Featured History/Global Studies Resources
Videos
In Making Friends, only child Eve enjoys playing with her peers, but after moving to a new school it’s been difficult to find friends to play with in her area. When a friend from choir arranges a “play date,” Eve is excited and anxious. Will her friend come on time? What will her friend think of her? This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World According to Kids, a series in which children between the ages of six and 11 across the United Kingdom share what they think of the world.
In Julia Gillard, Education Advocate, listen as the former Australian Prime Minister reflects on her leadership and her work to expand education opportunities for girls worldwide. Drawing from her family’s experience with poverty and limited schooling, she advocates for equal access to education while facing criticism and gender bias during her political career. This video is excerpted from BBC's Her Story: The Female Revolution, which explores the history and impact of women’s rights movements and achievements of women.
In The Secrets of a Police Dog’s Training, host Ferne Corrigan meets Scooby, the amazing springer spaniel police dog with a nose that's better than any human! Scooby wears a special harness and booties to help keep him safe while working, and to show everyone that he's on the job. Ferne Corrigan gets to watch Scooby at police dog school, where he uses his sniffing skills to find a suitcase with a secret scent hidden inside. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My Pet and Me, a children’s show that introduces kids to the rewards and responsibilities involved when having a pet.
In Going to School in a War Zone, host Radzi Chinyanganya uncovers harsh realities of living and going to school in Afghanistan, a country that has been embroiled in conflict for decades. This video focuses on the impact of the war on students' education, with a special emphasis on Mohammad's account of life in a war zone where the sound of gunfire and the presence of tanks are a daily occurrence. The episode explores the challenges students face, including the dangers they encounter at school, the fear of being caught in crossfire, and the emotional toll of attending school in such conditions. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In Making Friends, only child Eve enjoys playing with her peers, but after moving to a new school it’s been difficult to find friends to play with in her area. When a friend from choir arranges a “play date,” Eve is excited and anxious. Will her friend come on time? What will her friend think of her? This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World According to Kids, a series in which children between the ages of six and 11 across the United Kingdom share what they think of the world.
In Julia Gillard, Education Advocate, listen as the former Australian Prime Minister reflects on her leadership and her work to expand education opportunities for girls worldwide. Drawing from her family’s experience with poverty and limited schooling, she advocates for equal access to education while facing criticism and gender bias during her political career. This video is excerpted from BBC's Her Story: The Female Revolution, which explores the history and impact of women’s rights movements and achievements of women.
In The Secrets of a Police Dog’s Training, host Ferne Corrigan meets Scooby, the amazing springer spaniel police dog with a nose that's better than any human! Scooby wears a special harness and booties to help keep him safe while working, and to show everyone that he's on the job. Ferne Corrigan gets to watch Scooby at police dog school, where he uses his sniffing skills to find a suitcase with a secret scent hidden inside. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My Pet and Me, a children’s show that introduces kids to the rewards and responsibilities involved when having a pet.
In Going to School in a War Zone, host Radzi Chinyanganya uncovers harsh realities of living and going to school in Afghanistan, a country that has been embroiled in conflict for decades. This video focuses on the impact of the war on students' education, with a special emphasis on Mohammad's account of life in a war zone where the sound of gunfire and the presence of tanks are a daily occurrence. The episode explores the challenges students face, including the dangers they encounter at school, the fear of being caught in crossfire, and the emotional toll of attending school in such conditions. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
Printables
To help your students dive deeper into the article content, we created this bundle of article response worksheets. We designed these worksheets to be used with any magazine article and to keep students focused as they read and enhance comprehension and retention. (Please note that some worksheet types are better fits for certain content and grade levels). Assign students the same one, mix them up, or let them choose!
To help your students dive deeper into the video content, we created this bundle of video response worksheets. We designed these worksheets to be used with any video and to keep students focused as they watch and enhance comprehension and retention. (Please note that some worksheet types are better fits for certain content and grade levels). Assign students the same one, mix them up, or let them choose!
Turn your classroom into a global exploration hub! This country report template invites students in Grades 3–8 to become curious investigators — uncovering what makes each country unique and sharing their discoveries in creative ways.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the resource includes two approachable formats:
- Snapshot Style: A lively, visual option that’s perfect for quick learning or younger students. Learners can sketch, label, and highlight key features — like flags, landmarks, foods, and traditions — while building confidence with short responses.
- Explorer Style: A more in-depth format for students ready to dig deeper. It guides learners through topics such as geography, wildlife, culture, and history, helping them organize ideas and develop clear, informative writing.
Best of all, this template pairs seamlessly with BBC videos — bringing countries to life through real-world sights, sounds, and stories. Students can watch, wonder, and then weave what they’ve learned into their own reports.
Quick Teacher Tips: Use country studies as a springboard into wider learning across subjects:
- Geography: Map skills, climate zones, landforms, and ecosystems
- Language Arts: Informational writing, summarizing, note-taking, and presenting
- History: Key events, timelines, and how the past shapes the present
- Math: Population comparisons, distances, currency conversions
- Arts & Culture: Traditional patterns, music, celebrations, and food
- Current Events: Tie in informational reading and media literacy by exploring what’s happening in that country today in an age-appropriate way.
This mini biography template is a flexible, engaging tool designed to help students in Grades 3–8 explore the lives of important historical figures. With sections like Best Known For, Important Life Events, Challenges and Obstacles, Memorable Quote, and Legacy and Achievements, students are guided to think beyond basic facts and develop a deeper understanding of a person’s impact.
This template can be used with any historical figure and pairs especially well with video-based research. Encourage students to explore our BBC video library to gather key details, hear stories in context, and build stronger connections to the people they’re studying.
Here are a few ways you can use this template in your classroom:
- Celebrate special months: Have students research and complete biographies for influential figures during observances like Women’s History Month or Black History Month.
- Scientist spotlights: Use the template to profile important scientists, inventors, or innovators throughout history.
- “Living museum” projects: Have students complete the template, then present their figure in a short first-person speech or display as part of a classroom museum exhibit.
To help your students dive deeper into the article content, we created this bundle of article response worksheets. We designed these worksheets to be used with any magazine article and to keep students focused as they read and enhance comprehension and retention. (Please note that some worksheet types are better fits for certain content and grade levels). Assign students the same one, mix them up, or let them choose!
To help your students dive deeper into the video content, we created this bundle of video response worksheets. We designed these worksheets to be used with any video and to keep students focused as they watch and enhance comprehension and retention. (Please note that some worksheet types are better fits for certain content and grade levels). Assign students the same one, mix them up, or let them choose!
Turn your classroom into a global exploration hub! This country report template invites students in Grades 3–8 to become curious investigators — uncovering what makes each country unique and sharing their discoveries in creative ways.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the resource includes two approachable formats:
- Snapshot Style: A lively, visual option that’s perfect for quick learning or younger students. Learners can sketch, label, and highlight key features — like flags, landmarks, foods, and traditions — while building confidence with short responses.
- Explorer Style: A more in-depth format for students ready to dig deeper. It guides learners through topics such as geography, wildlife, culture, and history, helping them organize ideas and develop clear, informative writing.
Best of all, this template pairs seamlessly with BBC videos — bringing countries to life through real-world sights, sounds, and stories. Students can watch, wonder, and then weave what they’ve learned into their own reports.
Quick Teacher Tips: Use country studies as a springboard into wider learning across subjects:
- Geography: Map skills, climate zones, landforms, and ecosystems
- Language Arts: Informational writing, summarizing, note-taking, and presenting
- History: Key events, timelines, and how the past shapes the present
- Math: Population comparisons, distances, currency conversions
- Arts & Culture: Traditional patterns, music, celebrations, and food
- Current Events: Tie in informational reading and media literacy by exploring what’s happening in that country today in an age-appropriate way.
This mini biography template is a flexible, engaging tool designed to help students in Grades 3–8 explore the lives of important historical figures. With sections like Best Known For, Important Life Events, Challenges and Obstacles, Memorable Quote, and Legacy and Achievements, students are guided to think beyond basic facts and develop a deeper understanding of a person’s impact.
This template can be used with any historical figure and pairs especially well with video-based research. Encourage students to explore our BBC video library to gather key details, hear stories in context, and build stronger connections to the people they’re studying.
Here are a few ways you can use this template in your classroom:
- Celebrate special months: Have students research and complete biographies for influential figures during observances like Women’s History Month or Black History Month.
- Scientist spotlights: Use the template to profile important scientists, inventors, or innovators throughout history.
- “Living museum” projects: Have students complete the template, then present their figure in a short first-person speech or display as part of a classroom museum exhibit.
Leveled Student Articles
The article "What Was It Like to Be a Kid in the Middle Ages?" from BBC's HistoryExtra explores what life was like for children during the Middle Ages. The article highlights how children's lives were shaped by age, gender, class, and religion. It also reveals surprising facts about literacy, mortality rates, and how children played, worked, and were disciplined.
The article "The Declaration of Independence: A Revolutionary Document and Its Unfinished Promise" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains the origins and content of the Declaration of Independence, which declared the American colonies free from British rule. The document outlined grievances against King George III and promised freedom and equality, yet it ignored key groups like enslaved people and Native Americans.
The article "Who Really Built the White House? The Hidden Story Behind America’s Presidential Home" from BBC's HistoryExtra explores the creation of the White House, from George Washington’s vision to James Hoban’s design. It highlights how enslaved people and immigrant craftsmen built the home, revealing the untold history behind one of America’s most iconic buildings.
The article "9/11: Two Decades Later" from BBC's HistoryExtra is a reflection on the lasting impacts of the September 11 attacks. It explores whether 9/11 genuinely altered the course of global history, shaping U.S. foreign policy, the "war on terror," and global security. Despite its undeniable effect on U.S. politics, the article questions whether 9/11 was a defining moment in the broader context of geopolitical changes, particularly in relation to China and the Middle East.
The article "What Was It Like to Be a Kid in the Middle Ages?" from BBC's HistoryExtra explores what life was like for children during the Middle Ages. The article highlights how children's lives were shaped by age, gender, class, and religion. It also reveals surprising facts about literacy, mortality rates, and how children played, worked, and were disciplined.
The article "The Declaration of Independence: A Revolutionary Document and Its Unfinished Promise" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains the origins and content of the Declaration of Independence, which declared the American colonies free from British rule. The document outlined grievances against King George III and promised freedom and equality, yet it ignored key groups like enslaved people and Native Americans.
The article "Who Really Built the White House? The Hidden Story Behind America’s Presidential Home" from BBC's HistoryExtra explores the creation of the White House, from George Washington’s vision to James Hoban’s design. It highlights how enslaved people and immigrant craftsmen built the home, revealing the untold history behind one of America’s most iconic buildings.
The article "9/11: Two Decades Later" from BBC's HistoryExtra is a reflection on the lasting impacts of the September 11 attacks. It explores whether 9/11 genuinely altered the course of global history, shaping U.S. foreign policy, the "war on terror," and global security. Despite its undeniable effect on U.S. politics, the article questions whether 9/11 was a defining moment in the broader context of geopolitical changes, particularly in relation to China and the Middle East.