PBS
S. E. Hinton, Danny Boy O'Connor, and The Outsiders
Could your 16-year-old students write a novel? S.E. Hinton did! An engaging video reviews the setting and themes of Hinton's breakout novel The Outsiders through the perspective of hip-hop artist Danny Boy O'Connor, as well as the author...
PBS
The Call of the Wild
Jack London's books feature male characters, but that doesn't mean they're just for boys! Chelsea Clinton and Shanna Peeples discuss the underlying messages of love and sacrifice in The Call of the Wild, as well as the conflict of man...
PBS
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Is the Queen of Hearts a misunderstood monarch or an unchecked tyrant? A video from a series on villainous characters examines how Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland paints the Queen of Hearts as the ultimate...
TED-Ed
"New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus
Lady Liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants into the United States with her mighty flame and the immortal poem at her feet. Listen to a dramatic reading of "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, complete with illustrative animation, in...
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read "Hamlet"?
Romeo may appeal to more romantic students, but the broodier teenagers in your class are bound to relate to the melancholic, inward-facing Hamlet. Show an enthralling video that summarizes plot elements, characterization, and the...
VOA Learning English
Paul Bunyan, an American Folk Tale
Paul Bunyan was a big guy—but not as big as his story has grown to be! Young readers listen and read along to the enjoyable story of Paul Bunyan, his big blue ox Babe, and the amazing imprint they left along the American landscape.
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read “The Master and Margarita”?
The best Russian novel of the 20th century? The narrator of an interesting short video offers reasons why readers should tackle Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical comedy, The Master and Margarita.
TED-Ed
"The Opposites Game" by Brendan Constantine
Brendan Constantine's anti-gun poem, "The Opposites Game," comes to life in a short video that animates the poem as Constantine recites it.
TED-Ed
This One Weird Trick Will Help You Spot Clickbait
Here's a resource that will save you tons of money! Viewers learn how to spot clickbait by watching a short video that model how to assess a headline's credibility.
TED-Ed
The Chinese Myth of the White Snake and the Meddling Monk
The Chinese myth of Bai Su Zhen and her husband Xu Xian pits the pair against the meddling monk Fa Hai. Follow along with a short animated version of the story.
TED-Ed
Can You Spot the Problem with These Headlines? (Level 1)
What's the story behind the headlines for scientifically researched products? Viewers of a short video identify the fallacies in headlines designed to lure the unwary.
British Council
Romeo and Juliet
An engaging video featuring William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is accompanied by six activities designed to reinforce vocabulary, story elements, and comprehension. Scholars match words to pictures, place events in sequential order,...
British Council
Twelfth Night
Scholars experience Shakespeare's, Twelfth Night, with an engaging interactive. After watching the story, six activities extend the learning experience. Topics include characters, vocabulary, a sequence of events, comprehension, and...
British Council
William Shakespeare
After watching a three-minute video detailing the life of William Shakespeare, scholars take part in several activities designed to show what they know about the famous writer. Learners read a series of eight sentences and put them in...
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read “Crime and Punishment”?
Dostoevesky's Crime and Punishment is known as the first psychological thriller and a critique of 19th-century Russian society. The narrator of a hauntingly bleak video sets forth a case for reading the infamous novel.
TED-Ed
The Chinese Myth of the Immortal White Snake
Do you believe in true love? Could you love a monster? What would you sacrifice for someone you love? An ancient Chinese myth poses these cosmic questions in a retelling of "The Myth of the Immortal White Snake."
TED-Ed
The Aztec Myth of the Unlikeliest Sun God
How did the sun arrive in the sky? Learners watch a short film that describes the myth of Nanahuatl, a weak Aztec god who sacrificed himself to become the fifth sun for his people.
TED-Ed
"Accents" by Denice Frohman
Denice Frohman's poem "Accents" becomes a visual and auditory feast for viewers as they watch an animated interpretation of her powerful poem.
TED-Ed
Titan of Terror: The Dark Imagination of H.P. Lovecraft
Science fiction and horror story geeks will love a carefully crafted video about H.P. Lovecraft. Those new to the Cthulhu Mythos and "Lovecraftian" fiction are introduced to the Great Old Ones, Yog-Sothoth, and Azathoth.
TED-Ed
"First Kiss" by Tim Seibles
Viewers have an opportunity to not only hear Tim Seibles read his poem "First Kiss" but to watch animations provided by a team of artists as well.
TED-Ed
The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen
More than 15 of Jane Austen's novels have been adapted into films. While viewers enjoy the lush sets, period costumes, and the depictions of eighteenth-century British gentry, what is often lost in these adaptations is Austen's satire. A...
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read Virginia Woolf?
Afraid to read Virginia Woolf? Check out a short video that presents arguments for why you should read the works of this famous writer.
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read Sci-Fi Superstar Octavia E. Butler?
Introduce science fiction fans to writer Octavia E. Butler with a short video that argues for why readers should add her works to their must-read list.
Poetry4kids
How to Rhyme – a Video Poetry Writing Lesson
A host details what does and does not rhyme in an informative video that focuses on creating words for a poem. He provides examples and discusses how rhyming makes a difference in tone and purpose.