Whether you're at home or at school, you can use BBC Teach for free. Our website is home to thousands of free curriculum-mapped videos, arranged by age-group and subject.
Whether you're at home or at school, you can use BBC Teach for free. Our website is home to thousands of free curriculum-mapped videos, arranged by age-group and subject.
This film is from the series Blue Planet Live available on BBC Teach.
Over the last century, numbers of South African penguins have declined by 90%.
Over-fishing and climate change have caused their prey to moved hundreds of miles from their breeding colonies, too far for adult penguins to hunt and return to the nesting chicks.
To help, local scientists have come up with a plan to create a new colony of penguins using fake models to attract the real penguins to a new feeding ground.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
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We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Scientists and the Scientific Method available on BBC Teach.
This film shows how Nicolaus Copernicus - an early astronomer, scientist and priest in Poland - discovered that the sun was at the centre of the solar system.
This theory is known as the heliocentric model of the solar system. It was controversial at the time because the accepted wisdom (supported by the church) was that the Earth was at the centre of the universe.
In this vlog style film, Nicolas Copernicus compares his ideas with those of Aristotle and Ptolemy, whose celestial model placed a stationary Earth at the centre of the solar system, with the sun and other planets in its orbit.
Teacher Notes
As a starter to introduce a practical science activity, you could write a simple quiz to encourage pupils to capture the keywords shown in the video.
Pupils can write their own definitions from these words using the internet or science dictionaries to improve their scientific vocabulary.
To consolidate their knowledge, pupils could make booklets that include key information about the work of Nicolaus Copernicus.
They could define the keywords featured in the film, and find five or more pieces of additional pieces of information about the work of the Nicolas Copernicus using books, encyclopedias or the internet.
Curriculum Notes
Suitable for teaching Science at Key Stage 2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and at 2nd Level in Scotland.
The film also has cross-curricular links with History and Literacy.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Life Lessons available on BBC Teach.
We look at reproduction in various plants and animals using beautiful wildlife footage and summary graphics.
The giant Amazonian water lily is the first example of reproduction with the fascinating way it traps insects.
We see the reproductive parts of a flower, both male and female, accompanied by a brief description of the function of each.
Moving on to the animal kingdom, an elephant is used as an example of internal fertilisation, followed by some more unusual examples such as a seahorse.
Teacher Notes
Key Stage 2
The graphical representations of the parts of a flower could be teamed up with a lesson on dissecting a lily.
Lilies are easy to dissect using scissors or a scalpel if appropriate and the reproductive organs are very clear to see.
For students of higher ability the differences between external and internal fertilisation could be introduced. This is usually discussed at KS3 but could be suitable for students who are capable of understanding.
Key Stage 3
Suitable for use as a key stage 3 introduction to internal reproduction and plant reproduction.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching science at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or Second/Third Level in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series A-Z of Religion and Beliefs available on BBC Teach.
Is God male, female, or both? This playful, fully animated summary takes students on a journey across religions and through history, exploring the fundamental role of the feminine in religion.
Hindu goddesses take centre stage as manifestations of the universe’s essence, and the role of enlightened female beings is also shown as central to Tibetan Buddhism.
After delving into the importance of female energy in Christianity, the short film introduces students to a very ancient lady, which many believe to be the mother of all religions and beliefs.
Teacher Notes
You could ask your students to research Hindu goddesses and discuss their relationship to Brahman.
Students could discuss whether the Christian, Jewish and Muslim God can have a gender, and research the role of goddesses in ancient animistic religions.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching KS3 Religious Studies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 3rd and 4th Level Religious and Moral Education in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Explain This available on BBC Teach.
This video gives pupils an understanding of what food chains are and where different plants and animals fit into them.
The video explores common food chains and how the ‘circle of life’ operates in nature.
It looks at what happens if one part of a food chain is taken away, and also explains the position of humans in the food chain.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series The Great British Year available on BBC Teach.
When spring arrives, male birds start singing to attract a partner and to tell other male birds to keep away.
Once the male bird finds a female partner they start to build a nest.
Different types of birds use different materials including twigs, straw, moss, spider web and feathers.
While many children are hunting for chocolate eggs at Easter, the female birds are busy laying eggs and sitting on the nest.
The eggs must be kept warm for the chicks to grow.
The birds must stay with the nest even during cold and wet weather.
The baby birds hatch at just the right time, when there is lots of food for them to eat.
The blue tit catches the caterpillars that are eating the new leaves sprouting on the trees.
Teacher Notes
The film could be used to start a discussion on what birds do to ensure their eggs hatch and baby birds grow.
Pupils could role play the different jobs the birds have to do in the right order - from singing and nest building in early spring to sitting on eggs and feeding the baby birds in the late spring.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Science/ Geography
This topic is suitable for KS1 and KS2 in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland. Also Early and 1st Level in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Religions of the World available on BBC Teach.
This film is one of a series of short, animated films teaching pupils about religions of the world and focuses on the story of Easter.
It tells the story of Jesus’s crucifixion, his rising from the tomb three days later and his ascension to heaven.
The film is bright and colourful and immerses the pupils in the story through a clear, friendly narrative.
Teacher Notes
The film could be used start a discussion on whether Easter is a happy time or a sad time, or both.
In groups, pupils could create freeze frames of different parts of the story, showing clearly how the different characters (Jesus, Mary, the disciples) would have been feeling at that part of the story.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching KS1 religious studies in England and Northern Ireland, Foundation Phase in Wales and Early and 1st Level Religious and Moral Education in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Digital Literacy available on BBC Teach.
Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, we strongly advise teacher viewing before watching with your pupils.
Using a real life story, this short film looks at the negative effects that social media can have on our mental wellbeing.
It explains what is attractive about social media and the way that it can seem to work to provide external validation for an individual’s choices and actions.
The film presents a true story that talks through some of the extreme consequences of using social media, as well as the positive uses of online activity.
It emphasises the highly-curated nature of social media and online representations and reinforces the ways that young people can control how they interact with the online world.
The top tips section at the end should provide useful take-away points for students.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Making the News available on BBC Teach.
Tina Daheley looks at what fake news is and gives students a guide to determining which stories are fake and which can be relied on.
She talks to Megha Mohan, a senior broadcast journalist from BBC News, who helps her separate genuine and fake news.
They show how deliberately misleading stories are often presented as real news stories and unpick some of the reasons why fake news exists.
The main drivers of money-making, influencing readers’ opinions and satire are explored with a look at stories about high profile people.
Several examples of stories that appear to be from trusted sources are shown and the problems with these stories are discussed.
They then look at some of the fake news stories that appeared around the time of the 2016 US presidential election campaign that were shared on social media.
They discuss how features of genuine news stories are used in fake news, such as headlines, photos, and the names of news providers.
Advice is given about searching online for the news providers and finding an example of the same news story on a credible news site.
Fake news can be convincing and Daheley explores how we can avoid being lured in by false stories.
A group of young people are shown a sequence of fake and real news stories and they attempt to sort them.
They discuss the importance of logos, trusted news sources, bias and language.
The young people also talk about the trustworthiness of news stories and fact checking and how the use of quotations and opinions can make a story seem more convincing.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Divine Women available on BBC Teach.
Bettany Hughes outlines the background to the debate on whether women should be priests or bishops.
She discusses the arguments against women becoming priests with Catholic writer, Joanna Bogle.
Next she visits Father Scott Brodeur who trains men for the priesthood at the Gregorian University in Rome. They discuss the role of women in the early church as outlined in one of Saint Paul’s letters. Father Brodeur demonstrates the essential role of women in the early church and the equality of men and women in Christianity.
Bettany then visits the Catacombs of Saint Priscilla. Here we are shown evidence for women as priests and leaders in the earliest days of Christianity.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series The Brain Lab available on BBC Teach.
The film talks about what happens in our brains when we feel strong emotions such as anxiety, fear and anger.
Clinical psychologist Dr Hazel Harrison uses an analogy of the brain being like a house, with different types of people living on each floor, to explain what is happening in our brains when we feel strong emotions.
Through animation, we see what happens in our brains when these emotions take over and we ‘flip our lids’.
She talks us through how we can carry out some practical exercises to help ‘get our lids back on’ so that we can connect with our thinking brain and make sensible decisions.
‘Flipping the lid’ is a concept based on the work of Dr Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
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We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Growth Mindset available on BBC Teach.
Meesha and Lucas are in a maths lesson.
Meesha is happy to take on the challenges set by the teacher, but Lucas is more reluctant.
Meesha has a growth mindset. She believes intelligence, talent and ability are open to change.
So she believes she can get better at maths. This means she tries, puts in effort and works hard to master the learning.
Lucas has a fixed mindset. He doesn’t believe he can get better at maths.
He thinks you’re either good at maths or your not. And he is definitely not good at maths.
Lucas and Meesha make different decisions about their learning because of their different mindsets.
As time goes on, Meesha and Lucas talk. Meesha explains that you can change your mindset - and she encourages Lucas to do this. Gradually, Lucas starts to think in a different way.
He starts to think that he can do maths, that he can get better. As he changes his mindset, so Lucas changes his behaviour. He starts to have a go, to keep trying and to persist.
We see him improve his maths skills as a result. Meesha and Lucas demonstrate the differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.
They show how each one influences your thoughts, actions and behaviours.
And they also show that anyone can develop a growth mindset, no matter who they are.
Teacher Notes
This could be used as an introduction to growth mindsets and a fantastic tool for helping learners reflect on how they think about learning and their own potential to develop.
Curriculum Notes
This clip is suitable for teaching PSHE/Modern Studies at KS2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 1st and 2nd Level in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This films is from the series 100 Years of the Women’s Movement available on BBC Teach.
Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney traces the history of the women’s movement in Britain and discovers how women fought for equality in the workplace.
Gemma meets a one hundred-year-old woman who describes how work opportunities have changed for women over her lifetime.
In World War One and World War Two women did men’s jobs.
Women were not paid the same as men. In 1968 women working in the Ford Dagenham car factory went on strike for equal pay and to be classed as skilled workers. Gemma meets two women who took part in the Dagenham strike.
The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1970 and Gemma asks if women today are equal at work with men.
Teacher Notes
Give students a series photographs of women over the last 70 years (including suffragettes, CND protestors, Women’s Lib activists and suited businesswomen) and ask what we can deduce about these women.
Students should then be divided into groups to research one of the women in their photograph.
Place the information gathered on a timeline of change. Students should consider how far attitudes have changed towards these women in their research.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching History. This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Children at Work available on BBC Teach.
Presenter Hazel Lindsey travels from England to West Africa, to investigate the use of child labour on cocoa plantations in Ghana.
She travels to the village of Akyem Ofoase, about five hours from the capital Accra, to meet young cocoa pickers and find out what their life is like.
Here she meets 11–year-old Patrick, who shows her the nursery where he grows cocoa plants which he hopes to sell to farmers.
Hazel is also taken to the cocoa plantation owned by Patrick’s uncle, where she interviews child workers.
Poor rural families rely on children to work picking cocoa pods with machetes.
This is dangerous work, where injuries from the sharp machetes are common and the danger of snakebites is always present.
Hazel discovers children who enjoy working together and who have aspirations of a better future through education.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series House of Sound available on BBC Teach.
In their House of Sound, Fran Scott and Greg Foot investigate how sound is made and how we hear it.
They explain that sound is caused by vibration. If an object vibrates the air particles called molecules close to it vibrate.
This makes the molecules next to them vibrate and so on, forming a sound wave.
If the sound wave reaches our ears and our brains then we hear the sound.
They also explain that sound needs something called a medium to travel through and Fran repeats a famous experiment by a scientist called Robert Boyle who demonstrated that air is a medium through which sounds travel.
She puts a bell in a jar, taking out all the air from the jar to create a vacuum, after which the bell falls silent.
Using 3D animation, Greg takes us on a guided tour of the human ear, pointing out the key components: the eardrum, hammer, anvil, stirrup, cochlea and auditory nerve.
Finally, Fran makes a giant human ear out of everyday things to show how these components work.
Teacher Notes
Pupils can experiment with making sounds using just their own bodies and voices.
Because sound needs a medium to travel through, they can discuss the media with which they are familiar - for example, water, a highly effective medium, as they may have discovered while swimming.
As an introduction to pitch, experiment with rulers on the edge of desks or tables, so they can find out and record that a long length of ruler vibrates more slowly than a short length and makes a lower sound.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Science or Music in primary schools at Key Stage Two or Second Level (Scotland).
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Operation Awesome available on BBC Teach.
Children work with a dinosaur scientist to find dinosaur footprints that have been fossilised into the rock on a beach.
The scientist explains how the footprints were made inside the hard rock and children model the process using layers of sand and mud.
The scientist then explains how the fossilised footprints are revealed in the rock after millions of years of erosion. The timescale for the whole process is discussed.
Teacher Notes
This is an effective introduction to how fossils are formed, and of how rocks change over time.
In this case they are ‘trace fossils’ from the footprints, rather than actual fossilised remains.
Your pupils could carry out an investigation into how rocks become eroded over time, using layers of sand, gravel and soil and observing the effect of water flowing over the top.
They could then suggest other factors which might cause erosion of rocks.
Pupils could explore other examples of fossils from photographs or actual specimens.
They could then go on to make their own fossils out of plaster of paris or similar in moulds.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching science at Key Stage 2 or Second Level in Scotland, or biology at Key Stage 3 or Third Level in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from The Burrowers available on BBC Teach.
Chris Packham visits a man-made rabbit warren to see baby rabbits being born.
A scientist shows him how a thermal imaging camera detects heat instead of light and can be used to see which animals are the warmest.
He discovers that the kits (baby rabbits) have no fur when they are born, so they must huddle together to keep warm.
The mother rabbit feeds the kits with milk, just like all mammals.
Because it is warmest in the middle of the huddle, the kits change places to stay warm.
When the kits are older, they start to eat solid food; initially, their mother’s faeces, as this contains important bacteria that will help the kits to digest the tough plant material.
Teacher Notes
This film could be used as a stimulus when studying life cycles and the ways in which animals reproduce.
Remind pupils that all mammals, including humans, are initially fed on milk from their mothers.
As the baby mammals get older, they move towards a diet that makes use of the natural resources around them, such as grass for rabbits. But digesting grass is very hard, and special bacteria are needed by baby rabbits to help them.
What do humans need in their diet to stay healthy?
Curriculum Notes
This clip is relevant for teaching Science at KS1 and KS2 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and at Early and 1st Level in Scotland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Ivy’s Plant Shop available on BBC Teach.
This film explores the process of pollination and the roles played by different parts of a plant.
At the end of the film, the process is summarised in a catchy song which will help children remember it.
Teacher Notes
This film could be used as an introduction to plants and reproduction.
Pupils could write a non-fiction report on plant reproduction or the process of pollination.
Working in pairs, pupils could create a series of cards depicting pollination which another pair could then try to sequence.
Curriculum Notes
This film will be relevant for teaching Science/Biology at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in England, Wales and Early and 1st and 2nd Level in Scotland.
Also at Foundation, KS1 and KS2 in Northern Ireland.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.
This film is from the series Life on Planet Ant available on BBC Teach.
A leafcutter ant colony from Trinidad has been rescued and re-housed in a giant man-made nest in the UK, allowing an in-depth study into their normally hidden world. It’s the first time a man-made colony has been built on this scale and Professor Adam Hart gives four primary school scientists a tour.
The young scientists are not able to see the queen as she is hidden deep within the nest. But, in the lab, Adam is able to show them a similar queen from another leafcutter colony.
They learn that the queen is much larger than all the other ants, with the smaller ants that surround her tending to her every need.
The life cycle of ants is described; the queen lays the eggs which hatch into larvae and then change to become the ants in the colony.
When the eggs are laid they are all the same, but what and how much they are fed results in different kinds of ants, such as soldier ants and minima.
The ant colony is very clever; if it comes under attack it produces more soldier ants, and if they need more leaves they will grow more ants to become foragers.
Teacher Notes
Students could role-play how an ant colony adapts to outside forces. One student could be selected as the ‘queen’ and two others as worker ants. Everyone else could stand in a ‘holding zone’.
The ‘queen’ could tap students in the holding zone on the shoulder and they would then become ‘eggs’. Once the eggs are created, the worker ants should hand out different coloured bands, depending on whether the ant in the egg will become a soldier or a worker ant.
Once a few ants have been ‘born’, a caller could describe an outside force which is affecting the colony. For example, ‘another colony is attacking’. The workers should then hand out more ‘soldier’ bands. Outside forces should lead to killing a number of ants at once so that students can return to the holding zone, begin their life again as ‘eggs’ and continue the flow of the game. Examples include humans stepping on the colony, or doing battle with other ants.
Students could draw the different stages of the ant life cycle in the correct order.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Science/Biology at KS2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 2nd Level in Scotland.
This film is from the series Exploring the Past - Post-War Britain available on BBC Teach.
Fifteen-year-old Amba talks to her grandmother about her working life in the 1950s.
She left school at 14 and worked in food factories until she married at 17.
She returned to work part-time when her child went to school, in order to save up for expensive items such as a fridge, a washing machine and a car.
Dr Claire Langhamer from the University of Sussex puts this experience into context, saying that it reflects the experience of many women at the time who worked to earn extra money but saw their main job as a wife and mother.
Amba speaks to Patricia Barrett who worked in a bank for 35 years and never wanted to marry.
She explains how women were treated differently to men at her bank – they earned less, were put on temporary contracts when they got married and weren’t offered overseas postings.
Teacher Notes
This could be used to show how women faced restrictions in terms of job opportunities in the post-war period.
This could also be used to set up a discussion about laws preventing discrimination against women.
Curriculum Notes
This short film is relevant for teaching history at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 / GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 3, 4 and 5 in Scotland.
Some of the social issues highlighted could also be relevant for teacher Citizenship, PSHE or Modern Studies.
The purpose of BBC’s content is to inform, educate and entertain. As such, students, teachers, schools, and other established educational bodies may utilise such content for educational purposes via an ERA Licence.
Without an ERA Licence, reasonable use of the content (for the purposes set out above) may still be possible, however; any such use must be in line with the BBC’s Terms of Use.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, when using and or sharing BBC Education content, you must comply with the BBC’s Terms of Use and where relevant, YouTube’s terms and conditions, ensuring that:
a) there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
b) there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to
access); and
c) you do not state or imply (in any way) that there is a relationship and or any endorsement from the BBC to you.
We ask that you read the said terms before using any of BBC’s services. When you use BBC’s services and content, you’re agreeing to the BBC’s terms of use.