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

Katie recommends
The Magic School Bus (1994–1997)
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Ms. Frizzle and her class take wild field trips on a magical school bus to explore science up close.
Great for studying: field trips, how things work, science
Read Parent Review of The Magic School Bus on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (The Magic School Bus) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
Zoboomafoo (1999–2001)
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Not faith-based
Zoboo the talking lemur and the Kratt brothers introduce young kids to hundreds of real animals at Animal Junction.
Great for studying: animals, nature
Read Parent Review of Zoboomafoo on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (WildBrain) (Zoboomafoo) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
MythBusters (2003–2016)
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
Read Parent Review of MythBusters on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (MythBusters) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
Nat Geo Kids
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Animals, nature and science.
Great for studying: animals, nature, science

We’ve watched
SciShow Kids
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 recommends
Learn Bright
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Fun, accurate educational videos on science, holidays, history and more, made with homeschool families in mind.
Great for studying: holidays, science, social studies

On my watchlist
SciGirls (2010)
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Real tween girls put science and engineering to work in their everyday lives, with a new investigation each episode.
Great for studying: engineering, investigations, STEM
Read Parent Review of SciGirls on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (SciGirls) (opens in a new tab)
History & Historical Events

We’ve watched
Smithsonian Channel
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
Content notes for parents
Some recent videos cover topics like LGBTQ+ history and beer making, so you may want to preview.
Visit the channel (Smithsonian Channel) (opens in a new tab)

Katie recommends
Homeschool Pop
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Elementary lessons on lots of subjects, from a homeschool dad.
Great for studying: geography, history, science

Katie recommends
Liberty’s Kids (2002–2003)
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Two teenage reporters cover the American Revolution for Ben Franklin’s newspaper, showing both the American and British points of view.
Great for studying: American Revolution, colonial America, founding fathers
Read Parent Review of Liberty’s Kids on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (WildBrain) (Liberty’s Kids) (opens in a new tab)

Katie recommends
WORLD Watch News
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school
Faith-based
A 10-minute news show with a Christian worldview.
Great for studying: current events, news, world events
Visit the channel (WORLD Watch News) (opens in a new tab)Official site for WORLD Watch News (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
The History Guy
Suggested ages: Middle school · High school
Not faith-based
Short stories from forgotten history.
Great for studying: forgotten history, military history, stories

We’ve watched
Cross Seven
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Short history videos made by kids.
Great for studying: history, kid-made videos

We’ve watched
Drive Thru History
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

We’ve watched
TED-Ed
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school · High school
Not faith-based
Animated lessons on almost anything, great for older kids.
Great for studying: animated lessons, big ideas, science
Read Parent Review of TED-Ed on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Visit the channel (TED-Ed) (opens in a new tab)

Katie recommends
Crash Course
Suggested ages: Middle school · High school
Not faith-based
Courses on history, science, literature and more, for older kids.
Great for studying: literature, science, world history
Geography & World Cultures

We’ve watched
Carmen Sandiego (classic)
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
Watch on YouTube (WildBrain) (Carmen Sandiego (classic)) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
Rick Steves’ Europe (2000–present)
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
Read Parent Review of Rick Steves’ Europe on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (Rick Steves’ Europe) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
Geography Now
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
Engineering, Technology & Inventions

We’ve watched
Mark Rober
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

On my watchlist
Design Squad
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Real kid engineers team up with the hosts to take on hands-on design and building challenges.
Great for studying: building, design challenges, engineering
Read Parent Review of Design Squad on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (Design Squad) (opens in a new tab)
Mathematics, Logic & Problem-Solving

Katie recommends
Numberblocks
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Not faith-based
Early math with friendly block characters.
Great for studying: counting, early math, numbers
Read Parent Review of Numberblocks on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Visit the channel (Numberblocks) (opens in a new tab)

Katie recommends
Numberock
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Catchy animated math songs.
Great for studying: math facts, math songs, multiplication

We’ve watched
Numberphile
Suggested ages: Middle school · High school
Not faith-based
Videos about numbers and math, for older kids.
Great for studying: math puzzles, mathematicians, numbers

We’ve watched
Math Antics
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Clear, step-by-step math lessons, from basic arithmetic and fractions to geometry.
Great for studying: fractions, geometry, math lessons
Visit the channel (Math Antics) (opens in a new tab)Official site for Math Antics (opens in a new tab)
Language Arts & Literacy

Katie recommends
Alphablocks
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Not faith-based
Letter sounds and early phonics.
Great for studying: early reading, letter sounds, phonics
Read Parent Review of Alphablocks on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Visit the channel (Alphablocks) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
Spanish Academy TV
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

On my watchlist
Reading Rainbow (1983–2006)
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
Read Parent Review of Reading Rainbow on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (Reading Rainbow) (opens in a new tab)
Economics, Business & Entrepreneurship

We’ve watched
Two Cents
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

We’ve watched
Cool Careers
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
Watch on YouTube (HirePaths) (Cool Careers) (opens in a new tab)
Health, Nutrition & Life Skills

We’ve watched
Jack Hartmann
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Not faith-based
Movement songs for counting, letters and more.
Great for studying: counting, letters, movement songs

We’ve watched
PE Bowman
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Interactive PE workouts.
Great for studying: movement, PE, workouts

We’ve watched
Little Sports
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Not faith-based
Simple exercises kids can do at home.
Great for studying: exercise, movement

We’ve watched
Dad, How Do I?
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
Music, Arts & Creative Careers

We’ve watched
Art for Kids Hub
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Step-by-step drawing for all ages.
Great for studying: drawing, step-by-step art
Read Parent Review of Art for Kids Hub on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Visit the channel (Art for Kids Hub) (opens in a new tab)

We’ve watched
MetKids
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
Bible, Theology & Church History

Katie recommends
Seeds Kids Worship
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary · Upper elementary
Faith-based
Scripture set to music.
Great for studying: Bible memory, Scripture songs, worship

We’ve watched
Answers in Genesis
Suggested ages: Middle school · High school
Faith-based
Creation and apologetics from a biblical worldview.
Great for studying: apologetics, biblical worldview, creation

We’ve watched
Ligonier Ministries
Suggested ages: Middle school · High school
Faith-based
Clear, faithful Bible teaching rooted in the historic Christian faith, including R.C. Sproul’s teaching series and sermons.
Great for studying: Bible teaching, R.C. Sproul, theology
Visit the channel (Ligonier Ministries) (opens in a new tab)Official site for Ligonier Ministries (opens in a new tab)
Character & Virtues

On my watchlist
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (1968–2001)
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
Read Parent Review of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Watch on YouTube (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood) (opens in a new tab)
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