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Brande Johnson, Social Studies and Economics Teacher

“I don’t ever have to worry about any kind of bias. They produce excellent documentaries that give the facts, and it allows my students to form their own opinions.”

Brande Johnson, Social Studies and Economics Teacher

Hundreds of short docs produced by award-winning journalists.

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Our short documentaries help students connect past and present. They’re perfect for sparking discussion, building media literacy skills, and making history accessible.

How a 1968 Student Protest Fueled a Chicano Rights Movement
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How a 1968 Student Protest Fueled a Chicano Rights Movement

11 min.
3 class materials
This Emmy-nominated video explores a massive protest by Mexican American high school students that became a milestone in a movement for Chicano rights.
The 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz Was a Catalyst for Indigenous Activism
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The 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz Was a Catalyst for Indigenous Activism

13 min.
2 class materials
American Indian tribes have long used activism in their struggle for justice and the preservation of their lands and culture.
How a 1964 Student Protest Reshaped the Fight Over the Panama Canal
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How a 1964 Student Protest Reshaped the Fight Over the Panama Canal

13 min.
3 class materials
A student protest in 1964 exposed a deeper struggle over sovereignty and control of the Panama Canal.
The Price of Oil: Lessons From a 1970s Energy Crisis
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The Price of Oil: Lessons From a 1970s Energy Crisis

10 min.
2 class materials
When oil shortages disrupted daily life in the 1970s, Americans were forced to rethink consumption, and the crisis set in motion decisions that continue to shape energy policy today.
The 2008 Financial Crisis Explained: Housing Bubble to Bailout
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The 2008 Financial Crisis Explained: Housing Bubble to Bailout

10 min.
2 class materials
Risky loans, regulatory gaps, and Wall Street practices fueled the 2008 financial crisis and led to the Great Recession.
How Tinker v. Des Moines Established Students’ Free Speech Rights
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How Tinker v. Des Moines Established Students’ Free Speech Rights

7 min.
3 class materials
A silent protest led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that defined students’ free speech rights.
Book Bans, Student Rights and a Fractured Supreme Court Ruling
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Book Bans, Student Rights and a Fractured Supreme Court Ruling

7 min.
2 class materials
Island Trees v. Pico tested student rights, free expression and the limits of school boards.
Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.
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Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

11 min.
2 class materials
Both parties play the redistricting game, redrawing electoral boundaries to lock down power.
Daisy: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House
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Daisy: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

4 min.
2 class materials
Perhaps the most famous political ad of all time, this early television spot ran on air just once, but generated enough media coverage to become a real factor in the 1964 presidential election.
How the Supreme Court Ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges Legalized Same-Sex Marriage
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How the Supreme Court Ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges Legalized Same-Sex Marriage

10 min.
2 class materials
This story revisits the landmark Supreme Court decision from the perspective of the two named participants, Jim Obergefell and Richard Hodges.
Dictators and Civil Wars: The Cold War in Latin America
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Dictators and Civil Wars: The Cold War in Latin America

6 min.
2 class materials
Driven by fears of the rise of communism, the United States adopted a policy of containment, intervening in the politics of countries across the globe. In Latin America, the consequences of those efforts are still unfolding.
How a Cold War Airlift Saved Berlin With Food, Medicine and Chocolate
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How a Cold War Airlift Saved Berlin With Food, Medicine and Chocolate

8 min.
4 class materials
A Soviet blockade around Berlin cut the divided city off from the West. But in 1948 U.S. and British pilots began to fly food, fuel and medicine to the Allied sectors.
Agent Orange: Last Chapter of the Vietnam War
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Agent Orange: Last Chapter of the Vietnam War

9 min.
3 class materials
The use of the defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War continues to cast a dark shadow over both American veterans and Vietnamese citizens.
Putin’s Nuclear Threats Evoke Cold War Tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis
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Putin’s Nuclear Threats Evoke Cold War Tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis

11 min.
4 class materials
Russia’s recent nuclear threats have revived Cold War animosity with roots in the Cuban missile crisis. During ​a standoff in 1962, a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union nearly resulted in a nuclear war.
How the Korean War Changed the Way the U.S. Goes to Battle
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How the Korean War Changed the Way the U.S. Goes to Battle

6 min.
2 class materials
In the Cold War, North Korean Communists invaded South Korea. President Truman’s decision to intervene had consequences that shape the world today.
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Our work brings a greater understanding of current events through the lens of history, fights misinformation and encourages inquiry. We create short documentaries and work with educators to construct classroom resources that help students connect the past with the present. Our materials are developed using primary sources and a rigorous fact-checking process so teachers can evaluate and use them with confidence.

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