YouTube is a great free resource, but not every channel is safe or well done. These are the ones we keep coming back to, sorted by subject.

In these two videos I share 20 of our favorite channels and how we use them in our homeschool.

A quick note before you press play: I still recommend previewing new videos and turning off autoplay, so one good video doesn’t turn into ten random ones. Some of the channels marked Not faith-based may reference evolution at times. We use these as jumping-off points for further conversation, along with any other content that may pop up.

Library last updated October 16, 2026

Each pick is marked Faith-based (made from a Christian perspective) or Not faith-based.

Science, Nature & Agriculture

MythBusters show image

We’ve watched

MythBusters (2003–2016)

Science series · Episodes about 47 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman put popular myths, urban legends and movie moments to the scientific test.

Great for studying: engineering, experiments, scientific method

Katie’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Nat Geo Kids YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Nat Geo Kids

YouTube channel · Videos about 24 min

Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary

Not faith-based

Animals, nature and science.

Great for studying: animals, nature, science

Katie’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

SciShow Kids YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

SciShow Kids

YouTube channel · Videos about 8 min · No new videos since 2025

Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary

Not faith-based

Kid-sized answers to big science questions.

Great for studying: experiments, how things work, science questions

Katie’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

History & Historical Events

Smithsonian Channel YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Smithsonian Channel

YouTube channel · Videos about 3 min · No new videos since 2024

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Short documentaries on history, nature and more.

Great for studying: history, nature, short documentaries

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Content notes for parents

Some recent videos cover topics like LGBTQ+ history and beer making, so you may want to preview.

The History Guy YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

The History Guy

YouTube channel · Videos about 18 min

Suggested ages: Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Short stories from forgotten history.

Great for studying: forgotten history, military history, stories

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cross Seven YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Cross Seven

YouTube channel · Videos about 5 min · No new videos since 2022

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school

Not faith-based

Short history videos made by kids.

Great for studying: history, kid-made videos

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Drive Thru History show image

We’ve watched

Drive Thru History

History series · Episodes about 12 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Faith-based

Host Dave Stotts speeds through ancient civilizations, the Holy Land and the founding of America, telling the stories that shaped our world and the Christian faith.

Great for studying: American history, ancient civilizations, Holy Land

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Geography & World Cultures

Carmen Sandiego (classic) show image

We’ve watched

Carmen Sandiego (classic)

Classic series · Episodes about 21 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school

Not faith-based

Classic Carmen Sandiego geography adventures: track the world’s greatest thief around the globe.

Great for studying: geography, mysteries, world cultures

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Rick Steves’ Europe show image

We’ve watched

Rick Steves’ Europe (2000–present)

Travel series · Episodes about 25 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Travel writer Rick Steves explores the history, culture and sights of Europe, one destination at a time.

Great for studying: Europe, history and culture, travel

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Geography Now YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Geography Now

YouTube channel · Videos about 18 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Profiles of every country in the world, from its geography to its people and culture.

Great for studying: countries, cultures, world geography

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Engineering, Technology & Inventions

Mark Rober YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Mark Rober

YouTube channel · Videos about 21 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Engineering and science builds and experiments from a former NASA engineer.

Great for studying: engineering, inventions, science experiments

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mathematics, Logic & Problem-Solving

Numberphile YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Numberphile

YouTube channel · Videos about 14 min

Suggested ages: Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Videos about numbers and math, for older kids.

Great for studying: math puzzles, mathematicians, numbers

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Language Arts & Literacy

Spanish Academy TV YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Spanish Academy TV

YouTube channel · Videos about 10 min · No new videos in about 4 years

Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Spanish lessons for all ages and levels.

Great for studying: Spanish, world languages

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reading Rainbow show image

On my watchlist

Reading Rainbow (1983–2006)

Live-action series · Episodes about 30 min

Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary · Upper elementary

Not faith-based

Each episode explores a featured children’s book through stories and on-location adventures to encourage a love of reading.

Great for studying: books, reading, stories

Not yet personally rated

Economics, Business & Entrepreneurship

Two Cents show image

We’ve watched

Two Cents

Web series (PBS) · Episodes about 7 min

Suggested ages: Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

A short PBS show that explains personal finance and everyday money choices.

Great for studying: budgeting, money, personal finance

Katie’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Cool Careers show image

We’ve watched

Cool Careers

Video series · Episodes about 3 min

Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Short HirePaths videos about careers kids can pursue after high school.

Great for studying: careers, life after high school, trades

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Health, Nutrition & Life Skills

Jack Hartmann YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Jack Hartmann

YouTube channel · Videos about 4 min

Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary

Not faith-based

Movement songs for counting, letters and more.

Great for studying: counting, letters, movement songs

Katie’s Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

PE Bowman YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

PE Bowman

YouTube channel · Videos about 5 min

Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary

Not faith-based

Interactive PE workouts.

Great for studying: movement, PE, workouts

Katie’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Little Sports YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Little Sports

YouTube channel · Videos about 18 min

Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary

Not faith-based

Simple exercises kids can do at home.

Great for studying: exercise, movement

Katie’s Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars

Dad, How Do I? YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Dad, How Do I?

YouTube channel · Videos about 11 min

Suggested ages: Middle school · High school

Not faith-based

Practical how-to skills, taught by a dad.

Great for studying: home repair, how-to, life skills

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Music, Arts & Creative Careers

MetKids YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

MetKids

YouTube channel

Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary

Not faith-based

Short videos from The Met museum about art, with hands-on art projects and #MetKids Microscope episodes on the science behind artworks.

Great for studying: art, art projects, museums

Katie’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Bible, Theology & Church History

Answers in Genesis YouTube channel image

We’ve watched

Answers in Genesis

YouTube channel · Videos about 32 min

Suggested ages: Middle school · High school

Faith-based

Creation and apologetics from a biblical worldview.

Great for studying: apologetics, biblical worldview, creation

Katie’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Character & Virtues

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood show image

On my watchlist

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (1968–2001)

Live-action series · Episodes about 28 min

Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary

Not faith-based

Fred Rogers gently helps young children understand their feelings, try new things and learn about the world around them.

Great for studying: everyday life, feelings, kindness

Not yet personally rated

More videos, shows & audio

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