The New York Times
Kiev in Chaos: Teaching About the Crisis in Ukraine
Provide a historical context for the political unrest between Russia and Ukraine that began in late 2013. Learners review their prior knowledge and chronicle new understandings with a KWL chart, watch a video explaining the Ukrainian...
TED-Ed
The Genius of Mendeleev's Periodic Table
The author-narrator refers to the periodic table of elements as a "massive slab of human genius," then goes on to explain Mendeleev's development of this foundational chemistry tool. Why was his version so much better than others that...
TED-Ed
SMU Commencement 2012
While being educated is undoubtedly a privilege, it also comes with great responsibility. Listen as former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice impresses upon her audience the responsibilities that members in a community of...
TED-Ed
Gyotaku: The Ancient Japanese Art of Printing Fish
An art form rich in cultural significance and historical ties, gyotaku is the ancient Japanese art of printing fish. Your class will not only learn about the competitive fishing culture of nineteenth century Japan and an important...
TED-Ed
On Being a Woman and a Diplomat
"There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other." Listen as former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright discusses her position as United States ambassador to the United Nations in the Gulf War, and makes a...
TED-Ed
Music and Creativity in Ancient Greece
Take a fascinating look into the many ways in which music played an absolutely integral role in the culture of ancient Greece. Rooted in ancient Greek mythology and the common medium through which all core disciplines were taught and...
TED-Ed
How Containerization Shaped the Modern World
"It's the reason we have a thriving global market place, offering us the infinite variety of things, and it's the reason we can move cargoes from remote parts of the world at minimal cost." Learn about how small-town truck driver Malcom...
TED-Ed
Who is Alexander von Humboldt?
Never heard of Alexander von Humboldt? Don't miss the opportunity to tell your class about "the most important forgotten man of science." The narrator describes an array of Humboldt's scientific accomplishments in his five-year journey...
TED-Ed
The Power of Introverts
One-third to one-half of the population are introverts, yet they are increasingly subjected to a culture where being social and outgoing are prized. And as author Susan Cain argues in this video, "When it comes to creativity and...
TED-Ed
Development of English Drama
From mystery plays to Shakespeare! Progress chronologically through the evolution of English drama, which began as a way for English clergymen in the eleventh century to illustrate biblical stories to the mass of illiterate commoners....
TED-Ed
Tales of Passion
What is feminism? Listen as renowned author and activist Isabel Allende champions the cause of passionate individuals, and in particular, women who have gone against the grain and challenged the status quo in order to make the world...
TED-Ed
The Story Behind the Boston Tea Party
The event in American history now known as the Boston Tea Party was really anything but a party. Discover how the tax on tea in pre-revolutionary America was seen by colonists as an infringement on their rights and livelihoods, and how...
TED-Ed
How Two Decisions Led Me to Olympic Glory
Steve Mesler's decisions to confront reality and make a change led him from setback and injury to an Olympic gold medal. As you share this video with your class, emphasize the profound effects of our ability to make confident decisions,...
TED-Ed
Fresh Water Scarcity: An Introduction to the Problem
Freshwater is not as plentiful as one might think! Explore how limited this fundamental resource is, how it is being used, and how shortages can be addressed. When you are teaching upper-elementary or middle school earth scientists about...
TED-Ed
The Infamous and Ingenious Ho Chi Minh Trail
The United States National Security Agency described it as one of "the great achievements in military engineering of the twentieth century. Support your classroom study of the Vietnam War with this brief but effective video, which...
TED-Ed
Four Sisters in Ancient Rome
What was leisurely life like for the young, wealthy women of ancient Rome? Though all records from the period were written by men, this video demonstrates that we are still able to construct some aspects of a woman's daily duties and...
TED-Ed
The Making of the American Constitution
What a fun way to learn about the making of the American Constitution! This video does a great job of describing the circumstances that existed for the delegates in Philadelphia in 1787, where in a just a few days, they would effectively...
TED-Ed
Biofuels and Bioprospecting for Beginners
The use of fossil fuels is contributing to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If we can produce fuels using cellulose-based ethanol, we may be able to remove carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Scientists are searching for a...
Crash Course
Crash Course Media Literacy #3: History of Media Literacy, Part 2
Jay continues our journey through the history of media literacy with the arrival of movies, television, and the other screens that now permeate our lives - along with some of the different approaches to media literacy that these...
Crash Course
Crash Course Literature #1: How and Why We Read
This seven minute video series of Crash Course Literature uses lively verbal explanations accompanied by entertaining visuals with a host who provides compelling examples of how and why people read.