Age of Exploration Videos for Students
Do you need Age of Exploration videos that have been vetted for 5th grade and middle school students? Teachers don’t have time for videos with false information or unexpected swear words. (We barely have time for bathroom breaks.)
In order to take one thing off teachers’ plate, I am compiling lists of excellent kid-friendly history videos.
Here are 5 Age of Exploration videos for students that you can feel good using in your classroom. (Pssst read until the end for a free graphic organizer perfect for your Age of Exploration video note-taking!)
1. The Atlantic Slave Trade: TED-Ed
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Ted Ed’s compelling and quick summary of the Atlantic Slave Trade
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6 minutes
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My rating: age 9+
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Notes: The animation is excellent and the narration is concise and easy to follow. This would be a great introductory video for teaching about the Atlantic Slave Trade.
2. The Columbian Exchange: Crash Course World History
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John Green’s quirky explanation of the Columbian Exchange (the exchange of diseases, animals, plants and people between the New World and the Old World)
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12 minutes
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My rating: age 12+ (John Green discusses the spread of syphilis and calls vodka an aphrodisiac )
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Notes: John Green talks fast, so turn on the subtitles and slow down the speed to .75.
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Need more than a video? My 2 week Age of Exploration Unit has a great interactive notebook activity about the Columbian Exchange.
3. Maya, Aztec, & Inca: MrBettsClass
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Teacher Mr. Betts’ song parody about 3 pre-Columbian civilizations (Maya, Aztec, and Inca)
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3 minutes
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My Rating: age 10+
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Notes: Use this video as a fun way to end a study of pre-Columbian civilizations.
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Need more than a video? My 2 week Age of Exploration Unit has a 2-day lesson about this topic.
4. How was North America settled before European colonization: Gilder Lehrman
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Historian Peter Mancall explains who lived in America before Columbus “discovered” it
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2 minutes
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My rating: age 12+ (some difficult vocabulary used, definitely turn on the subtitles)
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Lesson Idea: Ask your students how many people they think lived in America before the Europeans came. Then, use this short video as the answer and a launching point for a discussion.
5. America Before Columbus (2009): National Geographic
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National Geographic’s documentary investigates the cultures of pre-Columbian Native Americans, European Explorers, and their interactions
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1 hour 30 min.
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My rating: age 10+
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Notes: I don’t think the above link is officially provided by National Geographic so it may be taken down at any time.
Free Video Note-taking Worksheet
What is the best way to keep students accountable while watching these Age of Exploration videos? I’ll let you in on a little secret: You do not always have to type up a list of questions.
This ABC graphic organizer worksheet is a no-prep but effective way for students to take notes.
How it works:
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Students watch the video closely and listen for key terms that fit different letters of the alphabet. Challenge students to fill in as many as they can!
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(Hints: Turn on the video subtitles. Consider printing a transcript of the video to help struggling students).
Want a FREE Map Lesson for teaching about European Colonization of the Americas?
In this lesson, students map the key areas of the Americas that were colonized by the English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Spanish and compare their locations and relative size.
The second part of the lesson is about how the political boundaries of colonies have changed over time (Did you know that Delaware was claimed by Sweden and the Netherlands before it became a British colony?). Your students will love studying these mesmerizing animated maps.
Enter your email below to grab your free Colonization of the Americas lesson!
More Resources for Teaching about the Age of Exploration
Although Age of Exploration videos are engaging for students, they are just one piece of the instructional puzzle. You may also be interested in Age of Exploration primary sources and a free Columbian Exchange lesson (it involves food!).
Do you want to save yourself even more time? Check out my Age of Exploration Unit. Here is a recent review from a teacher who used the Age of Exploration Unit:
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