Videos have their place in the classroom and at home, helping bring topics to life for students at any age. Teachers and parents have more options than ever before, including these terrific educational Netflix shows. History, science, animals, travel, early education—it’s all here. Take a look at our top choices and choose some to watch with the kids in your life!
Note to teachers: Some schools block Netflix, which requires you to use Netflix’s offline feature to download preferred shows and use them during class. When it comes to the legality of streaming Netflix in the classroom, the company notes which media are available for educational screenings. Also, grade recommendations were made by our editorial team, but of course, you are always the best judge of the appropriateness for your own children and students.
Best Educational Netflix Shows for Elementary School
Ada Twist, Scientist
Based on the books, Ada Twist and her two best friends are asking big questions—and working together to discover the truth about everything!
Ask the Storybots
The only thing more curious than the bots are kids. Celebrity appearances and a music video at the end of each episode only add to the fun.
Brainchild
This science-based show answers all sorts of questions kids tend to ask.
Buddi
With kindness, curiosity, and childlike wonder, five best friends explore their colorful world and find the extraordinary in everyday things.
Charlie’s Colorforms City
Charlie creates fun stories using different shapes, and he needs your help! Follow him on various adventures throughout the world … and beyond.
CoComelon
Kids who love to sing will beg to watch CoComelon. It’s perfect for the younger crowd still learning their numbers, letters, nursery rhymes, and more.
Emily’s Wonder Lab
Emily Calandrelli shares science experiments to help make STEAM fun!
The Hidden Lives of Pets
Learn more about the animals we keep as pets, from dogs and cats to goldfish and beyond. These critters are full of surprises!
If I Were an Animal …
Observe different animals as they age from babies to adults.
Izzy’s Koala World
Izzy Bee and her family rescue koalas in need and help them head back into the wild on Australia’s Magnetic Island.
Justin Time
In Justin’s dreams, he and his imaginary friends Olive and Squidgy travel around the world learning about nature and other cultures.
Learning Songs by Little Baby Bum
If you’re looking for educational Netflix shows for music lovers, check out this option. You’ll find adorable songs that include “Baby Shark,” “Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and more!
Llama Llama
Beloved children’s book character Llama Llama springs to life in this heartwarming series about family, friendship, and learning new things.
The Magic School Bus
When a science concept just isn’t clicking for your students … Ms. Frizzle to the rescue! Stream episodes on the human body, gardening, weather, and more.
Numberblocks
Follow these cheerful blocks as they work and sing in Numberland.
Octonauts
If you teach about the ocean, chances are there’s an Octonauts episode related to your unit.
Old Enough!
Inspire kids to take on new challenges and responsibilities with this reality show from Japan. It follows children as young as two as they tackle chores and errands.
Pocoyo
Follow the exploits of a fun-loving, curious little boy who loves to play and explore.
Puff: Wonders of the Reef
A baby puffer fish travels through a wondrous microworld full of fantastical creatures as he searches for a home on the Great Barrier Reef.
Puffin Rock
Welcome to Puffin Rock, where puffling Oona and her family and friends live. Their adventures teach us all about friendship and nature.
Rhyme Time Town
Daisy and Cole use music and imagination to solve problems in a town filled with nursery rhyme characters.
Trash Truck
Six-year-old Hank and his best pal, a giant trash truck, explore the world around them on fantastical adventures with their animal friends.
Waffles + Mochi
Curious puppet pals Waffles and Mochi travel the world exploring the wonders of food and culture while learning how to cook with fresh ingredients.
White Fang
Have students compare the film version to the classic novel of the same name.
The Who Was? Show
Based on the popular book series, this live-action sketch-comedy show brings important historical figures, like King Tut, Marie Antoinette, and Pablo Picasso, to life in an entertaining and hilarious way.
Word Party
Meet Bailey, Franny, Kip, and Lulu, four cute and adorable baby animals who want you to join in the fun and help them learn.
Word Party Songs
These short videos (3-4 minutes each) teach opposites, colors, and more. Perfect for daily openers or brain breaks!
Best Educational Netflix Shows for Middle School
Alien Worlds
This series blends science fact and fiction to imagine alien life on other planets.
Animal
Discover incredible facts and amazing footage of apes, birds of prey, bears, and dolphins in this short series narrated by popular celebrities like Bryan Cranston.
Blue Miracle
In this movie based on a true story, a guardian and his kids partner with a washed-up boat captain for a chance to win a lucrative fishing competition in order to save their orphanage.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Based on the book of the same name, this movie tells the real-life story of William Kamkwamba, who saved his village by inventing a windmill.
Carmen Sandiego
That’s right, gumshoes! The story of the legendary professional thief has been remixed into a cartoon series. But in this iteration, Carmen is trying to thwart evil. Those of us who grew up playing the computer game and watching the game show will love introducing the globe-trotting Carmen to a new generation of kids.
Chasing Coral
Divers, scientists, and photographers around the world mount an epic underwater campaign to document the disappearance of coral reefs.
Cutest Animals
Discover 72 of the cutest animals on Earth and how their adorable features help protect them.
Finding ’Ohana
On O’ahu for the summer, two siblings from Brooklyn connect with their Hawaiian heritage on a daring quest for long-lost treasure. A good one to showcase the Hawaiian culture.
Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History
Comedian Kevin Hart uses his silliness for good, teaching viewers about some of history’s unsung black heroes.
Life in Color
Stunningly beautiful, this docuseries explores nature from a fresh perspective as animals use color to survive and thrive in the wild.
A Life on Our Planet
This documentary follows famed naturalist David Attenborough, who maps how steeply the planet’s biodiversity has diminished over his lifetime.
The Mars Generation
Teenagers at NASA’s Space Camp dream of traveling to Mars, while experts reflect on the future and history of NASA.
My Octopus Teacher
Follow filmmaker Craig Foster as he spends a year forging a relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest.
Mystery Lab
Felipe Castanhari and his lab buddies explore science, history, mysteries, and marvels.
Night on Earth
New technology showcases the hidden lives of nocturnal creatures.
Penguin Town
Penguins in Africa? Yup! This series follows a colony of South African penguins as they form families, raise their young, and get help from local humans when things are rough.
Seaspiracy
A filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species—and uncovers alarming global corruption.
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb
After unearthing a tomb that had been untouched for 4,400 years, Egyptian archaeologists attempt to decipher the history of the extraordinary find.
The Short Game
Introduce students to the world of sports with these star golf athletes who are still in grade school.
The Speed Cubers
Follow the lives of speedcubing champions Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs, culminating with their attending the World Cube Association’s World Championships 2019.
Spelling the Dream
A documentary that explores the unbroken Indian-American dominance of the U.S. spelling bee arena.
Te Ata
A Chickasaw Nation woman navigates cultural barriers to pursue a stage career that culminates in a performance at the White House. Based on a true story.
Tiny Creatures
Small animals embark on big adventures in a dramatic nature series that explores their hidden worlds and epic survival stories.
Wild Babies
Who doesn’t love baby animals? Follow the adventures of species like pangolins, penguins, elephants, and lions as they learn what it takes to survive.
Best Educational Netflix Shows for High School
Abstract
Inspire the creatives in your classroom with this eight-episode documentary series on some of the world’s foremost designers, including photographer Platon, graphic designer Paula Scher, and sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield.
Attack on Pearl Harbor: Minute by Minute
Learning about World War II? This short series uses archival footage combined with survivor interviews to bring this historic event to life.
Bill Nye Saves the World
In this wacky talk show, the popular educator explores scientific topics in the everyday world, including climate change, video games, and space travel.
Bill Nye: Science Guy
Bill Nye faces climate-change skeptics as he demonstrates the importance of scientific evidence.
Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know
Scientists hope to understand and capture the first image of a black hole while exploring the limits of our knowledge of the universe. (TV-14)
Challenger: The Final Flight
Engineers, officials, and the crew members’ families provide their perspective on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and its aftermath. (TV-14)
Connected
Science journalist Latif Nasser investigates ways in which humans are connected to each other, the world, and the universe.
Dangerous Animals
Learn more about the 72 most deadly creatures on Earth!
Explained
In less than 20 minutes, the show tackles various topics, from the water crisis to the racial wealth gap, in an accessible way. Be sure to preview episodes, as some are not suitable for the classroom.
High Scores
This docuseries traces the history of classic video games, featuring insights from the innovators who brought these worlds and characters to life. (TV-14)
History 101
These quick episodes combine infographics with archival footage and are the perfect length to show during class. They cover the history of topics ranging from GPS and lasers to dating apps and bottled water.
Human: The World Within
Biology teachers, take note! These episodes delve deep into the inner workings our incredible bodies.
Inside Bill’s Brain
Take a trip inside the mind of billionaire Bill Gates as he opens up about those who influenced him and the audacious goals he’s still pursuing.
The Mind, Explained
Ever wonder what’s happening inside your head? From dreaming to anxiety disorders, discover how your brain works.
Our Great National Parks
President Barack Obama narrates this inspiring look at national parks around the globe, from Australia and Africa to our own Monterey Bay.
Our Planet
This Netflix series is a lot like Planet Earth, except it urgently calls for viewers to think about the ways that human actions are putting the nature and animals the series covers in peril.
Pacificum
Four scientists offer a sweeping yet intimate exploration of Peru’s majestic coastline.
Rotten
Take a closer look at our food supply chain, but be prepared to learn unpleasant truths about some of your favorite dishes.
The Social Dilemma
This documentary-drama follows a group of tech experts who sound the alarm on the dangerous human impact of social networking.
Thai Cave Rescue
This limited series explores the true story of the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave by rising water levels. Their rescue captured the world’s imagination.
What educational Netflix shows, movies, or documentaries do you use in your classroom? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out the best TED Talks to spark student discussion.
