The article "10 Remarkable Desert Plants That Survive in the Harshest Places on Earth" from BBC's Discover Wildlife is an exploration of extraordinary plant species uniquely adapted to life in deserts. Highlighting everything from the ancient date palm to the fog-harvesting tara tree and water-storing saxaul, the article showcases the ways that desert flora thrive in places with extreme heat, dryness, or even cold.
In The Survival Strategies of Bedbugs, host Harith Iskander dives into the fascinating survival strategies of Cimex Lectularius, commonly known as bedbugs. These tiny insects, about the size of an apple seed, rely on human blood to reproduce and are highly attuned to their environment. With an excellent sense of smell, bedbugs can detect over 100 compounds found in human skin and are drawn to carbon dioxide and even dirty laundry. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Got Science? a science magazine series that explores and explains science in everyday life.
In How Walruses and Polar Bears Survive in the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows walruses gathered on low-lying islands, where they nurse their young after giving birth on sea ice. Meanwhile, a male polar bear, weakened after seven days at sea and having lost half his weight over the summer, swims ashore in search of food. However, the massive walruses, the largest seals in the world with tusks over 3 feet (1 meter) long, prove to be a tough challenge. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How Musk Oxen Survive in the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough showcases musk oxen in the Arctic and their adaptations for survival in harsh conditions. The musk oxen can break through the frozen ground to access vegetation, creating opportunities for other animals like Arctic foxes and various birds. Calves are birthed early, allowing them to acclimate to their environment before summer arrives. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Survival of Majungasaurus, naturalist Steve Backshall details the lengths that this type of dinosaur had to go to in order to survive, including cannibalism.This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
In A Gecko’s Survival Tale, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the Brazilian pygmy gecko, a rainforest creature so tiny it could rest on your fingertip! This speedy little gecko has amazing survival tricks, like hydrophobic skin that keeps it dry and the ability to stand on water. Even in the face of a rainstorm, this gecko’s lightweight and clever moves help it thrive in its wild and watery home. 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 Pebble Toad’s Survival Tactic, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the tiny pebble toad from Venezuela that's smaller than a stamp! Living high in the rocks, it faces a unique danger — a toad-eating tarantula. Like the waterfall toad, the pebble toad can’t jump far enough to escape, so it uses a clever trick: it free-falls down the rocks, making its body stiff like a rubber ball, bouncing safely to the ground! This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
March 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!
In Shackleton’s Endurance: Leadership in the Face of Adversity, host Dermot O’Leary recounts Ernest Shackleton’s heroic leadership in Antarctica. With their ship, the Endurance, trapped in Antarctic ice, Shackleton and his crew embarked on an extraordinary journey of survival. Shackleton was an iconic leader, demonstrating remarkable courage and resilience. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Hatching Penguin Chicks, narrator Sir David Attenborough visits the southern end of the Earth, where male emperor penguins endure the coldest conditions on the planet while protecting their eggs. The fathers, who have been fasting for months, feed their newly hatched young one last time before the long-awaited return of the females. With bellies full of fish, the mothers call out to identify their mates and reunite with their chicks. The fathers must reluctantly surrender their young, ensuring their survival as the Antarctic winter begins to ease. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Brave the chill and meet the coolest creatures on Earth! This playlist of 11 frosty video clips from BBC landmark shows like Frozen Planet and Planet Earth explores how animals survive some of the coldest places on the planet. Students will learn about adaptations, seasonal behaviors, and the survival strategies that help bison, foxes, seals, grizzlies, snow monkeys, polar bears, lynx, and more thrive in freezing climates.
They’ll discover how winter weather shapes each animal’s daily life; how they find food, conserve energy, protect themselves from predators; and why these icy habitats play a vital role in Earth’s systems.
Discover the wild side of the underwater world in this video playlist! Meet the ocean's most unusual characters — from glowing anglerfish and toothy piranhas to spiky lionfish and balloon-like pufferfish. These 10 short clips from BBC favorites like Deadly 60 and Blue Planet reveal the surprising ways these strange fish hunt, hide, and survive. Packed with fun facts and jaw-dropping moments, it’s perfect for curious kids and adults alike!
The article "10 Remarkable Desert Plants That Survive in the Harshest Places on Earth" from BBC's Discover Wildlife is an exploration of extraordinary plant species uniquely adapted to life in deserts. Highlighting everything from the ancient date palm to the fog-harvesting tara tree and water-storing saxaul, the article showcases the ways that desert flora thrive in places with extreme heat, dryness, or even cold.
In The Survival Strategies of Bedbugs, host Harith Iskander dives into the fascinating survival strategies of Cimex Lectularius, commonly known as bedbugs. These tiny insects, about the size of an apple seed, rely on human blood to reproduce and are highly attuned to their environment. With an excellent sense of smell, bedbugs can detect over 100 compounds found in human skin and are drawn to carbon dioxide and even dirty laundry. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Got Science? a science magazine series that explores and explains science in everyday life.
In How Walruses and Polar Bears Survive in the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows walruses gathered on low-lying islands, where they nurse their young after giving birth on sea ice. Meanwhile, a male polar bear, weakened after seven days at sea and having lost half his weight over the summer, swims ashore in search of food. However, the massive walruses, the largest seals in the world with tusks over 3 feet (1 meter) long, prove to be a tough challenge. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How Musk Oxen Survive in the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough showcases musk oxen in the Arctic and their adaptations for survival in harsh conditions. The musk oxen can break through the frozen ground to access vegetation, creating opportunities for other animals like Arctic foxes and various birds. Calves are birthed early, allowing them to acclimate to their environment before summer arrives. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Survival of Majungasaurus, naturalist Steve Backshall details the lengths that this type of dinosaur had to go to in order to survive, including cannibalism.This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
In A Gecko’s Survival Tale, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the Brazilian pygmy gecko, a rainforest creature so tiny it could rest on your fingertip! This speedy little gecko has amazing survival tricks, like hydrophobic skin that keeps it dry and the ability to stand on water. Even in the face of a rainstorm, this gecko’s lightweight and clever moves help it thrive in its wild and watery home. 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 Pebble Toad’s Survival Tactic, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the tiny pebble toad from Venezuela that's smaller than a stamp! Living high in the rocks, it faces a unique danger — a toad-eating tarantula. Like the waterfall toad, the pebble toad can’t jump far enough to escape, so it uses a clever trick: it free-falls down the rocks, making its body stiff like a rubber ball, bouncing safely to the ground! This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
March 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!
In Shackleton’s Endurance: Leadership in the Face of Adversity, host Dermot O’Leary recounts Ernest Shackleton’s heroic leadership in Antarctica. With their ship, the Endurance, trapped in Antarctic ice, Shackleton and his crew embarked on an extraordinary journey of survival. Shackleton was an iconic leader, demonstrating remarkable courage and resilience. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Hatching Penguin Chicks, narrator Sir David Attenborough visits the southern end of the Earth, where male emperor penguins endure the coldest conditions on the planet while protecting their eggs. The fathers, who have been fasting for months, feed their newly hatched young one last time before the long-awaited return of the females. With bellies full of fish, the mothers call out to identify their mates and reunite with their chicks. The fathers must reluctantly surrender their young, ensuring their survival as the Antarctic winter begins to ease. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Brave the chill and meet the coolest creatures on Earth! This playlist of 11 frosty video clips from BBC landmark shows like Frozen Planet and Planet Earth explores how animals survive some of the coldest places on the planet. Students will learn about adaptations, seasonal behaviors, and the survival strategies that help bison, foxes, seals, grizzlies, snow monkeys, polar bears, lynx, and more thrive in freezing climates.
They’ll discover how winter weather shapes each animal’s daily life; how they find food, conserve energy, protect themselves from predators; and why these icy habitats play a vital role in Earth’s systems.
Discover the wild side of the underwater world in this video playlist! Meet the ocean's most unusual characters — from glowing anglerfish and toothy piranhas to spiky lionfish and balloon-like pufferfish. These 10 short clips from BBC favorites like Deadly 60 and Blue Planet reveal the surprising ways these strange fish hunt, hide, and survive. Packed with fun facts and jaw-dropping moments, it’s perfect for curious kids and adults alike!