Educational videos are a terrific way to offer engaging learning experiences in a Microschool classroom. These educational YouTube channels offer free quality content to support just about any topic you might be teaching, and many of them are geared specifically toward kids. (Make sure to preview videos before sharing them with students to ensure the content is appropriate for your intended audience.)
Top 10 Educational YouTube Channels for Microschools
Crash Course and Crash Course Kids
You’ll love Crash Course videos for introducing new topics at the beginning of a unit or lesson. In a few minutes, students get a quick overview, preparing them to take a deeper dive into the subject matter. Crash Course Kids is intended for K-5 students and mostly focuses on science topics. For older students, the original Crash Course videos cover a wide range of subjects.
Khan Academy and Khan Academy Kids
Educators know that Khan Academy is a treasure, especially in unique learning environments like Microschools. The videos on their educational YouTube channels support and enhance their online lessons, and can be an excellent way to differentiate for diverse learners. Khan Academy Kids targets the early learning crowd (preschool to second grade), while the main Khan Academy channel has thousands of videos on every academic subject.
PBS and PBS Kids
PBS has been specializing in educational video content for decades, and their YouTube channels gather many of their greatest hits all in one place. Watch full-length documentaries or shorter clips on a variety of topics on the PBS channel, or check out your favorite children’s learning programs on PBS Kids.
NASA and NASA Video
America’s space agency has multiple educational YouTube channels, but these two offer some of their very best content. Find astronaut interviews, live telescope views, and explainer videos on topics related to space, astronomy, astrophysics, and more. Don’t forget to tune into livestream events where your students can watch rocket launches or see astronauts broadcasting from the ISS.
National Geographic and Nat Geo Kids
This well-known magazine has expanded far beyond geography and now explores an incredible array of topics. Their high-quality videos feature subjects like wildlife, world cultures, history, STEM concepts … the list goes on and on. Nat Geo Kids has content that’s appropriate for the preschool and elementary school crowds, while National Geographic itself will enthrall learners of any age.
ELA and World Languages Educational YouTube Channels
Alphablocks
This hit animated show has hundreds of videos about the letters of the alphabet, with new videos added regularly. (PreK to Gr. 1)
Grammar Girl
Tackling tricky grammar subjects? Check out these videos from Grammar Girl, based on her popular podcast of the same name. (Gr. 6 to 12)
Langfocus
Explore world languages and learn fascinating linguistic facts from around the world. The Mystery Languages videos are especially fun! (Gr. 6 to 12)
Learning Language Arts
Get full lessons on grammar and language arts topics, plus book reviews, author bios, and more from a literature teacher with more than 20 years of experience. (Gr. 6 to 12)
Open to Debate
Public speaking and debate are important language arts topics for older students. These videos will help them think critically about a topic and prepare to debate or write argumentative essays. (Gr. 6 to 12)
Rosetta Stone
World languages can be one of the most challenging subjects to offer in a Microschool, so many teachers rely on self-paced programs like Rosetta Stone. Their YouTube channel hosts videos to support their online courses. (Gr. 4 to 12)
Storytime With Ryan & Craig
Need a sub for today’s storytime? Ryan and Craig are here to help! Their read-aloud videos are engaging and fun, but also demonstrate good reading skills. (PreK to Gr. 2)
The Story Time Family
Reading aloud to kids helps them build print awareness and literacy skills. This channel demonstrates fluent reading for students while entertaining them with fun stories. (PreK to Gr. 2)
STEM Educational YouTube Channels
AsapSCIENCE
This popular learning channel promises that it’s “making science make sense.” These videos are terrific for introducing a new topic at the beginning of a unit or lesson. (Gr. 4 to 12)
Be Smart
Kids are full of questions about the world around them. Fortunately, Be Smart has the answers! Biology, physics, wildlife, space – you’ll find all kinds of STEM topics here. (Gr. 4 to 12)
The Brain Scoop
Host Emily is the “chief curiosity correspondent” for the Field Museum in Chicago, reporting on the most fascinating natural history topics. Kids will especially adore her Prehistoric Road Trip series. (Gr. K to 12)
Minute Physics
The name pretty much tells you what you need to know: quick answers to questions about physics and other STEM topics. (Gr. 4 to 12)
Mystery Science
Find answers to some of the most puzzling queries here, like “How do erasers erase?” and “How do cicadas make so much noise?” (Gr. K to 12)
Numberphile
For students who are captivated by numbers, this channel will be an endless source of fascination. (Gr. 6 to 12)
Numberblocks
Alphablocks’ math cousin has the same engaging video style, but it’s all about numbers instead of letters. (PreK to Gr. 1)
SciShow and SciShow Kids
This is one of the most popular STEM YouTube channels, and they’ve got an option for the younger crowd too. (SciShow: Gr. 4 to 12; SciShow Kids: PreK to Gr. 3)
Humanities and the Arts Educational YouTube Channels
Art for Kids Hub
Whatever kids want to learn how to draw – dragons, Fortnite characters, ice cream cones – this channel likely has a how-to video for it! (Gr. K to 12)
Big Think
The world’s “biggest thinkers” offer their thoughts on all sorts of topics, from black holes and free will to the meaning of existence itself. (Gr. 8 to 12)
Biography
The well-known TV channel hosts many of its popular biographical documentaries here, along with shorter clips that are perfect for working into lesson plans. (Gr. 6 to 12)
Classical Nerd
Learn about music theory, composers, instruments, and more topics related to classical music on this channel. (Gr. 6 to 12)
Great Art Explained
While this channel doesn’t have a ton of content, their videos feature good overviews of well-known artists and some of the world’s most famous works of art. (Gr. 4 to 12)
History
Watch full episodes of shows like Modern Marvels and In Search Of, plus find shorts on all sorts of fascinating subjects. (Gr. 4 to 12)
Hoffman Academy
Offer piano lessons at your Microschool, even if you yourself can’t play a note! The step-by-step online lessons here will get kids playing tunes in no time. (Gr. K to 12)
National Theatre
Get a glimpse behind the scenes at London’s National Theatre, plus see clips from past and current productions and learn more about drama itself. (Gr. K to 12)
Royal Opera House
Explore the worlds of ballet and opera with videos from London’s Royal Opera House. See world-class performances and go backstage with the performers too. (Gr. K to 12)
Simple History
Help your students visualize the past with these animated videos on historical topics from Ancient Egypt to the Cold War. (Gr. K to 12)
General Educational YouTube Channels
ABCmouse Early Learning Academy
These fun videos about the alphabet, numbers and counting, basic math, and learning to read are ideal for the youngest learners. You’ll also find lots of songs they’ll want to sing again and again. (PreK to Gr. 2)
Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
The beloved actor and comedian started this channel to provide strong female role models for all kids. The Modern Manners series is uniquely cool, offering today’s kids useful advice about things like phone etiquette and how to apologize well. (Gr. 3 to 12)
Free School
Find kid-friendly videos on natural history, geography, literature, and more. Top Pick: the 50 States Tour for Kids playlist. (Gr. K to 12)
Homeschool Pop
A homeschool dad created this channel for his own elementary-aged kids, and now it’s a popular place for children to learn about reading, math, science, and even Spanish. (Gr. PreK to 5)
KLT
Kids Learning Tube (or KLT) offers videos for kids on STEM topics, geography, reading, and more. (Gr. PreK to 5)
Netflix Jr. and Netflix After School
No subscription needed here to watch fun educational programming for early education students and cool stuff for older kids too. Check out the Jokes and Trivia playlist when your class needs a brain break. (Netflix Jr: Gr. PreK to 2; Netflix After School: Gr. 3 to 6)
Learn Bright
This wide-ranging channel covers hundreds of topics in a kid-friendly way, providing accurate and engaging information on every one. (Gr. PreK to 5)
Rock ‘N Learn
This channel mainly targets young students learning to read, write, and do math. But it’s also got a strong section on world languages for kids and teens. (Gr. PreK to 8)
Sesame Street
You already know and love the show, so head to this channel to find the perfect clips to use in your Microschool classroom! (PreK to Gr. 2)
Socratica and Socratica Kids
Socratica focuses mainly on computer programming, math, and science, while Socratica Kids is wider ranging, with general educational videos on a variety of topics. (Socratica: Gr. 6 to 12; Socratica Kids: Gr. PreK to 5)
TED-Ed
TED talks have gone viral again and again, and they’re popular in classrooms around the globe. This channel highlights talks that are especially interesting to kids and educators, presented in animated form. (Gr. 3 to 12)
