📺 Liberty’s Kids
Genre: Animation, History
Educational Topics: U.S. History, American Revolution
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Episode: “The Boston Tea Party” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Teaching Activity Idea: Create a historical newspaper page from an event in the series.
Discussion Question: What was the role of young people in shaping early America?
Rating: TV-Y7
Streaming: PBS Kids
🎬 Hidden Figures
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Educational Topics: Math, Civil Rights, STEM
Grade Level: Middle–High
Key Scene: Katherine calculates launch trajectories.
Teaching Activity Idea: Discuss gender and race in STEM; calculate a simple trajectory.
Discussion Question: What barriers did the women face? How did they overcome them?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Disney+
🎥 Gandhi
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Educational Topics: Nonviolent Resistance, Indian Independence, Government
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: The Salt March
Teaching Activity Idea: Analyze Gandhi’s civil disobedience strategies and compare to other movements.
Discussion Question: How does Gandhi's philosophy compare to other leaders of change?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Hulu
🎞️ Freedom Writers
Genre: Drama, Biography
Educational Topics: Writing, Racism, Empathy
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: Students share personal stories in journals.
Teaching Activity Idea: Keep a reflection journal throughout the semester.
Discussion Question: How can writing help people process their experiences?
Rating: PG-13
Streaming: Amazon Prime
🎥 Inside Out
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Educational Topics: Psychology, Emotions, Mental Health
Grade Level: Middle School
Key Scene: Bing Bong’s sacrifice in the memory dump.
Teaching Activity Idea: Have students create emotion journals or color wheels.
Discussion Question: How do emotions work together or conflict with one another?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Disney+
🎥 Akeelah and the Bee
Genre: Drama, Family
Educational Topics: Vocabulary, Spelling, Motivation
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Scene: National Spelling Bee finals
Teaching Activity Idea: Host a class spelling bee; study root words and etymology.
Discussion Question: What motivates Akeelah to persevere? How does community support help?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime
🎞️ Apollo 13
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
Educational Topics: Physics, Engineering, Teamwork
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: CO₂ filter problem-solving scene
Teaching Activity Idea: Try a STEM challenge: build a working filter from limited materials.
Discussion Question: How does collaboration solve life-threatening problems?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Netflix
📺 Anne with an E
Genre: Drama, Historical, Literary Adaptation
Educational Topics: Literature, Descriptive Writing, Character Development
Grade Level: Middle–High
Key Episode: Anne’s classroom speech on imagination
Teaching Activity Idea: Rewrite a scene using modern dialogue or a new perspective.
Discussion Question: How does Anne use language to express herself?
Rating: TV-PG
Streaming: Netflix
🎥 Black Panther
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Superhero
Educational Topics: African Culture, Technology, Leadership
Grade Level: Middle–High
Key Scene: T’Challa’s challenge and vision of Wakanda
Teaching Activity Idea: Compare Wakanda’s society to real African nations.
Discussion Question: How does Wakanda represent power and responsibility?
Rating: PG-13
Streaming: Disney+
🎬 Bill Nye the Science Guy
Genre: Science, Comedy, Educational
Educational Topics: Physical Science, Earth Science
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Episode: Bill Nye on Gravity
Teaching Activity Idea: Create a video explaining a science concept like Bill Nye.
Discussion Question: What experiment best demonstrated gravity?
Rating: TV-G
Streaming: Disney+
🎞️ Bluey
Genre: Animation, Family, Kids
Educational Topics: Imaginative Play, Empathy, Problem Solving
Grade Level: Early Elementary
Key Episode: “Calypso” episode
Teaching Activity Idea: Have students roleplay or invent a group storytelling game.
Discussion Question: What did Bluey learn from her game?
Rating: TV-Y
Streaming: Disney+
🎬 Coco
Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Educational Topics: Cultural Studies, Music, Family
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Scene: “Remember Me” performance
Teaching Activity Idea: Discuss Día de los Muertos; create a mini ofrenda.
Discussion Question: What role does music play in family and memory?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Disney+
🎥 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Genre: Science, Documentary
Educational Topics: Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics
Grade Level: Middle–High
Key Episode: “Cosmic Calendar” episode
Teaching Activity Idea: Have students create their own “timeline of the universe.”
Discussion Question: What surprised you most about Earth’s formation?
Rating: TV-PG
Streaming: Disney+
🎞️ Cyberchase
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Educational
Educational Topics: Fractions, Geometry, Logic
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Episode: “The Wedding Scammer”
Teaching Activity Idea: Team-based math challenge modeled after the episode.
Discussion Question: What strategies helped the characters succeed?
Rating: TV-Y
Streaming: PBS Kids
🎬 Dead Poets Society
Genre: Drama
Educational Topics: Poetry, Expression, Critical Thinking
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: “O Captain, My Captain” scene
Teaching Activity Idea: Write and perform a poem inspired by “Carpe Diem.”
Discussion Question: What does “seizing the day” mean to you?
Rating: PG
Streaming: Hulu
🎥 Donald in Mathmagic Land
Genre: Animation, Educational
Educational Topics: Geometry, Probability, Music & Math
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Scene: Musical proportions
Teaching Activity Idea: Explore the golden ratio or symmetry in design.
Discussion Question: How is math connected to nature and art?
Rating: G
Streaming: YouTube
🎞️ Finding Forrester
Genre: Drama
Educational Topics: Writing Process, Literary Voice
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: Forrester mentors Jamal in writing
Teaching Activity Idea: Write a letter to a fictional mentor about your writing goals.
Discussion Question: How does writing help Jamal find his voice?
Rating: PG-13
Streaming: Hulu
🎬 Hamilton
Genre: Drama, History, Musical
Educational Topics: U.S. History, Government, Writing
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: Cabinet Battle #1
Teaching Activity Idea: Write a rap on a current political issue.
Discussion Question: How does music affect your understanding of history?
Rating: PG-13
Streaming: Disney+
🎞️ Hotel Rwanda
Genre: Drama, Biography, War
Educational Topics: Genocide, Modern African History
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: Hotel sheltering refugees
Teaching Activity Idea: Research global responses to the Rwandan genocide.
Discussion Question: What moral responsibilities do individuals have during crises?
Rating: PG-13
Streaming: Amazon Prime / Netflix
🎬 Horrible Histories
Genre: Comedy, Educational, History
Educational Topics: Ancient History, Medieval History
Grade Level: Elementary–Middle
Key Episode: Roman Baths sketch
Teaching Activity Idea: Have students create their own comedic history sketch.
Discussion Question: What’s the value of using humor to learn history?
Rating: TV-Y7
Streaming: Hulu / YouTube
🎞️ John Adams
Genre: Drama, History
Educational Topics: U.S. History, Government, Leadership
Grade Level: High School
Key Scene: Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Teaching Activity Idea: Compare John Adams’s portrayal in the series to textbooks.
Discussion Question: What personal sacrifices did early leaders face?
Rating: TV-MA
Streaming: HBO Max
🎥 Between the Lions
Genre: Puppetry, Educational
Educational Topics: Phonics, Reading Comprehension
Grade Level: Early Elementary
Key Episode: “Gawain’s Word” segment
Teaching Activity Idea: Retell a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Discussion Question: What did the lions learn from the story?
Rating: TV-Y
Streaming: PBS Kids
🎥 Finding Nemo
Genre: Animation, Adventure
Educational Topics: Marine Life, Friendship, Family
Grade Level: K–5
Key Scene: Nemo’s classroom and the “drop-off” scene
Activity Idea: Research a real marine animal featured in the film.
Discussion Question: What lessons can we learn about teamwork?
Rating: G
Streaming Info: Disney+
🎬 TV & Movies for Classroom Learning
Discover movies and shows that make learning exciting!
Each title includes grade level, educational topics, teaching ideas, and discussion questions.