I’ve been searching for ways to educate my kids outside the classroom this summer. Now, more than ever, it seems important to give children different perspectives on life and to teach them to be creative, courageous and resilient. I want them to be conscious, independent thinkers and good global citizens, to be inspired by great people and the beauty of our world. But how does a parent engage them in these topics without lecturing?
With movies.
Messages depicted in a good film sometimes resonate more deeply and have a greater impact than those in a book. I’ve noticed that Imax and planetarium programs, such as “Dinosaurs Alive!” and “Planet Nine” have had the same effect on my kids — exciting them about the vastness and diversity of our universe and encouraging trips to the library to learn more.
Below are 10 documentaries I want to share with my 9- and 7-year-old boys this summer. All are about an hour long, ideal for short attention spans.
After the film, we’ll talk about it. For anyone interested in doing something similar, Common Sense Media offers good discussion guides on many of these titles. Watch the previews before viewing these with your kids. Some topics may be sensitive.
• “Planet Earth,” 2006 (550 minutes). Narrated by David Attenborough (British version) and Sigourney Weaver (U.S. version), each 50-minute episode in this 11-part, Emmy-winning series features a dazzling portrait of a geographical region or wildlife habitat. The far-flung locations and impossible moments with some of the world’s most astonishing creatures can inspire respect for our planet.
• “Wings of Life ,” 2013 (80 minutes). Meryl Streep narrates this Disney documentary, which has the power to kindle children’s curiosity about the natural world. The cinematography captures the interconnectedness of butterflies, birds, bats and bees, and the film describes how one-third of the world’s food supply depends on these increasingly vulnerable pollinators.
• “National Geographic – Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West,” 2002 (42 minutes). This condensed narrative on a great story of perseverance and exploration features stunning photography and a stirring musical score. Grown-ups and kids will be swept up in this dramatic tale. At the end, you might be inspired to dream up your own adventure.
• “Biography: Susan B. Anthony,” 2005 (50 minutes). Absorbing re-enactments and interesting details help viewers understand what life was like for American women before Anthony’s half-century crusade, which advanced women’s suffrage. This documentary profiles a remarkable woman who exhibited strength through adversity and can help introduce a conversation with your kids on gender issues.
• “Brooklyn Bridge,”1981 (58 minutes). This early Ken Burns film brings to life the human factor behind the construction of the gorgeous architectural masterpiece beloved by New Yorkers and others, and still in use.
• “The Statue of Liberty,” 1985 (60 minutes). Also on the architecture front, Burns chronicles the construction history of this iconic landmark and discusses what liberty and freedom have meant to Americans over the past century. The film’s details, musical score and interviews with immigrants and well-known Americans illuminate timely themes.
• “What’s on Your Plate?” 2010 (76 minutes). Filmmaker Catherine Gund follows Sadie and Safiyah, two curious 11-year-olds, for a year as they pose questions to food activists, growers and distributors, and educate themselves on nutrition and food politics. This thought-provoking documentary might cause your kids to look more closely at the food on their plates and their own eating habits.
• “Spellbound,” 2002 (96 minutes). Eight dedicated young Americans vie for the title of National Spelling Bee champion in this film, which brings the realities of academic competition into focus. You’ll find it impossible not to root for your favorites as the field is narrowed from 250 contestants to one winner.
• “Paper Clips,” 2004 (83 minutes). To better comprehend the horrors of the Holocaust, the students of Whitwell, Tenn., take on an extraordinary project — collecting 6 million paper clips representing the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis. This documentary chronicles how the experience transformed not only the students, but the community, too.
• “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” 2014 (557 minutes). Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts this updated version of Carl Sagan’s award-winning TV 1980 series ” Cosmos,” which explores the history of the universe and our place in it. With unflagging enthusiasm, Tyson makes difficult concepts easy to understand and stresses that anyone with imagination can become the next scientific superstar.
