You might associate television programming with “brain drain,” but with the right show it doesn’t have to be.
These great science documentaries can teach kids about the beauty of the rainforest or the quest to find the “God particle.”
Let these visual lessons about natural science kick-start your kid’s interest in this fascinating subject. Check out these films:
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
In this 13-episode documentary, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson takes viewers on an intergalactic adventure, exploring different themes in each episode. Episodes investigate the Milky Way, molecules, gravity, the greenhouse effect, and more. Older viewers will recognize this remake of Carl Sagan’s 1980s television series of the same name.
Where to find it? Netflix and Amazon Instant Video
The City Dark (2011)
This documentary illuminates the issue of light pollution and its effects on the night sky. It also explores the impact on city dwellers who can no longer see the stars at night due to light pollution.
Where to find it? Amazon Instant Video
Disneynature: Wings of Life (2011)
Bird lovers will adore this documentary. It takes a peek at the lives of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other winged creatures.
Where to find it? Netflix
Particle Fever (2013)
This documentary took seven years to film, as it followed the experimental physicists who eventually identified the Higgs boson.
Where to find it? Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Particle Fever website
PBS Nature (Multiple documentaries)
PBS certainly knows documentaries, and this series is proof. Animal lovers can choose from a number of episode options, including ones about bears, eels, zebras, deer, and tigers — with views that would never be possible without huge risks and huge security budgets.
Where to find it? Amazon Instant Video, and PBS
The Planets (1999)
Episodes explore the solar system, the moon, the stars, and each specific planet. Learn about the celestial bodies that make up our tiny corner of the universe.
Where to find it? Amazon Instant Video
Wildest Arctic (2012)
This four-part documentary showcases the Russian taiga, Iceland, the tundra, and the Arctic Ocean. Learn about the plants and animals that make this ecosystem unique.
Where to find it? Netflix
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