The Ultimate Planet Earth Playlist
March 5, 2026, marks the 20th anniversary of premiere of BBC's Planet Earth (and it's just in time for Earth Day on April 22, too!). 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 Opportunity for Animals as the Tides Ebb and Flow, narrator Sir David Attenborough examines how the Moon’s impact on the Earth and the tides create opportunity for animals, like the bottlenose dolphins who move into shallow waters at high tide to feast on mullets. 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 On the Hunt with Sea Lions, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how the sea lions of the Galapagos Islands use the rough and barren coastline to their advantage, enticing their prey into a cove. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In A Sea Otter Comeback, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how sea otters were hunted and almost became extinct, as well as why they are an important part of the ocean ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In Opportunity for Animals as the Tides Ebb and Flow, narrator Sir David Attenborough examines how the Moon’s impact on the Earth and the tides create opportunity for animals, like the bottlenose dolphins who move into shallow waters at high tide to feast on mullets. 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 On the Hunt with Sea Lions, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how the sea lions of the Galapagos Islands use the rough and barren coastline to their advantage, enticing their prey into a cove. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In A Sea Otter Comeback, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how sea otters were hunted and almost became extinct, as well as why they are an important part of the ocean ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.