In today’s post, I am thrilled to introduce a collection of YouTube channels that will significantly enrich your social studies instruction. Whether you’re a teacher looking for engaging content to share with your students or a student yourself, these channels cover a comprehensive range of topics within the social studies curriculum, including economics, history, geography, civics, and sociology.
YouTube Channels for Social Studies
From detailed explorations of historical events to in-depth analyses of economic principles, these channels provide a wealth of information that can both educate and inspire.
1. CrashCourse
CrashCourse is an amazing educational YouTube channels that offers educational video content covering a wide range of topics from biology to history. Content is created for students and teachers and you can use it in class to boost classroom learning and enhance comprehension.
Some of its social studies playlists include US Government and Politics, Psychology, Economics, Intellectual Property, Sociology, Geography, Public Health, Outbreak Science, Linguistics, and more.
2. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is another great YouTube channel for studies studies and beyond. It offers educational video content specifically designed to help students take their learning to the next level.
Some of its social studies playlists include: American Civics, The Postwar Era (1945-1980), Rise to World Power, The Civil War Era, World History, Earth Geological and Climatic History, Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply, Income and expenditure, Inflation, Basic Economics Concepts, The Monetary System, and many more.
3. National Geography
You can’t go wrong with National Geographic, one of the best YouTube channels that helps students explore and learn about our planet and beyond. Drawing on the expertise of wodlx -class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo brings you unique educational content ideal for use with students in class. Topics covered include Cosmos, animals, oceans, world geography, solar system, science, and many more.
4. RealLifeLore
Real Life Lore is another interesting social studies YouTube Channel. It offers short informative videos covering numerous social studies topics including:history, demography, geography, aviation, space, ocean, natural disasters, and more.
It also features video answers to various challenging questions included in playlists such as Insane Plans, Unsolved Mysteries, Extreme Survival Stories, Real Life Game of Thrones, weird Stories, Bad Geography Issues, Danger Demography, among others.
5. TED Ed
I am a big fan of TED Ed and TED and I have been recommending their work to teachers and parents almost since its launch around 2012. TED Ed features videos created by teachers and students and illustrated by professional artists tacking different topics and learning issues.
You can also create your own TED Ed style videos to share with your students. TED Ed YouTube channel is home to hundreds of educational video content ideal for use in social studies classes.
I have already curated some of this video content into several lists including TED Ed riddles, TED Ed Greek Mythology, TED Ed Science videos, TED Ed videos on critical thinking, and TED Ed videos on language learning.
6- Mr.Beat’s Social Studies Channel
This social studies channel is created by a teacher called Mr.Beat in which he provides a wide variety of video content related to social studies. He makes engaging educational videos and uses music in almost all of his videos.
5- Geography Now
Geography Now offers educational video content on world geography.The goal of the channel is to “cover profiles on every single country of the world” which is such an amazing to achieve. Playlists cover the geography of countries in Europe, Africa, East and south Asia, Central and Western Asia, South America, North and Central America, and Oceania.
6. NowThis World
NowThis World features topical explainers covering issues from all around the world. The channel explores current stories in international news, highlight powerful countries and ideologies, covers news on influential leaders and ongoing global conflicts.
7- Alternate HistoryHub
How about you like at history form al alternate perspective asking the question what if things took a different course, for instance, what if World War II did not take place, what if America lost the Revolution, what if Reagan was never president, and so forth. Alternate History Hub features educational what if videos to engage students in debating historical topics from a critically different perspective.
8. Simple History
Engaging animated videos that simplify key historical events, making complex topics like wars, revolutions, and societal changes easy to understand for students of all ages.
9. Oversimplified
Humorous, light-hearted animations that break down major historical events, such as World Wars and political revolutions, while adding a fun twist to help keep viewers entertained and informed.
10. PBS Eons
A deep dive into the history of life on Earth, exploring everything from ancient creatures to significant paleontological discoveries in a visually engaging way.
11. The Armchair Historian
Animated videos providing in-depth analysis of historical events, offering explanations of military strategies, political decisions, and their long-term impact on the world.
12. The History Channel
A well-known source for documentaries on major global events, figures, and turning points in history, offering a wide range of content on wars, civilizations, and significant moments.
13. PBS LearningMedia
Provides a comprehensive collection of educational videos on history, civics, and social studies topics. Ideal for students and educators, it offers materials that support curriculum and enhance classroom discussions.
14. The Great War
Offers a detailed, chronological narrative of World War I, featuring weekly episodes that dive into battles, strategies, and key figures, making the complexities of the war more accessible.
15. Timeline – World History Documentaries
Features in-depth documentaries on global historical events, covering key moments and figures from ancient civilizations to modern history.
16. Kings and Generals
Focuses on military history through well-researched, animated videos, covering battles, campaigns, and strategies from ancient to modern times. Ideal for those interested in detailed military analysis.
Final thoughts
I hope you have found this collection of social studies YouTube channels useful for enhancing your instructional materials or deepening your personal knowledge. These channels offer a diverse array of content that touches on various aspects of social studies, from economics and history to geography and civics. They serve as valuable resources for bringing complex concepts to life through engaging and informative video content. Feel free to explore these channels and perhaps discover new ways to integrate them into your teaching or learning process.
