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 Infested! Living with parasites available on BBC Teach.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SHORT FILM CONTAINS DISTURBING SCENES AND TEACHER REVIEW IS RECOMMENDED PRIOR TO USE IN CLASS.
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley visits a ‘delousing salon’ in London to collect live head lice.
Delousing salons use a vacuum cleaner with a special attachment to collect the ten to twenty lice that an infected person typically has.
Michael Mosley infects himself and visits the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Here, he looks at the lice sucking his blood using a handheld microscope.
The speed of the lice moving over his arms is amazing.
The co-evolution of these organisms with humans is also described.
Teacher Notes
This short film could provide an interesting introduction to the topic of parasitism (and mutualism).
This could lead to studying the effects of parasites on humans or other organisms (including plants).
This could also introduce the topic of co-evolution (humans and body lice).
Curriculum Notes
This short film is suitable for teaching biology at KS4/GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 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 Wonders of Life available on BBC Teach.
Professor Brian Cox visits Madagascar to track down the rare aye-aye lemur, and see how it is perfectly adapted to its surroundings.
He explains how species of lemurs have evolved to fulfill many different ecological niches on the island.
Brian shows us the unique adaptations of an aye-aye, like its unusual teeth, perfect for gnawing away bark, and its elongated, bony middle finger, which it uses to prize out grubs.
Teacher Notes
Use the clip as an alternative example of specific adaptations. Students could find out what animals could have competed with the aye-aye on different continents, identifying why they have been successful around the planet.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Biology at KS3 and KS4/GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and SQA National 3/4/5 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 sers Explain This … GCSE Science available on BBC Teach.
This video demonstrates the GCSE Biology and Combined Science required practical to investigate osmosis in plant tissue, included in both AQA and Edexcel specifications.
Osmosis is a challenging concept, and this investigation is also challenging in terms of the manipulation, organisation and number of practical skills needed. This video helps to ensure the concept itself is understood as well as how to generate and interpret the data collected.
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 Gastro Lab available on BBC Teach.
Paralympic athlete, Jordanne Whiley, explains why carbohydrates are important in her diet. Meanwhile, Stefan Gates uses a ‘sugar shotgun’ to illustrate how energy is released from food and creates heat.
We hear about the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates, their food sources, their function in the body and the energy they release.
We are advised to get 55% of our calories from carbohydrate rich foods, particularly complex carbohydrates such as wholegrains, wholemeal bread, rice and potatoes.
The links between simple carbohydrates, or sugar, and the risk of tooth decay, heart disease and weight gain are explained.
The idea of balancing energy in and energy out is highlighted.
Teacher Notes
You could ask your students to compare the amount of calories per 100g or per portion found in a selection of carbohydrate-based foods, by examining food labels or using nutritional analysis.
These foods could be placed in rank order and evaluated as to which would be the best to eat before a marathon.
Curriculum Notes
This short film is relevant for teaching biology and food technology at Key Stage 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 3rd 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 Science of the Harvest available on BBC Teach.
Stefan Gates reveals the importance of the cold of winter for the development of summer fruit, through the mysterious process of vernalisation.
Using the example of an apple tree, he unpicks how vernalisation actually works.
Teacher Notes
This film could act as a stimulus for a project about the circadian and annual rhythms of plants.
Students could be taught about the way that plants have adapted to their environments.
Can students explain why deciduous plants drop their leaves, or pines have needles in place of leaves?
Can students identify how plants that live in tropical rainforests are different from those in alpine conditions?
The learning in this film could easily be extended to cover the annual cycles of these plants.
Students could look at the impact that poor weather has on farming in a more general sense.
What implications does global warming have for UK farmers? This may mean more rain as well as higher temperatures.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching Biology/Science at KS3 and KS4/GCSE in England and Wales.
Also at Third , Fourth Level, National 4, National 5 and Higher in Scotland.
This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC, CCEA and SQA.
This film is from the series Biology Bites available on BBC Teach.
Science presenter, Jon Chase, investigates the effects of temperature, water and oxygen on seed germination.
He finds out that seeds germinate best in warm, moist and well-oxygenated conditions. He also looks at the effect fertiliser has on the rate of germination and plant growth.
Teacher Notes
Students could repeat the experiment seen in this short film using cress seeds. Do the students’ results reflect Jon Chase’s findings? Are temperature, water and oxygen the key factors?
The scientist interviewed says that water is the most important factor of the three. The scientist also says that fertilisers (nitrates) speed up germination (as well as plant growth). Does this match your students’ findings?
Students could then look at the fertilisation of plants, by placing pollen onto a stigma and observing it grow into a pollen tube.
Curriculum Notes
These short films will be relevant for teaching biology and science in general at KS3 and KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 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 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 series Amazing Me available on BBC Teach.
What is a burp and a fart, and why do they smell?!
Presenter, Zoe Gamble is in class to lead an experiment with effervescent tablets to see the explosive effects of trying to contain carbon dioxide in a small space.
CGI graphics demonstrate how bacteria in our gut create gas.
Zoe explains how when we eat something, we often swallow gas along with the food, that can come out of the body as a burp.
The class deflate an enormous whoopee cushion by jumping on top of it.
Teacher Notes
Pupils could study bacteria and how there is good and bad bacteria.
Bad bacteria can harm the body and good bacteria can help us extract nutrients from our food. Look at how industry uses bacteria to break down waste material such as recycled food, and from sewerage to create power and electricity. Compare the systems to what’s happening within the human body.
Pupils could create a poster to illustrate how bacteria can create electricity.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching the topic of the human body at KS2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Second 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 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 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
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 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 clip from the BBC Teach series, Ivy’s Plant Shop, introduces the anatomy of the flower, including the receptacle, sepals, nectaries, carpel, stigma, style, ovary, stamen and petals.
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:
there aren’t any advertisements on or around the BBC content;
there aren’t any charges for access and or charges associated with the content (clearly stating that the content is free to access); and
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.