Exploring Countries of Asia: A Video Journey
Discover five Asian countries through short, engaging videos from the BBC
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with a virtual trip across Asia! Students in Grades 3–8 will explore China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Indonesia through engaging BBC videos that highlight each nation's geography, landmarks, culture, and wildlife.
As they watch, students can take notes, sketch ideas, or discuss what stands out. Then, they can use a country report template to organize and share their learning. Try assigning each group a different country to present, or create a gallery walk so students can learn from one another.
It’s a simple, flexible way to build curiosity and global awareness — check back next year for more countries to explore!
Start With the Country Report Printable
Invite your students to pick a country, watch the videos, and complete this report!
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.
China
In A Shifting Skyline in Shanghai, a photographer describes his photography project that captures the dramatic change in the Shanghai skyline over the last 20 years. This video is excerpted from BBC's Generation Earth, in which presenter Dallas Campbell explores how humans have changed Earth in one generation.
In Chunwan: The World’s Biggest Stage, performers have prepared for a year to participate in the largest televised event in China. The Chunwan, or Chinese Spring Festival Gala, is a collection of amazing acts. It is televised to the entire country and is watched by billions of people. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In High Altitude Living in China, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how only a few animals are adapted to survive winter on the high mountain slopes. Watch a giant panda munch on bamboo and a group of golden snub-nosed monkeys huddle for warmth. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In A Shifting Skyline in Shanghai, a photographer describes his photography project that captures the dramatic change in the Shanghai skyline over the last 20 years. This video is excerpted from BBC's Generation Earth, in which presenter Dallas Campbell explores how humans have changed Earth in one generation.
In Chunwan: The World’s Biggest Stage, performers have prepared for a year to participate in the largest televised event in China. The Chunwan, or Chinese Spring Festival Gala, is a collection of amazing acts. It is televised to the entire country and is watched by billions of people. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In High Altitude Living in China, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how only a few animals are adapted to survive winter on the high mountain slopes. Watch a giant panda munch on bamboo and a group of golden snub-nosed monkeys huddle for warmth. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Japan
In The Ritual of Bonsai, a bonsai sensei enjoys the ritual and tradition of cultivating bonsai trees. This video is excerpted from BBC's Extraordinary Rituals, a documentary produced by BBC Natural History that explores how humans mark major life moments through ceremonies and traditions.
In A Hierarchy of Japanese Macaques, these monkeys native to Japan are trying to survive the harsh Japanese winter. They seek out a thermal spa, then primate politics comes into play. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In The Ritual of Bonsai, a bonsai sensei enjoys the ritual and tradition of cultivating bonsai trees. This video is excerpted from BBC's Extraordinary Rituals, a documentary produced by BBC Natural History that explores how humans mark major life moments through ceremonies and traditions.
In A Hierarchy of Japanese Macaques, these monkeys native to Japan are trying to survive the harsh Japanese winter. They seek out a thermal spa, then primate politics comes into play. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
South Korea
In A South Korean Sesame Salmon Surprise, explore South Korea, known for its beautiful mountains and big cities. Hannah is preparing a salmon dish using sesame seeds as her secret ingredient! She also introduces her friends to chopsticks and shares a bit about South Korea's love for kite flying and kimchi. Will her friends enjoy the salmon and eating with chopsticks? This video is excerpted from BBC's My World Kitchen, where young chefs create special recipes that honor their heritage and celebrate their roots.
In A South Korean Sesame Salmon Surprise, explore South Korea, known for its beautiful mountains and big cities. Hannah is preparing a salmon dish using sesame seeds as her secret ingredient! She also introduces her friends to chopsticks and shares a bit about South Korea's love for kite flying and kimchi. Will her friends enjoy the salmon and eating with chopsticks? This video is excerpted from BBC's My World Kitchen, where young chefs create special recipes that honor their heritage and celebrate their roots.
India
In Majuli: A River Island in India, learn about Majuli, the largest river island in Assam. It’s a busy place that’s an example of how Indian people work with each other and the natural world. This video is from the BBC’s Hidden India, in which presenter Geraldine James explores India’s diverse environments.
In The Langur Monkeys of Jodphur, narrator Sir David Attenborough visits India where an alpha langur monkey fights off a troop of bachelors across the rooftops in Jodphur. The monkeys thrive in this urban environment because they are fed by people, who revere them for their connection to a Hindu god. This has resulted in a large population increase. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Majuli: A River Island in India, learn about Majuli, the largest river island in Assam. It’s a busy place that’s an example of how Indian people work with each other and the natural world. This video is from the BBC’s Hidden India, in which presenter Geraldine James explores India’s diverse environments.
In The Langur Monkeys of Jodphur, narrator Sir David Attenborough visits India where an alpha langur monkey fights off a troop of bachelors across the rooftops in Jodphur. The monkeys thrive in this urban environment because they are fed by people, who revere them for their connection to a Hindu god. This has resulted in a large population increase. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Indonesia
In How Banded Sea Kraits Team Up to Hunt narrator Sir David Attenborough describes an amazing case of underwater cooperation taking place in Indonesia's coral reefs. The venomous banded sea krait works together with larger fish to hunt smaller fish. Watch their rare, coordinated approach to the hunt! This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How Banded Sea Kraits Team Up to Hunt narrator Sir David Attenborough describes an amazing case of underwater cooperation taking place in Indonesia's coral reefs. The venomous banded sea krait works together with larger fish to hunt smaller fish. Watch their rare, coordinated approach to the hunt! This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.