Please recommend TV series or documentaries that are vaguely educational

[Mumratheevergiving]

Has anyone got any recommendations for documentaries , dramas or films that are suitable for family viewing (incl. 8 and 11year old)? We have netflix, prime and freeview. Ideally it would be good to watch some historical programmes on the Tudors/ Vikings / World Wars but anything with a bit of an educational aspect would be welcome.

We watched Robin Hood recently and that allowed us to discuss lifestyle in times past. We also enjoyed Baby Chimp Rescue so things along those lines or on the environment would be good too. Is there anything like Tomorrow's World for technology these days?

TIA

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

If they're enjoying the history stuff, TIME TEAM! There are loads of episodes on YouTube!

Planet Earth & Blue Planet are also very interesting, as well as beautiful to look at.

Thanks those are the sort of things for the watch list (although DH and I fall asleep watching Blue Planet on an evening, must be the relaxing effect of the water and music)

Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are going down well with our 9-year-old (and with us!).

This may be useful? I am working on an initiative offering free videos and resources that cover the National Curriculum, creating opportunities for investigation, discussion, wider thinking & having fun learning at home. Opportunities that are aimed to fit in easily with your daily lives. Everything is free, downloadable and designed by specialists within education. We have animated our programmes to appeal to kids and have crew members helping us so we can mix in some live action parts. Broadcasting across social media, but you can find our central hub at: www.homelearningfun.co.uk

There's a short video explaining more on Facebook & Twitter.

Let me know if you want to know more.

DS has found a couple of documentaries on National Geographic hes enjoyed. The one about Atlantis was a particular hit. I've also managed to convince myself that Deadly 60 and Operation Ouch are educational

Surely Operation Ouch is educational?! Chris and Xand always teach me a thing or two.

At that age I would think horrible histories would be fun and educational. There are plenty of history channels with documentaries suitable for kids. Sam Willis is fun to watch and has done pirates, and one about weaponry throughout the ages. Dan Jones is great with castles and the Plantagenets, Lucy Worsley does lots too and often dressed the part. Google them for programme titles and then search on netflix/Amazon to find them. Watch with them and pause and discuss when needed.

Thanks all. Have just discovered History Bombs on Youtube which are good snapshots of world events.

We have watched Born Free, Jane (about Jane Goodall) and Free Willy in a vague attempt to learn about habitats and the study of species. We watched Harriet to learn about slavery. The Horrible Histories film about the Celts is fun (feature length). Operation Ouch, Deadly 60 and Horrible Histories are all acceptable "educational" viewing in this house. What is he interested in? Is there anything he is studying that he would like to learn more about?

Late here but what about Maddie (Moate) (and Greg) shows? They count as science for us.Mine learnt a lot about how things are made, factories in Thailand, mirrors etc

Poss a bit old for your kids (is rated a 12) but "Connected" on Netflix is a very accessible science series.

There are several train-related programmes that are interesting and educational (history, geography and politics). Michael Portillo, Chris Tarrant and Tony Robinson have all done programmes like this.

Abandoned Engineering is a bit over dramatic but basically sound and an interesting way of presenting history.

For Science, try Prof Brian Cox "The Planets" documentary series on BBC iPlayer - it's brilliant and very captivating. For environmental/nature, try any of David Attenborough's series, also on iPlayer - Frozen Planet is fascinating to watch.

For History, you could try BBC Teach/BBC Bitesize - lots of videos available on the website/YouTube which have a wide range of historical subjects.

If you do permit your kids to go on to YouTube it’s worth finding a topic they are asking about at home and pulling up a YouTube video on it. I use videos like these to supplement or better explain topics