Educational films
193–240 of 4,000 films, free to watch, from the world's open archives.
Where these films come from, and who sees what
Every film here plays from the archive that keeps it: the Internet Archive, Wikimedia Commons, the NASA Image and Video Library, the Library of Congress and Open Images (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision). Nothing is copied to this site. Each film's page names its archive, links to its page there, and states its licence or status as the archive does.
Archive films carry no age ratings, so each is placed from the collections it sits in and the subjects the archive gives it, cautiously. Sexual content and nudity are left out altogether.
| Little Ones | Films for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool. |
|---|---|
| Kids | Cartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature. |
| Tweens | Documentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures. |
| Teens | Everything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower. |
| Adult | Sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage. |
Internet Archive
Our Totem is the Raven
Dramatizes the ordeal of an Indian boy in his endurance and ritual ascent to manhood. Shows how Indian customs clash with twentieth-century values, by giving…
Internet Archive
The third pollution
Demonstrates principles of solid waste management. Describes the problems of collecting and disposing of refuse, garbage, and other solid wastes, and outlines…
Internet Archive
Spaces to live in.
Considers the organization and characteristics of planned spaces for community living in a study of the functional and aesthetic problems in the design of…
Internet Archive
Night of The Squid
Night of The Squid Reel 1 Reel 2 available here Traces the life cycle of the giant squid, and shows some of its antics and bizarre night life. Search…
Internet Archive
Kathak ( Dance of India )
Kathak ( Dance of India ) SummaryPresents Malabar's age - old dance drama, the gorgeous spectacle of Kathakali. Explains the meaning of the Kathakali gesture…
Internet Archive
It's an ill wind.
Principal scientist: Dr. Charles Hosler of The Pennsylvania State University Explores the problem of atmospheric pollution through an imaginary interstellar…
Internet Archive
A rite of passage
Producer, director, photography, John Marshall ; editors, Joyce Chopra, Timothy Asch, Frank Galvin Tilkay, a young boy of the Kalahari Desert, shoots his…
Internet Archive
A place of dreams: the National Air and Space Museum
From WorldCat: Explores the exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. and reveals the human stories and struggles behind many of the…
Internet Archive
The World at War 24 - The Bomb, February - Sept 1945
The World at War 24 - The Bomb, February - Sept 1945 Summary Discusses the first atomic bomb, used by President Truman in August, 1945, dropped on the city of…
Internet Archive
The Mystery of Stonehenge
Presents an account of Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone monument in England. Tests the theory that it was built as an observatory and computer
Internet Archive
Night on Bald Mountain
Night on Bald Mountain Uses shadow and pin - board animation to create the mood of the music of 'NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN,' by Moussorgsky. Produced by…
Internet Archive
Halloween Safety
This 11-minute, color film is designed to acquaint primary through intermediate students with Halloween safety. The film presents a little girl who has an…
Internet Archive
Tutankhamun: the immortal Pharoah.
Uses still photographs in presenting a brief history of the Tutankhamun treasures. Provides a view of the site of the tomb and scenes of the excavation.…
Internet Archive
The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth: 4--Jungle
The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth: 4--Jungle reel 2 As host David Attenborough descends a kapok tree in a tropical rain forest, he describes the…
Internet Archive
Any Place But Here
Examines the problems of the mentally ill in America and the people who try to help them. Provides an intimate look at the Creedmore Psychiatric Center in…
Internet Archive
Connections 5 -- the wheel of Fortune
Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Directors, Mick Jackson, David Kennard; writer, James Burke Host James Burke traces the connection…
Internet Archive
One Day at Teton Marsh
One Day at Teton Marsh SummaryDescribes the wildlife in a swamp where animals and birds are free and nature reigns supreme. Based on a book by Sally…
Internet Archive
Matrix
Additional credit: Produced under a research grant from IBM and Caltech Arts Program Running time: 05:47 Copyright date on film: 1970, Motion Graphics Inc…
Internet Archive
The sword and the flute
Uses Indian music and Moghul and Rajput miniature paintings in presenting four facets in the the thinking of India: the courtly life during the reign of the…
Internet Archive
Token economy: behaviorism applied.
Psychologist B. F. Skinner outlines his theories on the treatment of the mentally ill, criminals, and retardates, showing the successful application of these…
Internet Archive
Donald in Mathmagic Land
With guide Donald Duck learns the importance of mathematics from the early Greeks who discovered its basic principles. Sequences show how these principles…
Internet Archive
The Light Fantastick
Producer, Wolf Koenig; directors, Ruppert Glover, Michel Patenaude; narrator, Stanley Jackson; collaborating authority, Michel Patenaude; animator, Ishu…
Internet Archive
Curious George Goes To the Hospital
True to his name, Curious George's curiosity leads him on another adventure when he swallows a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. George is taken to hospital by the…
Internet Archive
The World at war.
British General Sir Richard O'Connor, commander of the Western Desert Forces, reminisces, blaming himself for the "error" of dividing the strength of his…
Internet Archive
Chesapeake borne
From WorldCat: Observes life along Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Shows how the bay and the region's main industry, crabbing,…
Internet Archive
The Women of Summer
The Women of Summer SummaryReveals that from 1921 to 1938, 1700 blue collar women participat./ia ma controversial and inspired educational experiment known as…
Internet Archive
Great Railway Journeys of The World Coast to Coast
Great Railway Journeys of The World Coast to Coast Reel 1 Writer Ludovic Kennedy reflects on the future of railways in North America at a time when passenger…
Internet Archive
Mythology of Greece and Rome
Examines the myths of Ancient Greece and Rome as stories about gods and man invented in an attempt to explain natural phenomena and man's behavior. Includes…
Internet Archive
Civil rights movement: the North
Adapted from the NBC News presentation entitled The American revolution of 1963 With teacher's guide Summary Depicts the tense ./iasphere of race relations in…
Internet Archive
Hellen Keller in her story
From Case: F- 50810 C -1 From WorldCat: Helen Keller plays herself as this film traces her career from birth to age seventy-six, showing in detail how the…
Internet Archive
Watercolor
With teacher's guide Illustrates the unique characteristics of watercolor as a painting medium and the many ways in which it may be used from simple pan…
Internet Archive
French Village
French title: Le Village--un village French conversations without subtitles or narration Presents a brief overview of various French lifestyles in both the…
Internet Archive
Theories on the origin of life
Author, Cyril Ponnamperuma Discusses four theories which explain the origin of life Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references…
Internet Archive
The Redwoods.
Surveys the future of a vanishing forest of Sequoia Sempervirens, a link to the age of the dinosaurs, a testament to nature's awesome power to create, and of…
Internet Archive
Roots: 6 -- The Choice
At Bell's persuasion, Toby becomes Dr. Reynold's driver. Grateful for all she has done for him, Kunta is drawn to Bell and marries her. A meeting with an…
Internet Archive
Nobody's victim
With teacher's guide Shows women how to cope with physical assault. Warns against dangerous situations, such as walking alone at night and driving alone, and…
Internet Archive
The Long Search: 3 -- Buddhism: Footprint of the Buddha
The Long Search: 3 -- Buddhism: Footprint of the Buddha, Reel 1 Reel 2 available here A look at how Buddhism is practiced in Sri Lanka and India. A religion…
Internet Archive
The Search for Ulysses
The Search for Ulysses Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryBritish sailor and scholar Ernle Bradford…
Internet Archive
America:5 -- Gone West
America:5 Gone West Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Presents Alistair./ia metadaexplains the…
Internet Archive
The Rise and fall of the Great Lakes.
With teacher's guide Also issued as videocassette Producer, Joseph Koenig; director, script writer, and photographer, William Mason; scientific advisor,…
Internet Archive
Case of the Bermuda Triangle
Also issued as videocassette Producer, Graham Massey Investigates the various myths, stories, and theories that describe and attempt to explain the…
Internet Archive
This year, next year, sometime
"Made with the cooperation of the Marlborough Day Hospital, St. John's Wood, London." Date is production date Summary Describes the work of Dr Joshua Bierer,…
Internet Archive
Nuclear Theory and Energy
Describes atomic nucleus reactions which release energy and thereby change the structure of matter itself. Tells how the radioactivity, nuclear fission, and…
Internet Archive
The Story of menstruation. Motion picture
Through animated drawings and diagrams explains the physiology of menstruation, suggests methods of care and hygiene, and encourages a healthy attitude toward…
Internet Archive
Angkor, the lost city
Commentator, Noel Stone Art director, Pierre L'Amare ; photographers, Don Wilder, Roger Moride, Roy Nolan
Internet Archive
Robotics: The Future Is Now!
Title from data sheet William Shatner High school through adults Introduces viewers to the amazing world of robotics. Focuses on the industrial robot,…
Internet Archive
Discovering texture
With study guide Explains that every surface has texture and that an object may have several textures. Points out that we learn about textures by touching the…
Internet Archive
The Day the Universe Changed: 4 Printing Transforms Knowledge
VHS Written and presented by James Burke; produced by the BBC and RKO Pictures Observes that the invention of printing and the advent of cheap paper forever…