Good morning! It is the end of 2023 and I am doing the normal end-of-the-year review stuff and top 10 Lists. This year is my Top 10 Documentaries for 2023. This list will feature documentaries that were talked about in 2023 Only. All of these documentaries were a single episode in length. That said I did want to include the 2022 Top 10 Documentaries list just as a refresher for the year.
The usual disclaimer, this list is my opinion only and should be taken with a grain of salt. The purpose of this list is to help teachers, substitute teachers, and continuing learning lovers to help further learning select something to use for the classroom. 2022 Top 10 Documentaries 1. 100 Years on the Lincoln Highway - YouTube 2. Pearl Harbor: The Hunt for the USS Arizona - YouTube 3. The Secret Diary of the Holocaust - YouTube 4. Beatrix Potter - YouTube 5. Birthplace of the Confessor - YouTube 6. The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube 7. Diva Mummy - YouTube 8. Hunting for Mammoth - YouTube 9. *Clive Staples Lewis: The Lost Poet Of Narnia - YouTube 10. Wreck of the Spanish Armada - YouTube 2023 Top 10 Documentaries 1. Colosseum - YouTube (1:28:18) The Colosseum was Rome’s greatest monument. However, it is now under threat. A team of restorationists and historians come together to save the Colosseum. It was where heroes were made and then broken. Many came to witness the drama that took place within its wall. Beneath and grime, secrets are being revealed. What can this restoration tell us about the Colosseum? What will the restored Colosseum look like? *Highly recommended for a history and STEM classroom.* 2. Eva - YouTube (56:09) “Eva” explores Eva Mozes Kor a survivor of the Mengle Twin Experiment. Eva was sent to Birkenau as a child and in 1984 she and her twin sister visited the camp. She went with a tape recorder to recall her experience. When entering the camp, her mother and father were taken from her and her twin. She would never see her mother again. Eva promised her mother that she would tell the story of what happened to them. *HIGHLY recommended for a high school world history class.* 3. King George III: Genius of a Mad King: YouTube (58:56) King George III's papers were digitized and this documentary shows historians poring over his papers, learning more about this misunderstood monarch. His papers reveal a remarkable man. He was a king engaged with his kingdom. He tried to avoid arguments to prevent his fits of madness. I created an assignment that would allow students to use his papers to explore more of the life of this misunderstood king. *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom, both American and World history. Highly recommended for independent study students.* 4. The Only Empress of China - YouTube (48:02) Wu Zetian is one of the most controversial rulers of China. She was a concubine who rose to become Empress of China. She was the only woman who ruled China. She led China for 50 years. The Chinese officials under her were scathing in their criticism. However, historians and archeologists are uncovering evidence that challenges that assertion. *Recommend for middle school and high school classrooms. Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.* 5. Ivan the Terrible: Russia's First Tsar - YouTube (52:23) He was orphaned as a child. He was brought up in a system of political violence. He liberates Russia from foreign leaders. He committed his first murder at the age of thirteen. He was the first Tsar of Russia. Was he a harsh ruler who demanded absolute loyalty? Or was he an intellectual? Who is the real Ivan the Terrible? A criminal profiler looks for those answers. Additionally, Ivan’s face will be reconstructed during this documentary. *Highly recommended for a high school history class and for research purposes.* 6. First Flight: The Race to Create the World's First Flying Machine - YouTube (52:49) In 1903, the Wright Brothers made the first motorized flight. Or did they? This documentary talks about the controversy surrounding this claim. Aviation expert, John Brown explores this controversy and puts for the claim that Gustave Whitehead was the one that made the first flight. It is a claim that outrages many. Was Gustave Whitehead a genius or a person discredited by his rivals? Who kick-started the age of aviation? *Recommended for use in an American history classroom.* 7. The Lost City of Gold - YouTube (50:15) The Inca ruled South America for years. They were the people of the sun. They built grand cities. Eventually, they would be destroyed by the Spanish in their quest for gold. David Adams is on a search for a lost city of gold. These were cities that were never sacked by the Spanish. Perhaps hidden in these jungles is the legendary “Great Sun Disk of the Incas.” Will David Adams find this lost city, tune into this episode to find out. *Recommended for a high school and middle school history classroom.* 8. Nancy Wake - YouTube (1:07:47) Nancy Wake was the Allied Forces’ most daring spy. She was the Gestapo’s most wanted woman in World War II and was codenamed “The White Mouse.” She came from New Zealand and was a drop-dead gorgeous woman. She traveled to France and became a journalist. Nancy struck up many friendships with journalists who protected her as she reported. She enjoyed life in Paris and the Rivera. Nancy was a woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it. *Recommended for a history classroom and independent study students.* 9. The Last Days of Marie Antoinette - YouTube (1:44:10) Marie Antoinette would go down in history as France’s tragic Queen. She was a mother and a wife. She was a woman caught up in a situation nobody could have dreamed of. The year is 1793 and France has been a republic for the last four months. This is the story of her last 72 days of life after the Revolution swept away the royal family and kings. New documents reveal that her trial was rigged. *Recommended for a history class, this docu-drama can be divided into section easy to show in a classroom.* 10. Frank Lloyd Wright - YouTube (59:15) Frank Lloyd Wright was the greatest architect in America. He redefined architecture and became famous in the world all over. However, his genius is oftentimes buried under the scandals of his life. Jonathan Adams, an architect from Wales is going to travel around America to discover more about Frank Lloyd Wright. He wants to know the man and wishes to put him back in his place. What will Jonathan discover about Frank Lloyd Wright? Tune into this episode to find out more. *HIGHLY recommended for a history and house building class.*
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author
The reviews I do are my opinion and my opinion only. My opinions should always be taken with a grain of salt. I just want to help teachers out selecting documentaries. Worksheets
My Teachers Pay Teachers Store! Worksheets available as a Word Document.
Lulu Store
I am also on Lulu! If you're interested in genealogy I have several books available!
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
Privacy Policy
HistoryDocTube will not collect any personal information and will not sell any personal information to a third party. We will not request any personal information.
The purpose of this blog is to share information on what can be used in a classroom, private school, or home school setting as well as serve as a portfolio of my personal and professional work. The reviews are my opinions and should be treated as such. I just want to provide a tool for teachers to select documentaries for their classrooms. |