Get ready for a speedy adventure! This BBC Learning Hub playlist, packed with clips from Grace’s Amazing Machines, takes students on a high-octane journey through land, sea, and sky. From gyrocopters and tugboats to superbikes and supercars, each video introduces a powerful machine — and the science that makes it move.
Perfect for teaching concepts like forces and motion, energy, friction, and transportation technology, these clips are a fun, fast-paced way to explore how things go, glide, float, and fly. Each video comes with discussion questions, hands-on activities, and more to help kids think, tinker, and learn like real engineers. Buckle up — it’s going to be a wild ride!
In Setting Sail With Columbus, host Andrew Marr introduces Columbus and the men who sailed with him on one of the first expeditions to find a trading route to Asia. The queen declared a reward for the first person to spot land, which ended up being what Columbus called the “New World.” This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Columbus in the New World, host Andrew Marr recounts how Christopher Columbus lands on the Bahamian island of Guanahani and decides to name it San Salvador. After meeting with the Indigenous people on the island, Columbus describes how he thinks he can claim the land for Spain, enslave the people, and convert them to Christianity. This kicks off a global gold rush. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Journey through India’s rich landscapes, vibrant cultures, and fascinating history in this captivating video collection. From the majestic Taj Mahal and bustling city streets of Jodhpur to the wild teak forests and flavorful samosa snacks, these videos bring India to life. Explore stories of legendary leaders like Ashoka and Gandhi, encounter curious langur monkeys, and dive into conversations around equality and tradition. Perfect for sparking global curiosity and cultural appreciation in your classroom!
In Communism vs. Capitalism During the Cold War Years, host Andrew Marr describes the post-World War II world, in which the United States and Soviet Union were in competition, as each country sought supremacy. While the U.S. capitalized on economic prosperity, space exploration and the arms race defined the Cold War era. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Genghis Khan's Ruthless Army, host Andrew Marr takes us to the early 13th Century. Genghis Khan’s army is in the midst of its ruthless military campaign to conquer land across Europe and Asia. As it attacks and takes over city after city, it adopts ideas and technology, which contribute to the army’s success in ruling such a large territory. After having conquered all that he could, Khan ushers in a period of prosperity and peace. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Islamic Advances in Math and Science Helped Update the Math of the World, host Andrew Marr takes us back to the 9th Century. The Islamic scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi and other scholars are using measurements and calculations to calculate the Earth’s circumference and create an updated map the Earth. Learn how the work of the Islamic scholars impacts today’s technology and mathematics. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In The Life of Ashoka, From Bloodshed to Buddhism, host Andrew Marr describes how Ashoka started his reign of the Mauryan Empire in India with a brutal conquest that killed 100,000 people. But after that bloodshed, Ashoka embraced Buddhism and worked to spread the peaceful philosophy across the ancient world. This included writing and sharing his Edicts, which have been called the first declaration of human rights. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Life in the Fertile Crescent, host Andrew Marr takes us back 16,000 years. The Earth is warming and modern life starts to take shape as people shift from hunting and gathering to farming. The first farmers in the Fertile Crescent figured out how to grow grains for food, which changed how they lived and what was possible for population growth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Mao Zedong’s Policies Devastated China During the Cultural Revolution, host Andrew Marr explains reveals that millions of people were targeted, killed, or “re-educated” during this time. One resistor, Deng Xiaoping, was exiled and his son tortured and disabled under Mao. They returned to China later to rise to power and merge capitalism and communism to reshape China’s future. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bombs and the End of World War II, host Andrew Marr describes how J. Robert Oppenheimer developed the technology to end World War II with two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombs were dropped, Oppenheimer calculated how to drop them to create the most damage. After the war was over, Oppenheimer felt conflicted about the creation of the bombs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Get ready for a speedy adventure! This BBC Learning Hub playlist, packed with clips from Grace’s Amazing Machines, takes students on a high-octane journey through land, sea, and sky. From gyrocopters and tugboats to superbikes and supercars, each video introduces a powerful machine — and the science that makes it move.
Perfect for teaching concepts like forces and motion, energy, friction, and transportation technology, these clips are a fun, fast-paced way to explore how things go, glide, float, and fly. Each video comes with discussion questions, hands-on activities, and more to help kids think, tinker, and learn like real engineers. Buckle up — it’s going to be a wild ride!
In Setting Sail With Columbus, host Andrew Marr introduces Columbus and the men who sailed with him on one of the first expeditions to find a trading route to Asia. The queen declared a reward for the first person to spot land, which ended up being what Columbus called the “New World.” This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Columbus in the New World, host Andrew Marr recounts how Christopher Columbus lands on the Bahamian island of Guanahani and decides to name it San Salvador. After meeting with the Indigenous people on the island, Columbus describes how he thinks he can claim the land for Spain, enslave the people, and convert them to Christianity. This kicks off a global gold rush. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Journey through India’s rich landscapes, vibrant cultures, and fascinating history in this captivating video collection. From the majestic Taj Mahal and bustling city streets of Jodhpur to the wild teak forests and flavorful samosa snacks, these videos bring India to life. Explore stories of legendary leaders like Ashoka and Gandhi, encounter curious langur monkeys, and dive into conversations around equality and tradition. Perfect for sparking global curiosity and cultural appreciation in your classroom!
In Communism vs. Capitalism During the Cold War Years, host Andrew Marr describes the post-World War II world, in which the United States and Soviet Union were in competition, as each country sought supremacy. While the U.S. capitalized on economic prosperity, space exploration and the arms race defined the Cold War era. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Genghis Khan's Ruthless Army, host Andrew Marr takes us to the early 13th Century. Genghis Khan’s army is in the midst of its ruthless military campaign to conquer land across Europe and Asia. As it attacks and takes over city after city, it adopts ideas and technology, which contribute to the army’s success in ruling such a large territory. After having conquered all that he could, Khan ushers in a period of prosperity and peace. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Islamic Advances in Math and Science Helped Update the Math of the World, host Andrew Marr takes us back to the 9th Century. The Islamic scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi and other scholars are using measurements and calculations to calculate the Earth’s circumference and create an updated map the Earth. Learn how the work of the Islamic scholars impacts today’s technology and mathematics. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In The Life of Ashoka, From Bloodshed to Buddhism, host Andrew Marr describes how Ashoka started his reign of the Mauryan Empire in India with a brutal conquest that killed 100,000 people. But after that bloodshed, Ashoka embraced Buddhism and worked to spread the peaceful philosophy across the ancient world. This included writing and sharing his Edicts, which have been called the first declaration of human rights. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Life in the Fertile Crescent, host Andrew Marr takes us back 16,000 years. The Earth is warming and modern life starts to take shape as people shift from hunting and gathering to farming. The first farmers in the Fertile Crescent figured out how to grow grains for food, which changed how they lived and what was possible for population growth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Mao Zedong’s Policies Devastated China During the Cultural Revolution, host Andrew Marr explains reveals that millions of people were targeted, killed, or “re-educated” during this time. One resistor, Deng Xiaoping, was exiled and his son tortured and disabled under Mao. They returned to China later to rise to power and merge capitalism and communism to reshape China’s future. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bombs and the End of World War II, host Andrew Marr describes how J. Robert Oppenheimer developed the technology to end World War II with two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombs were dropped, Oppenheimer calculated how to drop them to create the most damage. After the war was over, Oppenheimer felt conflicted about the creation of the bombs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.