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.
- Preschool and Kindergarten Educational Netflix Shows
- Elementary School Educational Netflix Shows
- Middle and High School Educational Netflix Shows
Best Educational Netflix Shows for Preschool and Kindergarten
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.
Beat Bugs
Against a background of beloved Beatles songs, this series follows five friendly bugs as they learn lessons about the world around them.
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.
Chico Bon Bon
This monkey mechanic tackles new challenges in each episode, coming up with clever solutions for all the people of Blunderburg.
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.
The Creature Cases
Special Agents Sam and Kit travel the world, solving mysteries for their animal pals. Along the way, they meet and learn about a wide array of creatures around the globe.
Deepa & Anoop
In the Mango Motel, Deepa and her color-changing elephant Anoop solve problems, explore friendship, and have fun adventures together.
Learning Songs by Little Baby Bum
If you’re looking for educational Netflix shows for music lovers, check out this option. Kids learn songs about colors, animals, numbers, and vehicles.
Mother Goose Club
These energetic performers put a new spin on classic nursery rhymes to teach toddlers about topics like animals and healthy living.
Numberblocks
Follow these cheerful blocks as they work and sing in Numberland. This is one of the most popular educational Netflix shows among the pre-K crowd.
Pocoyo
Follow the exploits of a fun-loving, curious little boy who loves to play and explore.
Ridley Jones
Ridley and her dads live in a tree house in the middle a museum. Each night, the exhibits come to life, creating new adventures for Ridley and her family.
Rhyme Time Town
Daisy and Cole use music and imagination to solve problems in a town filled with nursery rhyme characters.
Story Time Book: Read-Along
Read along as these picture books come to life with songs, animation, and narration. Kids learn about numbers, science, letters, and more!
Word Party
Meet Bailey, Franny, Kip, and Lulu, four adorable baby animals who want you to join in the fun and help them learn.
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!
Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices
Celebrity readers share kids books by Black authors to spark kid-friendly conversations about empathy, equality, self-love, and anti-racism. The quick episodes (13 minutes or less) are perfect for the classroom.
Brainchild
This science-based show answers all sorts of questions kids tend to ask. The diverse cast tackles science in an engaging way that’s sure to draw kids in.
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.
Emily’s Wonder Lab
Emily Calandrelli shares science experiments to help make STEAM fun. She also offers ideas for at-home experiments kids can try (with adult supervision, of course).
The Great British Baking Show: Juniors
As kids compete to be crowned Star Baker and ultimately the best junior baker in Great Britain, they also demonstrate cooperation, perseverance, and good sportsmanship.
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!
Island of the Sea Wolves
Explore the wild wonders of Vancouver Island and the surrounding waters, where a family of sea wolves fights for survival throughout the seasons.
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.
Julie’s Greenroom
The inimitable Julie Andrews mentors a group of adorable puppets as they prepare to stage a musical, with help from celebrity guests like Idina Menzel and Josh Groban.
Justin Time
In Justin’s dreams, he and his imaginary friends Olive and Squidgy travel around the world learning about nature and other cultures.
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.
Meekah
Join Meekah and her best friend Blippi as they head to new places and explore their passions: science and nature.
Octonauts
If you teach about the ocean, chances are there’s an Octonauts episode related to your unit. Each episode covers two different creatures from the deep blue sea.
Old Enough!
Inspire kids to take on new challenges and responsibilities with this reality show from Japan. It follows children as young as 2 as they tackle chores and errands.
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. Think of this as a real-life Finding Nemo.
Puffin Rock
Welcome to Puffin Rock, where puffling Oona and her family and friends live. Their adventures teach us all about friendship and nature.
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.
We the People
Popular music artists sing songs about topics related to American citizenship, including the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, and immigration.
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.
Best Educational Netflix Shows for Middle School and High School
72 Cutest Animals
Discover 72 of the cutest animals on Earth and how their adorable features are actually evolutionary advantages. (TV-PG)
72 Dangerous Animals: Asia
The world’s most dangerous animals have a variety of weapons, from claws to venom to fangs and beyond. Learn more about 72 of them in this educational Netflix series. (TV-14)
100 Humans
One hundred people participate in conversations and experiments around a variety of topics, like implicit bias, happiness, the five senses, and more. (TV-14)
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. (PG)
Abstract: The Art of Design
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. (TV-14)
Alien Worlds
This series blends science fact and fiction to imagine alien life on other planets, using the laws of science found here on Earth. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-14)
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. (TV-14)
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)
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. (TV-PG)
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)
Chasing Coral
Divers, scientists, and photographers around the world mount an epic underwater campaign to document the disappearance of coral reefs. (TV-PG)
Chimp Empire
In a forest in Uganda, a huge community of chimps navigates issues very familiar to humans: politics, family dynamics, and territory disputes. (TV-PG)
Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything
Science journalist Latif Nasser investigates ways in which humans are connected to one another, the world, and the universe. (TV-14)
Down to Earth
Travel the world with Zac Efron as he explores sustainable, healthy ways to live. In season one, he wanders the whole planet, while season two focuses on Australia and its cultures and habitats. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-MA)
High on the Hog
The subtitle of this educational Netflix show is “How African American Cuisine Transformed America.” It’s a powerful look at traditional Black foods, culture, and more. (TV-MA)
High Score
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. (TV-14)
Human: The World Within
Biology teachers, take note! These episodes delve deep into the inner workings our incredible bodies. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-14)
Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History
Comedian Kevin Hart uses his irreverent humor to teach about some of history’s unsung Black heroes. (TV-PG)
The Last Dance
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. This docuseries follows his career and the rise of the 1990s Chicago Bulls to dominance. (TV-MA)
Life in Color
Stunningly beautiful, this docuseries explores nature from a fresh perspective as animals use color to survive and thrive in the wild. (TV-PG)
Life on our Planet
Imagine a nature documentary filmed millions of years ago, when prehistoric creatures roamed the planet. Through incredible CGI, that’s exactly what you’ll find here. (TV-PG)
The Mars Generation
Teenagers at NASA’s Space Camp dream of traveling to Mars, while experts reflect on the future and history of NASA. (TV-PG)
The Mind, Explained
Ever wonder what’s happening inside your head? From dreaming to anxiety disorders, discover how your brain works. (TV-14)
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. (TV-G)
Mystery Lab
Felipe Castanhari and his lab buddies explore science, history, mysteries, and marvels. (TV-PG)
Night on Earth
New technology showcases the hidden lives of nocturnal creatures. See lions on the hunt, bats on the wing, and more nighttime marvels. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-PG)
Rotten
Take a closer look at our food supply chain, but be prepared to learn unpleasant truths about some of your favorite dishes. (TV-MA)
Seaspiracy
A filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species—and uncovers alarming global corruption. (TV-14)
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. (TV-PG)
The Short Game
Explore the impacts of going pro at a young age in this documentary about three young golfers who haven’t even hit middle school yet. (PG)
The Social Dilemma
This documentary-drama follows a group of tech experts who sound the alarm on the dangerous human impact of social networking. (PG-13)
Somebody Feed Phil
In this utterly charming docuseries, Phil Rosenthal travels the planet, looking for the best food everywhere he goes. Along the way, he explores culture and makes new friends, all with a sense of delightful enthusiasm. (TV-14)
The Speed Cubers
Follow the lives of speed-cubing champions Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs, culminating with their attending the World Cube Association’s World Championships 2019. (TV-PG)
Spelling the Dream
This documentary explores the unbroken Indian-American dominance of the U.S. spelling bee arena, a truly fascinating story. (TV-G)
Taco Chronicles: Cross the Border
Many of the most popular taco styles have a rich cultural history. Learn more about this beloved food and the stories behind the dishes. (TV-MA)
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 attention and imagination. (TV-PG)
Tiny Creatures
Small animals embark on big adventures in a dramatic nature series that explores their hidden worlds and epic survival stories. (TV-PG)
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. (TV-PG)
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
This movie tells the story of TV’s beloved Mr. Rogers and his friendly neighborhood. Learn more about this inspiring man and his quest to bring kindness, empathy, and understanding to multiple generations. (PG-13)
What educational Netflix shows, movies, or documentaries do you use in your classroom? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out the best TED Talks to spark student discussion.
