video in a Google form and add some follow up questions for an easy assignment. The people behind this channel also have several other educational channels including Geographics, Mega Projects, Highlight History, and Today I Found Out. 
  7. The Game Theorists/The Film Theorists - These channels will take more digging and a little bit more imagination.   They examine popular video games, films, and other media and craft theories around the concepts.  Some of the theories take a look at math and science to determine if some of the outlandish situations are even possible. (I particularly like the episode examining the possibility of a sharknado.)  If you are looking for a way to make science and math concepts fun and high interest you might find some gems on these channels. 
  8. Wisecrack - This is another channel that will take some digging and imagination.  Wisecrack explores philosophy and the role of media using pop culture. I recommend this channel for high schoolers, and these videos are a great way to start some deep and interesting discussions in the classroom. 
These are some of my favorite YouTube channels with educational applications. Please make sure you watch any video before you show it to your class to ensure it meets your lesson objective and is age-appropriate. And while you are over on YouTube please visit our YouTube Channel. 

What YouTube channels do you like to use in your classroom?

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