TED-Ed
The Ferocious Predatory Dinosaurs of Cretaceous Sahara
What's not to love about dinosaurs? Lucky for us humans, we can love to learn about them from 100 million years away, especially a group of extra large predatory dinosaurs from the Cretaceous period. Watch a descriptive video that...
TED-Ed
The Incredible History of China's Terracotta Warriors
What does the discovery of 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers and the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang reveal about ancient Chinese culture? A great deal! Take a look at this fascinating archaeological find and explore ancient Chinese...
TED-Ed
History vs. Genghis Khan
What place should Genghis Khan hold in history: vicious thirteenth century warlord, or cultural unifier who set the stage for the modern world? TED-Ed illuminates viewers with arguments behind both historical perspectives and...
TED-Ed
Rhythm in a Box: The Story of the Cajon Drum
Discover the rich cultural traditions and remarkable ingenuity of indigenous people and African slaves by learning about one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world today.
TED-Ed
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
What is reality, knowledge, and the meaning of life? Discover Plato's response to these bold questions in his "Allegory of the Cave" and explore this famous historical thinker's vision of an ideal society as he saw it within the...
TED-Ed
What Did Democracy Really Mean in Athens?
Did you know elections only played a small role in Athenian democracy? Take a look at the fascinating origins of Athenian direct democracy in ancient Greece, and compare their political structures to our understanding of...
TED-Ed
The Real Story Behind Archimedes' Eureka!
Can a boat the size of a palace possibly float? Discover how a king and a famous Ancient Greek mathematician named Archimedes answered this question, and explore the history behind Archimedes' principle and how a law of physics...
TED-Ed
The Pharaoh That Wouldn't Be Forgotten
Why, 20 years after the death of Egyptian pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut, did people attempt to erase her memory from Egyptian history? Gain insight into ancient Egyptian culture and how a female monarch was viewed with this...
TED-Ed
The History of Tattoos
Did you know that tattoos date back to 8,000 years ago? From Otzi, mummified iceman of the Alps, to high society members of Victorian Britan, discover the cultural significance of tattoos amongst a wide variety...
TED-Ed
Climate Change: Earth's Giant Game of Tetris
In this colorful animation, our current problem with climate change is likened to a block-stacking game of Tetris. Greenhouse gases are increasing in the atmosphere at an increasing rate. Can we place them properly before it's too late?...
TED-Ed
How Tsunamis Work
A flood of information about tsunamis can be learned by viewing this feature. How do they get started? How fast do they travel? How high can they rise? The answers to these questions, plus a little bit of history, are given for your...
TED-Ed
The Contributions of Female Explorers
Think of a few of the great explorers in world history. Are you thinking of any women? Chances are, probably not, and this will most likely be the case for many of your class members. But in many ways, female explorers may exemplify...
TED-Ed
The Deadly Irony of Gunpowder
Gunpowder has played a key role in shaping civilization as we know it today. Trace its evolution from its beginnings in the mid-ninth century when early Chinese alchemists worked to create a potion for immortality, through its use...
TED-Ed
The Historical Audacity of the Louisiana Purchase
In order to double the size of the country and make what would become the greatest real estate deal in the history of the United States, Thomas Jefferson had to set aside his beliefs in small government and his strict constructionist...
TED-Ed
The True Story of Sacajawea
The story of Sacajawea's incredible role as the guide in the Lewis and Clark expedition across America is captured in this engaging, animated video. Learn about the efforts she took to support the explorers, including translating,...
TED-Ed
23 and 1/2 Hours
Don't miss the opportunity to show what may be the most beneficial video your classes will ever see for their lifelong health and well-being. Using engaging animations and fascinating statistics, Dr. Mike Evans explains why exercise is...
PBS
Hemingway: The Art vs. The Artist
Seven clips from the documentary Hemingway by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick inform an investigation of how aspects of Ernest Hemingway's life influenced his writings.
PBS
Hemingway's Privilege and Social Position
Three clips from the documentary Hemingway by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick form the basis of a lesson on Ernest Hemingway. Viewers use a graphic organizer to identify elements of privilege and social status that "aided him in creating,...
PBS
Wyoming Women Get the Vote | State of Equality
After watching the trailer for the documentary State of Equality, class members conduct addition research and develop a digital presentation, poster or essay about the Women's Suffrage Movement.
PBS
Reconstruction: The Black Codes
During the era of Reconstruction, the planter class of the South tried to replicate the time before the Civil War by squashing rights given in the Thirteenth, Fourteenths and Fifteenth amendments. Using a video clip featuring renowned...
PBS
Reconstruction: The Birth of a Nation - Rewriting History through Propaganda
How historically accurate was the film The Birth of a Nation? Using a video that features clips from the film and analysis from historians, young scholars explore the connection between art and history. Additional activities...
PBS
Reconstruction: Ida B. Wells - Pioneer of Civil Rights
When Ida B. Wells was kicked off the whites-only ladies railway car, it ignited a ferocious warrior for civil rights. Wells and others worked to preserve the hard-won freedoms of Reconstruction, which were tenuous at best during...
PBS
Reconstruction: The 15th Amendment and African American Men in Congress
To escape to freedom, Robert Smalls had to steal a Confederate ship and sail to Union lines. He continued that fight for freedom as one of the first African American representatives in Congress during the Reconstruction era. Learners...
C-SPAN
On This Day: Prohibition
Before Prohibition, America was literally awash in alcohol, according to one historian of the topic. When the Eighteenth Amendment was enacted, loopholes allowed Americans workarounds, such as the ability to make up to 250 gallons of...