Homeschooling with Netflix

I found some amazing documentaries on Netflix to help teach kids about many subjects. I’ve also included links to lesson plans you can use along with the documentaries. Most of them are free. Homeschooling with Netflix is fun and entertaining!

First, we’ll check out some subjects you could use for Homeschooling with Netflix, along with lesson plans. Most of the lesson plans that I found are free! If you don’t want to bother with lesson plans, just watch any of these documentaries that suit your fancy.

Geography

These will give children a chance to learn about the land, people, and animals that live in places around the world. Like a virtual field trip. Check out my blog post of free geography resources.

Africa

Africa – This one is from BBC, and is Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch & Mike Rowe | You can use free this curriculum to help children learn more about Africa. Also, check out How big is Africa?

Virunga – an Oscar-nominated true story about rangers who risk their lives to save endangered gorillas in Africa’s national park.

Clarendon Learning has a ton of great lessons! Check this one out for Africa.

Oceans

Netflix Documentaries

The Blue Planet & Blue Planet 2– Explore the ocean, in one of my all-time favorites The Blue Planet!
Life in The Blue
Mission Blue
Pacificium – Four scientists explore Peru’s coastline by land, sea, and air.
Bermuda Triangle – The mysteries surrounding the Bermuda triangle still baffle scientists today. Explore the strange with this documentary. Check out a lesson plan here on this.
Chasing Coral – documenting the disappearance of coral reefs.

Lesson Plans on Oceans

Scholastic has a lesson plan on Oceans, and so does the Smithsonian.
Oceans of the World via Clarendon Learning
What Lives In The Ocean via Clarendon Learning

Europe

Netflix Documentaries

Wild France – There are still places in Europe that are hardly touched by people.
Wild North – Explore the forests & rugged coastlines of Norway.
National Geographic, has more great (free) ways to learn more about Europe.

Lesson Plans on Europe

French Lesson Plans via Bright Hub Education
All About Europe via Clarendon Learning

China

Wild China Check out the Ancient China lesson plans, and check out PBS for more learning about China.

Alaska & Canada

Wild Alaska – Here’s a lesson plans on the Yukon and Alaska by Quest Connect.

India

India Nature’s Wonderland– Great mountains, deserts, and jungles. Explore India today! Check out a free lesson plan on India.

South America

Perú – Take a beautiful virtual field trip to Perú. Check out Homeschool Creations for a great free lesson on Perú.

Galapagos – Interesting wildlife, and unlike most of the planet. Check out the weird and beautiful Galapagos Islands.

Lesson Plans

All about South American via Clarendon Learning

Virtual Field Trips | Landmarks

National Parks Adventure – Scholastic has some lessons about National Parks, and so does US Mint
Yellowstone Thaw – Check out this lesson plan to learn how geysers erupt. There used to be a documentary about the wolves in Yellowstone but last time I checked Netflix pulled it and I don’t remember what it was called. It was very interesting. However, here is a lesson plan on the Wolves of Yellowstone.
Yellowstone Park – live stream Old Faithful
Houston Zoo Webcam
Farm Fresh 360 – Take a virtual field trip to a Canadian farm!
Virtual Egg Farm Field Trip
Star Atlas – Take a virtual trip to see the stars!
Nature Works Everywhere has several virtual field trips
Boston Museum – a virtual tour!
Smithsonion – virtual tour
Metropolitan Museum of Art – Art lovers beware, you’ll love this virtual tour!
Google Arts and Culture – There is a seemingly endless list of cool things to explore!
Ellis Island – Visit the Statue of Liberty
The Louvre Museum – I’m pretty excited about this, to be honest!
The Great Wall of China
Easter Island
Visit Mars!
Virtual Field Trip to Mexico!

Other Free Geography Lesson Plans

Amazing Race – Has children create their own amazing race game!
Spanish Culture lesson plans
German Culture Lesson

History

The Civil War – Check out Civil War (dot org) to see lesson plans for all ages.
The Roosevelts – PBS has a lesson plan made for this very documentary! How awesome is that?
World War II – Scholastic has a lesson plan on World War II.
Nazi | Mega Weapons
Lincoln – Director Steven Spielberg takes on the legacy of Abraham Lincoln.
Lesson plan for Back in Time Travel Brochure – Using travel brochures and a lesson plan, to learn about World History.
The Eighties – Big hair, crazy colors, and MTV actually played music.

There are plenty of other documentaries but I tried to include ones that were TV-14 at most. Many others are rated TV-MA, and NR.

Science

Lesson Plans

Natural Disaster lesson plans – Teach Engineering has a lesson plan on Natural Disasters.
Space lesson plans – When I started homeschooling I found several awesome ways to teach about space, check out some of those free homeschool resources here. Teacher Vision has some pretty amazing lesson plans on SPACE. Also, check out Geology(dot com) to see more free lesson plans on space.
Clarendon Learning has several great lesson plans for science

Art

Abstract The Art of Design
Moving Art – Art found in the world we live in.

Art Lesson Plan by Age

Have questions? Leave me a comment!

I would love to know what you think, Please leave me a comment! Thank you for visiting. 🙂

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Comments

Anna says

October 12, 2017 at 8:41 am

I believe the dates above are incorrect. Did you mean 10/11/2017?
Thank you for putting this list together 😀

- Kristi @HomesteadWishing says
  
  October 13, 2017 at 8:01 am
  
  Yes, lol. Thanks for catching that. I fixed it.
  
  I’m so glad that you enjoyed the list! 🙂
  
M says

January 15, 2018 at 2:04 pm

The country is Colombia with an “o.”

- Kristi @HomesteadWishing says
  
  January 15, 2018 at 3:45 pm
  
  Good eyes! Fixed now thanks, M!
  
  - Marian says
    
    September 30, 2018 at 8:44 am
    
    It still says Columbia.
    Thank you for this List!
    
    - Kristi @HomesteadWishing says
      
      September 30, 2018 at 10:25 am
      
      Hey Marian! Apparently, I didn’t realize there were two places where Colombia was misspelled! Thanks for catching that. I believe I’ve caught them all this time. I hope you liked the list!! Thanks for stopping by and helping!
      
Mary Ann Peter says

February 14, 2018 at 4:27 pm

HI. Thanks for putting this list together – my homescholed daughter LOVES these types of nature shows.
I saw Blackfish a few years ago and actually thought it was quite interesting. However, I did some research on the program and, overwhelmingly, the claims the show makes are unsubstantiated. Although it claims to be a documentary (and some of the incidents it reports are very true), it appears to be more propaganda than fact. I do not like the thought of these amazing, huge animals living in captivity strictly for our enjoyment, but the show does not entirely stick to the facts. Just thought I’d let you know.

- Kristi @HomesteadWishing says
  
  February 15, 2018 at 8:24 pm
  
  So glad that you enjoyed the list. My boys and I like them too!
  
  I appreciate your input. If you would like to share some research so we could all benefit, I would be interested in seeing what could possibly be deemed fact and fiction.
  
  All of the other facts can fade away, but the two facts below will still be true and these are the most important in my opinion.
  
  Some Joe Smoe is making big bucks off of keeping these animals captive. The other fact that bothers me is that these animals are in no way living the life the should be able to live, ie… in the ocean. A pool of water is no way for them to live. It is the equivalent to a cell for a human.
  
  It’s interesting to think that not all of the facts are true, but it doesn’t really change anything for me. Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts on it!
  
Bianca says

April 3, 2018 at 10:02 am

Excelente lista … Me gusto mucho las peliculas que recomiendas, realmente no me habia puesto a analizar que netflix me sirviera para mi homescholing, lo estaba viendo como algo negativo por ser pantalla … Estaré atenta a nuevas recomendaciones tuyas y si tienes peliculas recomendadas para niños de 6 años seria una perla para mi. Saludo desde Colombia

- Kristi @HomesteadWishing says
  
  April 4, 2018 at 9:56 pm
  
  Thank you for visiting from Colombia! You’re very welcome for the list. It’s a great resource for learning different things. Netflix changes often so keep looking at their documentaries for new things too! I try to update my list every once in a while. I wish you luck my far away friend!
  
Louisa says

July 12, 2018 at 3:45 am

This is a brilliant resource that I’m sure you took a long time to put together. So wanted to say a massive thank you. I will share.
I’m a fellow Home educator to my two children as we travel and travel / mama blogger. Thebitsinbetweenblog.com
Xxx

- Kristi @HomesteadWishing says
  
  July 13, 2018 at 9:31 am
  
  Thanks Louisa! It didn’t take quite some time, and it still does. Netflix is constantly adding and removing stuff, so a couple times a year I try to update this list.
  
  Thanks for sharing! Have a blessed day!

Homeschooling with Netflix – 40+ Documentaries Edition