The Ultimate Planet Earth Playlist
8 videosMarch 5, 2026, marks the 20th anniversary of premiere of BBC's Planet Earth. The breathtaking and award-winning documentary series, narrated by none other than Sir David Attenborough, highlights the natural wonders of our planet. In honor of this momentous occasion, we've put together some of the most popular clips from this beloved natural history show for students ages 8–14.
Get up close and personal with hydroplaning dolphins. Witness an iguana hatchling's terrifying race to survive, pursued by racer snakes. Watch the first steps of two polar bear cubs emerging from hibernation. More of the real-life magic of our blue marble awaits in this video playlist, part of our Planet Earth Collection. Grab your Planet Earth Passport and start exploring!
Lesson Express
Q: Why doesn’t the mother keep her cubs safely away from the ice?
A: She must hunt and eat seals, and the cubs follow her.
Q: Why do you think almost half of all polar bear cubs die in their first year?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may suggest that cubs fall into the water and freeze or drown or that they are hunted by other predators.
Q: What do you think would happen to the polar bears if the planet warms up enough to melt the Arctic ice earlier in the year?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may suggest that there won’t be enough ice for the mother to hunt when they come out of hibernation, and they will starve.
More Like This
In The Spawning of Herring, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how herring spawn and how their spawn impacts the ecosystem around them. Migrating birds, ducks, and even bears come to feed on the herring eggs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Mountain Slopes Provide Safety for Grizzly Bears, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a female grizzly emerging from her den after six months of dozing underground. Though the snowy mountain slopes are tough to navigate, they provide a sanctuary from male bears who could kill the cubs. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Changing Tide Means No Place to Hide, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores what happens to clams when the tide goes out in southeast Alaska, and how bears can take advantage of low tide. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Watch Polar Bears After Hibernation, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how a mother polar bear and her cub hunt after waking up from hibernation. Learn how a mother polar bear tries to find a seal under the ice. Watch a polar bear cub learn and play. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In The Spawning of Herring, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how herring spawn and how their spawn impacts the ecosystem around them. Migrating birds, ducks, and even bears come to feed on the herring eggs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Mountain Slopes Provide Safety for Grizzly Bears, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a female grizzly emerging from her den after six months of dozing underground. Though the snowy mountain slopes are tough to navigate, they provide a sanctuary from male bears who could kill the cubs. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Changing Tide Means No Place to Hide, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores what happens to clams when the tide goes out in southeast Alaska, and how bears can take advantage of low tide. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Watch Polar Bears After Hibernation, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how a mother polar bear and her cub hunt after waking up from hibernation. Learn how a mother polar bear tries to find a seal under the ice. Watch a polar bear cub learn and play. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.