Physical Science: WKRP explains the atom

Remember that good old show WKRP.  What happened to great TV like that?  Anyway, in this video the teacher teaches one of his students all about the atom.  This clip is full of humor while teaching the concept.  He does a pretty good job of it too.  Lighten the mood in your classroom by showing this video during your unit on Atoms.

Subject:  Physical Science/Chemistry
Time:  3:50
Grade Level:  6-12

Science: (Astronomy) How much does Thor's Hammer weigh?

I have to admit that I would have never though about how much Thor's hammer weighed, until you this video got into the hypothetical science behind it.  After all Thor's hammer was made in a dying star.  This video isn't so much about Thor's hammer as it is about the density of dying stars.  I am only assuming that Vsauce, the video creator, did the research, but this video would make a great conversation starter when talking about density and specifically about the density of collapsed stars.

 Subject:  Astronomy/Physical Science
Time:  3:29
Grade Level:  6-12

Science (Ecology): How do wolves affect the food web and change rivers?

This is an excellent video about how the absence and reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone affected the Yellowstone food web and even change the behavior of rivers.  Now you might be wondering as I did, how in the heck can wolves change the behavior or the Yellowstone rivers.  The images in this video are very beautiful and your students will enjoy this short video.  If you are teaching some ecology in your science classroom then this video is for you.

Subject:  Science (Ecology)
Grade Level:  5-12
Time:  4:33

Math (Long Division): Learn your long division in the style of Gangnam.

Levin Intermediate School in New York had a couple of math classes create a math video as a parody to the Gangnam Style song.  The topic was long division.  The toon is pretty catchy.  Way to go Levin teachers for getting your students engaged in their own learning.  When a teachers wants to discuss more on long division and demonstrate the process differently this video is going to be great.

Grade Level:  K-12
Subject:  Math (Long Division)
Time:  3:40

Social Studies (Patriotism): I fought for you.

My friend just sent me this video about patriotism.  I get disgusted sometimes by the lack of understanding and patriotism in my classes when we say the Pledge of Allegiance.  I truly believe that most students and probably adults realize the sacrifice that was made on our behalf.  This video shows a grandfather who teaches his grandchildren a lesson by taking them to watch a film from World War II.  Like many kids they start off with headphones and Ipods in their ears not giving much attention.  As the film goes on, they start to take notice of events and unplug from that which isn't important.  We end the video with military veterans saying "We fought for you."  This video would be an excellent one to show your students during patriotic times.

Grade Level:  K-12
Subject:  Social Studies (Patriotism)
Time:  4:40

Math/Government (Financial): The debt limit explained.

CGP Grey have a video out called "The Debt Limit Explained."  I was searching for a video to show my Math for Life students about debt and financial situations that our own country can get in to.  People hear talk all the time about the Debt Limit and how we need or don't need to raise it.  This video does an excellent job explaining many aspects of the Debt Limit.  I think your students could get some valuable information from watching it.  After watching the video you can discuss the different aspects and even have a really good debate about whether or not the Debt Limit should be raised.  The nice thing is that Grey doesn't really get into the politics of whether it is bad or not.  He just gives a presentation on what the Debt Limit is according to how he understands it.

For more educational videos visit my new site that I am currently creating to house a repository of these videos.

Grade Level:  9-12
Subject:  Consumer Math or a Government Class
Time:  3:49

Amazing Kids: 14 year old computer programmer

This amazing kids video is one that I show to my Math for Life class.  I am trying to get my students to realize that they can be whatever they would like if they are willing to plan, prepare, and execute smart decisions.  This goes with the part of my curriculum about investing in oneself.  This video would be great for all teachers to show to High School students about how setting up your priorities now can benefit the outcome later. In the video we find a 14 year, who is now probably 16, who reads and writes computer code.  He has developed multiple apps and sells them in app stores.  His thoughts on how traditional school are kind of interesting as well.

For more educational videos click here.

Grade Level:  3-8
Subject: Amazing Kids
Time:  8:42

Awesome Kids: 15 year old from Sierra Leone changes his community.

This video is about really cool kid from Sierra Leone.  He is 15 years old and taking garbage and junk out of dumpsters he has created his own generator, FM radio station, and batteries so that he could send out information to his community.  It is amazing to see somebody with little means create a future for himself and others.  Use this to demonstrate to your students that with work and desire, anything is possible.

Subject:  Amazing Kids
Grade Level:  K-12
Time:  10:07

Science (Amazing Animals): Check out these awesome rock climbing goats.

As a kid I used to own and take care of goats.  This video brought back some memories about how cool goats are.  In this video National Geographic takes a look at some rock climbing goats.  They discuss some of their strengths and explain how the goats can climb the mountains so well.  The footage and voice overs are a lot of fun to watch an listen to.

Subject:  Science (Amazing Animals)
Grade Levels:  K-12
Time:  2:36

Social Studies (US History): How did the US and Canada create the border?

I am not going to lie, I have never considered this question.  I did, however find that the answer to the border creation between the US and Canada to be quite entertaining and very informative.  CGP Grey has a Youtube channel full of Social Studies information that you might find interesting and willing to share with your students.  In this visually discusses how the US and Canada agreed upon the current borders.  In some instances they still don't agree.  If you are teaching a class a little bit about how the two countries interact this might be an interesting educational video to show.  Grey does an excellent job discussing the facts using historical maps and pictures.

Subject:  Social Studies (US History or Geography)
Grade Levels:  7-12
Time:  5:26

Science (Biology): How old are your ears?

How old are your ears?  What a weird question!!  Why would the age of your ears even matter?  Did you know that as you get older you can't hear higher pitches in frequency?  Did you know that there are actual cell phone ring tones that are at these higher frequencies so that your students can hear themselves getting a text or all, but because you are over 20 you probably can't hear the tone.  In this video by AsapScience on Youtube, you will actually get a chance to see how old your ears are.  This video does an excellent job explaining the science behind it as well as actually demonstrating this scientific concept to your students and yourself.  See how old your ears are.

Subject:  Science (Biology and Physics)
Grade Levels:  All
Time:  1:38

Science: Why do some objects feel colder when in reality they are the same temperature?

I really am liking Veritasiums scientific Youtube videos.  You all ought to check out his educational Youtube page.  In this video he goes to a park and asks pedestrians why a hard drive and a book sitting at the same temperature have a different temperature feel to it.  The hard drive feels colder than the book.  He then takes an aluminum plate and a plastic plate to see which plate melts ice quicker.  Even though the aluminum plate feels colder, it melts the ice quicker.  This science experiment is very similar to ones that I do with my 7th grade science classes.

Subject:  Science (Physical)
Grade Levels:   6-12
Time:  4:00

Science: Eagle grabbing food out of the water and he swims.

This awesome video demonstrates how an eagle attempts to catch something out of the water and after several attempts he finally lands on top of it and then swims it to shore.  This is one persistent and probably hungry eagle.

Subject:  Science (Biology)
Grade Level:  All
Time:  2:04

Statistics: Child mortality rates 1960-2013

I am a huge fan of Hans Rosling and his statistical work.  Statistics don't lie or have emotion, so if they are gathered properly we can study and understand human events better.  In this video, Hans discusses how there is a myth that the "undeveloped" countries are still having huge child mortality rates.  He demonstrates that the world is getting better and smarter, even in countries like Ethiopia.

Subject: Math and Social Studies
Grade Level:  6-12
Length:  2:50

Perspectives: Without seeing the whole picture do we truly know what is going on?

This really short video clip show a man running toward another man from three different angles.  It is amazing how each angle makes you think something different is going on.  It is only when we are at the last angle that shows the whole picture do we understand the entire story.  This is very creative.  This might a a good video to discuss with your class on how we perceive events and people.


Subject: All Subjects (Motivational)
Grade Level:  All Grade Levels
Length:  :27 seconds

Science: What are Astronomical Units or AU when measuring distances?

This NASA video demonstrates how scientists compare distances between the planets and the sun using the measurement system, Astronomical Units.  They do a great job discussing scaling and why we use AU's as the measurement system when talking about our solar system.

Subject:  Science/Math-Measurement
Grade Level:  7-12
Length:  4:44

Science: What is the aquatic food web like?

This is an interesting video that describes some problems with the aquatic food web that contains certain types of trout.

Subject:  Life Science
Grade Level:  7-12
Length:  2:34

Science: What is the digestive system and how does it work?

This scientific educational video visually explains the digestive system.  It does so by show how a piece of food goes throughout your body and ends up as waste.

Subject:  Biology
Grade Level:  6-12
Length:  1:49

Science: What are the planets in our solar system?

This is an interesting educational video created for the younger students.  It is an animation and song that describes the sun and the eight planets.  It does skip poor old Pluto, which I refuse to believe he no longer is a planet.   The song is slow and easy.

Grade Level:  1-3
Subject:  Astronomy
Length:  4:19

Science: What is photosynthesis?

This video discusses the questions, "What is photosynthesis?"  It is done using rap which I am not a big fan of, but its descriptions of photosynthesis and the visuals it uses are really good.

Subject:  Life Science
Grade Level:  7-12
Length:  3:21