My Solution: History and Movies: A HUGE List!

After years of trial and error (and some seriously questionable movie choices that had me scrambling for the remote), I finally got smart and created a comprehensive guide. History and Movies: A HUGE list! It’s everything I wish I’d had when I started this journey.

This 13-page guide covers movies from the 1750s to the 2020s, and I’ve done all the hard work for you. Each movie includes:

•  The historical time period so you can match it to what you’re studying

• Age ratings (because nobody wants to accidentally traumatize their 8-year-old)

• Where you can actually watch it (streaming info that’s actually useful!)

• Whether it’s based on facts, a documentary, or adapted from a novel
• My notes on educational value

Whether you’re homeschooling, just want to make family movie nights more meaningful, or you’re a teacher looking for something to spice up your history lessons, this guide will save you SO much time and research.

 Grab History and Movies: A HUGE list, now! Trust me, it’ll save you hours of googling “good historical movies for kids” at 10 PM.

Making the Most of What You Already Have

Did you know that Amazon Prime members have access to thousands of movies, documentaries, and TV shows for free? I mean, you’re probably already paying for Prime anyway for the shipping, right? Might as well use it for education, too!

Pro tip: If you have a college student at home, get Prime Student instead. When our daughter was in college, we paid for her student account and got all the same benefits at a lower price. Win-win! Prime gives students a
6-month trial for $0! 18-24 year-olds and students enjoy full Prime benefits and 5% cash back. (After trial, auto-renews at $7.49/month)

Here’s what you get with Prime:

•  Over 40,000 movies and TV episodes (seriously, it’s overwhelming in the best way)

• Kindle Owners’ Lending Library for related books

• Free two-day shipping (which is clutch when you need those last-minute school supplies)

• Parental controls that actually work

Other Streaming Options That Don’t Break the Bank

Netflix has become one of my go-to educational resources. Their historical documentaries are fantastic, and the parental controls let me set up separate profiles for each kid. No more worrying about them accidentally clicking on something inappropriate.

YouTube is free and has some absolute gems, but it requires more supervision. Some of my favorites:

•  Crash Course – these videos are engaging and perfect for teens

• TED-Ed – short, animated lessons that don’t feel like “school”
• National Geographic – because who doesn’t love a good documentary?
  

I put together a whole list of educational YouTube channels in my “10 YouTube Channels to Supplement Your Homeschool” post if you want more options.

RightNow Media is something a lot of people don’t know about. Check with your church – they may already be subscribed! If they do, you get access to over 15,000 Bible studies, thousands of kids’ programs, and conferences you can watch from your couch in your pajamas. It’s been a game-changer for our family.

How to Actually Make This Work (Without Losing Your Mind)

Okay, so you can’t just throw on a historical movie and call it school. I learned that the hard way. Here’s what I’ve found actually works:

Before You Hit Play:

•  Check your History and Movies guide for the historical background

• Ask your kids what they already know about the time period

• Set expectations – this isn’t just movie time, it’s learning time

• Maybe grab some popcorn (learning should be fun, right?)

While You’re Watching

•  Don’t be afraid to pause and discuss

• Point out cool details like costumes and settings

• Let older kids take notes if they want to

• Ask questions about what’s happening and why

After the Credits Roll

•  Talk about what was real vs. what was Hollywood drama

• Look up the real people if the movie was based on true events

• Check out related books or documentaries

• Maybe do a fun project like creating a timeline

Finding Even More Resources

I’ve been collecting movie resources for years on my Homeschooling with Movies Pinterest board. It’s full of blog posts, printable activities, and more movie suggestions than you’ll ever get through. Seriously, I might have a slight obsession with historical films.

You’ll find things like:

•  Movies sorted by age group (because not all historical films are created equal)

• Discussion questions you can actually use

• Book recommendations that go with the movies

• Fun activities to extend the learning

The Mom Truth About Screen Time and Safety

Look, I’m going to be real with you here. We are responsible for knowing what our kids are watching. Just because a movie is “educational” doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for every age. I’ve made some mistakes here (hello, accidentally showing my 10-year-old a very graphic war movie), and I don’t want you to make the same ones.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

•  Always, ALWAYS check the rating first

• Read reviews from other parents (Common Sense Media is your friend)

• Set up those parental controls and use them

• Preview movies yourself when you’re unsure

• Remember that historical films often deal with heavy topics

The good news? Most streaming services have pretty good parental controls these days. Use them. Your future self will thank you.

Why This Matters

Here’s the thing – our kids are growing up in a world where history can feel disconnected and irrelevant. But when they can see and feel what people went through, when they can understand the human stories behind the dates and events, history becomes real.

I’ve watched my kids develop genuine empathy for people from different time periods. They ask better questions. They think more critically about what they’re learning. And honestly? They actually enjoy learning about history now.

Ready to Get Started?

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment to start incorporating movies into your learning routine. Grab your copy of History and Movies: A HUGE list!

Your kids are going to watch screens anyway – why not make it count? Trust me, once you see how engaged they become with history through movies, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to try this.

The best part? You get to learn right along with them. I’ve discovered so many fascinating historical events and people through this journey. It’s been one of those rare wins where everyone in the family benefits.

So grab some popcorn, cozy up on the couch, and get ready to time-travel through history. Your kids (and your sanity) will thank you for it!