“Ken Burns in the Classroom,” from PBS, presents both clips and full lengths of Ken Burns' documentary films, along with documents, images, and lesson plans. Search by era or film, and find resources by keyword or theme. Share these resources with students in 5-7 minute video clips and via Google Classroom, or, of course, they can choose to watch the full length documentaries.

The films and film clips are for the general public, and the lesson plans, while aimed at middle and high school classes, can be adapted for our adult learners.

These full length films will be available until June 30th:

  • The Civil War
  • College Behind Bars
  • The Dust Bowl
  • Jazz
  • The National Parks
  • The Roosevelts
  • The War

Film clips are available from the above list and from the following Ken Burns documentaries:

  • Baseball
  • The Central Park Five
  • Country Music
  • East Lake Meadows
  • The Gene: an Intimate History
  • Jackie Robinson
  • Lewis & Clark
  • Prohibition
  • The Vietnam War
  • The West

This website also connects to another site curated by Ken Burns: UNUM, "a digital destination designed to provide historical context to today’s issues and spark conversation... it highlights themes throughout American history to surface new, unexpected connections."

Topic Area: 
ABE/Adult Education
Civics Education
Distance Learning
ELA
Science
Social Studies
Media Type: 
Webinar
Website
Resource Type: 
Resource
PD Center: 

ELA

SABES English Language Arts Curriculum & Instruction PD Center
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