PBS
When Giant Deer Roamed Eurasia
Megaloceros was one of the largest members of the deer family ever to walk the Earth. The archaeological record is full of evidence that our ancestors lived alongside and interacted with these giant mammals for millennia. But what...
Crash Course
Pan's Labyrinth: Crash Course Film Criticism
In 2006, a movie took on authoritarianism and the violent aftershocks of the Spanish Civil War—all through the eyes of an innocent young girl and the fairy tale world she discovers in the woods. Pan's Labyrinth is both a beautifully...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: How did Dracula become the world's most famous vampire? - Stanley Stepanic
Over a hundred years after his creator was laid to rest, Dracula lives on as the most famous vampire in history. But this Transylvanian noble _ neither the first fictional vampire, nor the most popular of his time _ may have remained...
Bedtime History
The Mystery of the Yeti: Legends of the Himalayas
New ReviewDeep in the snowy mountains of the Himalayas lives one of the world’s most famous mysteries—the Yeti. Also called the “Abominable Snowman,” this legendary creature has appeared in stories told by local people for centuries. Some describe...
Curated Video
Legend of the Yeti: History of Mythical Creature for Kids
New ReviewDeep in the snowy mountains of the Himalayas lives one of the world’s most famous mysteries—the Yeti. Also called the “Abominable Snowman,” this legendary creature has appeared in stories told by local people for centuries. Some describe...
Bedtime History
Elves: From Folklore to Fantasy
New ReviewElves have taken many forms across cultures and centuries. In early Norse and Germanic myths, they were powerful and mysterious beings connected to nature and magic. Some were seen as helpful spirits, while others were blamed for illness...
PBS
Who Is This Japanese Yōkai That Is Obsessed With Your Butt?
New ReviewWhat looks like a reptile-amphibian hybrid, has a dish shaped skull, smells like fish, is child-like and out to steal your crops and drown your livestock? The Japanese water yokai, Kappa.
PBS
How a Classic Children’s Book Introduced Kids (and Adults) to Their Inner Demons
New ReviewAs a kid, the monsters in Where the Wild Things Are were downright frightening. But thinking about the book as an adult, it’s clear there’s something deeper to this fantastically monstrous story.
PBS
A Giant Monster With a Giant Problem
New ReviewIn this episode, we explore the legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong, its groundbreaking special effects, and the complex racial and colonial undertones that continue to shape our understanding of this timeless classic.
PBS
Is This North American Sea Serpent Real or a Hoax?
New ReviewMany say that the waters of America’s Northern coasts are home to an elusive sea serpent of legend. Named Caddy! Or Cadborosaurus, for long. Sightings and testimonials go back generations. Who is Caddy? And why are serpentine water...
PBS
Lost in the Backrooms: Exploring the Internet's Creepiest Liminal Space
New ReviewEver felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling? Welcome to The Backrooms, a digital folklore phenomenon that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, exploring the eerie and uncanny through playful, yet terrifying,...
PBS
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
New ReviewYou're walking home, a little tipsy, guided only by the moonlight. Suddenly, you sense something watching you: an unnervingly large owl with a human face! This is La Lechuza, a malevolent witch-owl from Tejano and Mexican folklore.
PBS
How The Internet Created Its Own Viral Monster
New ReviewA grainy 2007 video from Fresno, California, sparked an internet phenomenon—the Fresno Nightcrawlers. From cryptid lore to viral fame, this video explores how a 20-second clip turned into a legend, inspiring countless theories, debates,...
PBS
The Hat Man And The Shadow People
New ReviewCountless people claim to have seen the Hat Man—a shadowy figure in a wide-brimmed hat—while experiencing sleep paralysis, bringing on an overwhelming sense of dread. Why do so many people, throughout time and across different cultures,...
PBS
Nosferatu Is Dracula…Maybe
New ReviewWhy do vampires shift from terrifying to seductive and back again? Let's explore the long history of the vampire’s transformation—from monstrous fiend to gothic heartthrob—and what it says about our fears, desires, and identity. Sexy…...
PBS
The Terrifying Reign of the Beast of Gevaudan
New ReviewBetween 1764 and 1767, a mysterious creature terrorized the French countryside, leaving over 100 dead. Was it a monstrous wolf, a cryptid, or something more sinister? This is the chilling true story of the Beast of Gévaudan — a real-life...
PBS
The Most Puzzling UFO Case of the 20th Century
New ReviewIn 1952, a terrifying creature was spotted in Flatwoods, West Virginia — a 10 feet tall creature with glowing eyes, a spade-shaped head, and cloaked in a metal skirt. Was it an alien, a Cold War experiment, or mass hysteria?
PBS
King Kong pt. 2
New ReviewSince his 1933 movie debut, King Kong’s impact on our culture has been persistent. For nearly a century, Kong’s story has changed to reflect, and sometimes comment on, our society’s issues with racism, sexism, and fear of the unknown....
PBS
Why Does A Ghost Whale Terrorize The Japanese Coast?
New ReviewLore of the ghostly whale skeleton, Bake-kujira, brings an ominous twist to stories of the revered marine giants in Japan. The entity is an omen of misfortune that emerged during the rise of industrial whaling in the 20th century. Is it...
Curated Video
Learning a story to retell it
Pupil outcome: I can sequence and retell the fairy tale 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. Key learning points: - Fairy tales are fiction stories about magical and imaginary beings and lands. - Fairy tales belong to the genre of folklore...
Curated Video
Engaging with the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon'
Pupil outcome: I can understand the context of ‘How to Train Your Dragon'. Key learning points: - ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is an illustrated chapter book. - The text draws influences from Viking history, Norse mythology and folklore. -...
Curated Video
Understanding the genre of 'Anansi and the Antelope Baby'
Pupil outcome: I can explain what a folktale is. Key learning points: - 'Anansi and the Antelope Baby' is an African folktale. - Folktales belong to the genre of folklore in which oral stories are shared, adapted and passed down over...
Curated Video
Including context when writing about Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Pupil outcome: I can include relevant contextual ideas in my writing when exploring the character of Puck in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Key learning points: - Shakespeare was writing for an Elizabethan audience. - The ideas, characters...
Curated Video
Exploring the character of Puck in Acts 2 and 3 of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Pupil outcome: I can explain how the character of Puck is presented and how audiences might respond to him, focusing on his actions in Acts 2 and 3 of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Key learning points: - In Elizabethan folklore, the word...