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!
Homeschooling with Netflix
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
- Magic of Mushrooms
- The Mars Generation
- Forces of Nature
- Food Science
- Catching the Sun
- Earth’s Natural Wonders
- Into the Inferno
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.
More documentaries available for streaming as of 09/5/19
- Brain Games (SERIES) – This series is very interesting. In the first episode, it shows people how the brain uses shadows to help understand the world around us. It is really very interesting and educational.
- Planet Earth: The Complete Collection – I bought this on DVD when it came out many years ago. It is so good.
- Life – Discover life on Earth.
- Life Story – Following wild animals in their natural habitat.
- The Last Man on the Moon
- Nature’s Great Events – Weather patterns, and seasonal events that create awesome wildlife events.
- The Pyramid Code – The truth about the pyramids have arrived.
- Blackfish – Animal slaves for entertainment are dying in their own prisons, due to lack of food, space, and quality nutrition. Countless animals die each year for the sake of human curiosity. Boycott zoos, and marine shows who are just trying to make money off these poor animals.
- Tales by Light – Check out the physical extremes photographers go through to get that shot. What’s it really like to be one of the world’s top photographers?
- Forces of Nature – Explaining complex natural forces like shape, color, motion and more.
- Our Planet -Emmy Nominated – Watch the planet’s amazing diverse creatures.
- Terra – A documentary about the relationship between living creatures and humans.
- Weird Wonder Of The World
- 72 Most Dangerous Animals
- 72 Cutest Animals
- Naledi – A baby elephant’s tail
- The Ivory Game – Exposing ivory trafficking
- Last Chance to See – Animal species that are near extinction.
- Beak & Brain – Genius birds
- Round Planet – A unique twist to the story of our planet.
- Bugs – The benefits of bugs as a future food source.
- Frozen Planet
- Minimalism
- Growing up Wild
Other Cool Homeschooling links
- Online Writing Courses For Homeschoolers | Review Of Night Zookeeper
- Coding For Kids | 33 Homeschool Coding Classes!
- Free Homeschool Curriculums | 9 FREE Curriculums
- Virtual Field Trips | Zoos, Museums, Landmarks, And More!
- Virtual Math Manipulatives | Homeschool Math Websites
- Typing Games For Kids | Perfect For Homeschoolers!
- Totally Free Homeschooling Resources | How To Homeschool For Free
- Free Printable Valentine Matching Game – Free Valentine’s Printables
- Why Homeschool Is The Right Choice For Us – Our Reasons to Homeschool
- 34 Free Valentine Printables – Free Valentine’s Day Printables
- Free Printable Valentine Word Search – Free Valentine’s Printables
- 42 Dollar Tree Homeschool Supplies List – Frugal Homeschooling
- 20+ Free Homeschool Resources | Free Homeschooling
- Free Geography Homeschool Resources
- Language Arts Program for Homeschoolers
I’d love To Know what you think!… Leave me a comment!
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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
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
The country is Colombia with an “o.”
Good eyes! Fixed now thanks, M!
It still says Columbia.
Thank you for this List!
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!
I believe the dates above are incorrect. Did you mean 10/11/2017?
Thank you for putting this list together 😀
Yes, lol. Thanks for catching that. I fixed it.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the list! 🙂