TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why should you read "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding? | Jill Dash
After witnessing the atrocities of his fellow man in World War II, William Golding was losing his faith in humanity. Later, during the Cold War, as superpowers began threatening one another with nuclear annihilation, he was forced to...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Iseult Gillespie: The wicked wit of Jane Austen
Whether she's describing bickering families, quiet declarations of love, or juicy gossip, Jane Austen's writing often feels as though it was written just for you. Her dry wit and cheeky playfulness informs her heroines, whose...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: First person vs. Second person vs. Third person | Rebekah Bergman
Who is telling a story, and from what perspective, are some of the most important choices an author makes. Told from a different point of view, a story can transform completely. Third person, first person, and second person perspectives...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Tycho Brahe, the scandalous astronomer - Dan Wenkel
If you think scientists lead boring, monotonous lives, you must not know about Tycho Brahe. The 16th century astronomer who accurately predicted planetary motion led quite a dramatic life -- complete with a kidnapping, a sword duel and...
PBS
David Brooks on emerging from loneliness to find 'moral renewal'
In his new book, "The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life," New York Times columnist and NewsHour regular David Brooks explores the current American cultural moment, in which he argues we have become self-centered and cognitive...
TED-Ed
Who decides what's in the dictionary? | Ilan Stavans
While the concept of a dictionary dates back to ancient civilizations, the first English dictionary wasn't published until 1604. In the centuries that followed, many more dictionaries were written by individual authors who chose what to...
TED Talks
Mary Roach: 10 things you didn't know about orgasm
"Bonk" author Mary Roach delves into obscure scientific research, some of it centuries old, to make 10 surprising claims about sexual climax, ranging from the bizarre to the hilarious. (This talk is aimed at adults. Viewer discretion...
TED Talks
TED: Wisdom from great writers on every year of life | Joshua Prager
As different as we humans are from one another, we all age along the same great sequence, and the shared patterns of our lives pass into the pages of the books we love. In this moving talk, journalist Joshua Prager explores the stages of...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What makes a hero? - Matthew Winkler
What trials unite not only Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins but many of literature's most interesting heroes? And what do ordinary people have in common with these literary heroes? Matthew Winkler takes us step-by-step through the crucial...
TED Talks
Raghava KK: Shake up your story
Artist Raghava KK demos his new children's book for iPad with a fun feature: when you shake it, the story -- and your perspective -- changes. In this charming short talk, he invites all of us to shake up our perspective a little bit.
TED Talks
Jacqueline Woodson: What reading slowly taught me about writing
Reading slowly -- with her finger running beneath the words, even when she was taught not to -- has led Jacqueline Woodson to a life of writing books to be savored. In a lyrical talk, she invites us to slow down and appreciate stories...
Crash Course
How and Why We Read: Crash Course English Literature
In which John Green kicks off the Crash Course Literature mini series with a reasonable set of questions. Why do we read? What's the point of reading critically. John will argue that reading is about effectively communicating with other...
TED Talks
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story
Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or...
Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen
Unexpected Twist! An Oliver Twisted Tale – Q&A
New ReviewUnexpected Twist! An Oliver Twisted Tale – Q&A
Curated Video
History of Werewolves for Kids
New ReviewThe legend of the werewolf—the idea of a person turning into a wolf—has terrified and fascinated people for centuries. Stories of werewolves date back to ancient Greece and the Middle Ages, often linked with fear of the unknown and the...
Curated Video
History of Elves for Kids
New ReviewElves have appeared in stories for over a thousand years. In ancient Norse mythology, they were mysterious spirits connected to nature. In medieval Europe, they became known for mischief and magic. Over time, elves evolved into the tall,...
PBS
How a Classic Children’s Book Introduced Kids (and Adults) to Their Inner Demons
New ReviewAs a kid, the monsters in Where the Wild Things Are were downright frightening. But thinking about the book as an adult, it’s clear there’s something deeper to this fantastically monstrous story.
Curated Video
Varying Sources
New ReviewThis video, entitled "Varying Sources," explains the importance of using various sources for research.
Curated Video
DNA Structure
New ReviewThis video outlines how DNA is structured and coded for genetics.
Curated Video
There, Their, They’re – Stop Making This Common Mistake! | EasyTeaching
There', 'their' and 'they’re' are often confused. This lesson explains the the key differences between them and shows how they are each used. Avoid making this common mistake, and gain confidence in your writing and speaking.Never mix...
Curated Video
An Overview of Major World Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism
Religions of the world Explained: 5 of the worlds most widespread and influential religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. You may be surprised to learn that they all share something in common. In order to...
Curated Video
Top Self-Help Books Recommended by Billionaires
Here are the Best Self Help Books: 5. The Innovator's Dilemma - Recommended by Jobs and Cuban 4 Business Adventures - Recommended by Gates and Buffett 3. Superintelligence - Recommended by Musk and Gates 2. The Intelligent Investor -...
Curated Video
This Organization Feeds Their Entire Community
If you are a kid and your bed is a lumpy, old couch or a cold, hard floor and you leave home for school without a regular breakfast, you will not excel in your classes. This daily struggle is shockingly common in many areas of the...
Curated Video
How This Mom Cracked The Code For Joy And Success—And How You Can Do The Same
At the age of 24, Shilamida felt that she had found success: she was earning a six-figure income and had a nice boyfriend. But just 2 years, everything seemed to fall apart. Her relationship ended shortly before she discovered she was...