Netflix isn’t just a platform to pass your time anymore. Oh no, it’s so much more than that! Indeed, you can find the best educational shows on Netflix to help your kids learn in the most fun way possible! Never thought of it that way? Well, you can start now!
Not only can you find drama, romance, and adventure, but also educational stuff that broadens the horizons of young and adult minds alike. In fact, now you and your kids can learn as you sit on the couch, getting ready to devour some good food.
Better yet, you could homeschool your child with educational shows. And if your child is a fan of visuals, kudos to them! Of course, it’s not easy to choose what to watch when there’s a plethora of options at your fingertips. So, check out the list below and thank us later!
Best Educational Netflix Shows for Elementary School
Contrary to public belief, we think this age is where you either make it or break it. So, when you learn the ropes in the early grades, say first to sixth, you know you’re in for a bright future. And so, we decided to assist you in that journey.
1. Ada Twist, Scientist (2021)
- Release Date: September 28, 2021
- Total Seasons: 2
- Total Episodes: 12
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Ada is not like most children. She wants to know everything and will stop at nothing to get the truth- even as she leaves chaos, water, steam, and sometimes fire in her wake. Herein, a group of three tiny scientist, engineer, and an architect teach us the importance of asking, “Why?”
2. Brainchild (2018)
- Release Date: November 2, 2018
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 13
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Here’s another one for the inquisitive tots! So when you run out of answers to give to your brainchild, here’s what you need to show them! Straight from the science Olympus, this show is just what your child needs.
3. Charlie’s Colorforms City (2019)
- Release Date: March 22, 2019
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 34
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Enough about science. Let’s enter the world of colours, shapes, and all kinds of visuals your artsy child loves so much! Let your little one help Charlie on his global adventure and discover all the things he can’t in school!
4. Disney Nature: Oceans (2010)
As the name suggests, the documentary is all about mysterious creatures under the depths of deep waters. So, if your kid is a fan of oceans or anything that lives within, showing them this prodigy might be the greatest idea you’d ever have!
5. Izzy’s Koala World (2020)
What do you do when you see an injured koala? Of course, you pick it, nurse it back to health while giving fuzzy cuddles and finding out every little detail about him. Join Izzy and her mom in their mission to rescue the bundle of cuteness!
6. Learning Songs by Little Baby Bum (2017)
Who said learning language, communication, and new vocabularies always has to be boring? Not anymore. From “Baby Shark” to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” this show has got it all, including a bucketload of recreational fun!
7. The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017)
- Release Date: September 29, 2017
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 30
- IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Learn science from someone who actually knows it. You know who we’re talking about… Ms. Fizzle! The weather, gardening, and all about the human body, there’s so much to learn! So take a backseat and make learning easier for your kid!
8. Ask the StoryBots (2016)
- Release Date: August 12, 2016
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 22
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Tiny inhabitants of the computers come out to play. Here, the parents can take a breather by letting the bots answer every silly question their ever-curious child raises. No more telling why they brush their teeth or catch a cold- the Emmy-award-winning show has got everything covered!
9. “The Cat and the Hat Knows a Lot About That!” (2019)
- Release Date: March 22, 2019
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 34
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Dr. Seuss’s feline knows more than you could, and while your kids don’t listen to you anyway, you can let the cat speak. There’s so much for your kid to learn- from bird migration to whale communication and the science of creatures residing among the trees.
10. Llama Llama (2018)
This family-based Netflix show holds your kid’s attention with its heartwarming, soft, and intimate interactions amongst the Llama family. The elementary school student, too, develops feelings of connection with his family watching this one.
11. Pocoyo (2019)
- Release Date: March 22, 2019
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 34
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Is your child always up to something new? If so, then they would definitely love Pocoyo because he, too, is one heck of a curious lad. Friendly and fun-loving, his adventures know no limits- in fact, not even outer space travels.
12. Penguin Town (2021)
- Release Date: June 16, 2021
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 8
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
In South Africa, endangered penguins are flocking around, finding mates, raising families, and intermingling with the townies. Watch how they interact, live, and make the locals around them happier than they’ve ever been!
13. Over the Moon (2020)
This beautifully crafted film is about a young Chinese girl on a mission she is not ready to give up just yet. When her mother dies, she rockets to the moon to visit its goddess, whom her mother always talked about.
14. Emily’s Wonder Lab (2020)
- Release Date: August 25, 2020
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 10
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
This TV show is for all audiences, but especially for the extra smart kids. Emily Calandrelli, the science-loving host, executes in-house experiments, steam-fun demonstrations, and activities that can blow the little minds away!
15. The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018)
- Release Date: July 13, 2018
- Total Seasons: 4
- Total Episodes: 47
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Want to tame a crying child? Here’s a medicine for laughter! Take our word for it; it’s not just the 1st or 2nd grader that would be laughing alone. These classics are prone to make anyone with a sour mood turn sweet.
16. A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)
- Release Date: January 13, 2017
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 27
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
The tragic story begins with three orphans setting out to discover the reason for their parent’s sudden death while hiding from their evil guardian after their inheritance. Undoubtedly, the 3rd and 4th graders at your house will come to love it even before they’re halfway through it.
Best Educational Netflix Shows for Middle School
These are the essential must-watch movies your kid should see before they turn thirteen. Notice: This is a tweenager prerequisite for every kid entering their academic puberty.
17. Our Great National Parks (2022)
- Release Date: April 13, 2022
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 5
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Ex-president, Barack Obama narrates this docuseries where he highlights a few of the most breathtaking national parks on the planet. Kids, tweens, teens, and adults- this one is for all ages.
18. A Life on Our Planet (2020)
The documentary opens with the notable naturalist, David Attenborough, imploring the world’s fragile, diminishing ecosystems and the species living within them. In here, the planet’s biodiversity is explained to the younglings in a gentle and trusted voice.
19. Finding ‘Ohana (2017)
Two New York City siblings rediscover their Hawaiian roots while spending the summer on Oahu. This title is a great watch for those who are looking for a strong representation of Hawaiian values.
20. Alien Worlds (2020)
- Release Date: December 2, 2020
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 4
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
A blend of fiction and facts, this series broadens young minds to master the formal operational stage and imagine an alien life on exoplanets.
21. Justin Time (2011)
- Release Date: September 22, 2011
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 40
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
In Justin’s dreams, he and his imaginary pals Olive and Squidgy explore the natural environment and the traditions of different people as they make their way across the globe.
22. Blue Miracle (2021)
- Release Date: May 27, 2021
- Total Runtime: 1h 35m
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Based on a true story, Blue Miracle revolves around a cause to save an orphanage by besting a fishing competition. And so, a captain, a guardian, and his kid partners embark on their venture with a washed-up boat and a minute chance to win.
23. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
- Release Date: March 1, 2019
- Total Runtime: 1h 53m
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
A real-life story about the boy who a windmill and saved his entire village at the age of thirteen, this movie is an uplifting story of William Kamkwamba that teaches kids the art of never giving up.
24. Carmen Sandiego (2019)
- Release Date: January 18, 2019
- Total Seasons: 4
- Total Episodes: 32
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
We always deem stealing as evil. But Carmen offers a new lens to see the world by being a legendary thief whose only intentions are to end evil. Watch this cartoon series and take a world tour with the “good” thief to explore the yin, yangs, and sometimes a mixture of the lot.
25. Chasing Coral (2017)
- Release Date: July 14, 2017
- Total Runtime: 1h 33m
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
The coral reef is disappearing. What do you do? Of course, you take your best photographers, divers, and scientists to take a scuba-dive and document the underwater happenings to show it to the world! Watch how that happens!
26. Cutest Animals (2016)
- Release Date: June 1, 2016
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 12
- IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Bouncy, fluffy, adorable, weird, tall, small, stuffy, say it and this Netflix TV includes that kind of animal. So now, have your kids turn to the TV for an educational program and discover how these cutest animals survive out in the open.
27. I am Kalam (2011)
- Release Date: August 5, 2011
- Total Runtime: 1h 28m
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
With the power to socially awaken you, this movie triggers one into thinking about what they need to do with their lives. Watching a student like themselves change his situation and come out on top from just being a boy living in the slums of Dehli- your kid can go places after streaming this one.
28. Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History (2019)
- Release Date: March 22, 2019
- Total Runtime: 1h 2m
- IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Some touchy stories need to be sung in a gentle and sometimes comical manner- and no one could’ve done it better than Kevin Hart! His quirky, sassy narration gets the black heroes’ unsung history across beautifully. Definitely a must-watch for the little ones!
29. Life in Color (2021)
- Release Date: April 22, 2021
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 3
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
The docuseries unravel an unseen world where colours decide the course of survival. Stunningly beautiful, this docuseries explores nature from a fresh perspective as animals use colour to survive and thrive in the wild.
30. The Mars Generation (2019)
- Release Date: March 22, 2019
- Total Runtime: 1h 37m
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
This outer space flix is all about travelling to Mars and NASA’s dream of space camping. In this documentary, a bunch of teenagers train to one day become the astronauts and engineers of the future to make the said mission a success.
31. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
We know it’s weird to make a best friend out of an octopus, but nobody said it was impossible. So follow along with Craig Foster, the filmmaker, in the kelp forest of South Africa in his surreal year-long mission to befriend the wild specie.
32. Mystery Lab (2020)
- Release Date: August 4, 2020
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 8
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
What happens in the mystery lab stays in the mystery lab, said no one ever! This lab is all about sharing its shenanigans in the face of history, science, marvels, and of course, mysteries. Tag along with Felipe Castanhari and his lab buddies in their many adventures!
33. Tiny Creatures (2020)
- Release Date: August 7, 2020
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 8
- IMDb Rating: 5.0/10
You know what they say, don’t judge a creature by its frame; in this show, you’ll know just why. Discover how these small animals survive in the dramatic nature in different stories of their inconspicuous worlds.
34. Human: The World Within (2021)
- Release Date: May 5, 2021
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 6
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
There’s science in everything, including our human body. So, what’s the science behind our tears, heart, eyes, blood, brain? This show contains captivating stories, illuminating docuseries about the human body’s incredible workings.
Best Educational Netflix Shows for High School
Here are some of the older kids’ movies that we hand-picked to make sure your online learning experiences are not only maximized but also made more fun.
35. Abstract (2017)
- Release Date: January 21, 2017
- Total Seasons: 2
- Total Episodes: 14
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Abstract is for the creative minds, the artists, the designers, and the visualizers. It inspires high schoolers with documentaries of renowned names like Paula Scher, Platon, Tinker Hatfield, Christoph Niemann, Es Devlin, and more.
36. Bill Nye Saves the World (2017)
- Release Date: April 21, 2017
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 25
- IMDb Rating: 3.7/10
Gone are the days when teenagers thought about love and relationships. Instead, the topics to fantasize about today are global warming, space travel, evolution, science, technology, and well, saving the world. Lucky for you, Bill here in his wacky talky show talks about just that.
37. Connected (2020)
- Release Date: August 2, 2020
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 6
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
“We think we understand a lot, but there are so many questions still open,” says Latif Nasser, a science journalist, in his show. It’s true because did you know the clouds in the sky are linked with the stored data on your phone, just like how math is with your favourite song and the Sahara Desert’s dust with the Amazon rainforest? Turns out, we’re all connected- us, the world, the universe!
38. Black Holes | The Edge of All We Know (2021)
- Release Date: May 31, 2021
- Total Runtime: 1h 39m
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
To see what was previously unseeable and unfathomable, join the group of the best scientists. Lay your inquisitive eyes on the first-ever picture of the black hole and break through the limits of the knowledge you think you have of the universe.
39. Dangerous Animals (2018)
- Release Date: August 10, 2018
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 12
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Enough of the cuteness; here is some adult stuff. Want to know the 72 most deadly animals on the planet? We warn you, this one’s not for the faint of heart.
40. Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
- Release Date: September 16, 2020
- Total Runtime: 2h 59m
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
The 1986 Space Shuttle Challenge, primarily meant to be a revolutionary success, ended in a disaster- or up in flames, to be precise. A tragedy for the crew members’ families especially, the aftermath resulted in grief, shame, and blame.
41. Explained (2018)
- Release Date: May 23, 2018
- Total Seasons: 3
- Total Episodes: 44
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
The show does what it says- explain. From racial wealth gap to water crises, that too in under 20 minutes in a very simple way. Don’t think it’s possible? See it for yourself!
42. High Score (2019)
- Release Date: August 19, 2019
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 6
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Here’s something for the gaming freaks! This docuseries goes back to the history of classic video games, takes a peek into their prospect, and introduces you to the innovators who conjured up those individual dimensions and characters.
43. Human Nature (2020)
- Release Date: March 12, 2020
- Total Runtime: 1h 35m
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
When the lines between morality and science blur, will there be anything left in the name of humanity? Human Nature is a film documentary explaining the implications of a genetic modification, AKA CRISPR, gone bad.
44. Inside Bill’s Brain (2019)
- Release Date: September 20, 2019
- Total Seasons: 1
- Total Episodes: 3
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Wouldn’t you want to know what goes on in the mind of the world’s renowned billionaire, who might just be the most powerful person on the planet? Listen to him open up about his influencers and insatiable pursuit for more.
45. The Mind, Explained (2019)
- Release Date: September 12, 2019
- Total Seasons: 2
- Total Episodes: 10
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
What happens when you’re dreaming? Why can’t you just focus? Why do you have those anxiety attacks? What’s going on in your head? The title speaks for itself, so watch the show on Netflix to get the answers you’ve been after in just two seasons.
46. Our Planet (2019)
Ever wondered about how human actions could be impacting living beings other than themselves? This show wakes us up by telling us that climate change is indeed real. As we see, we realize how severely we’re ruining the planet’s natural beauty every day in so many ways.
47. The Social Dilemma (2020)
Do you know you’re under influence right now? Do you know someone’s trying to control you as we speak? Did you know the social networking web might just be the biggest manipulator out there? Follow tech experts in this documentary-drama to know more.
48. 100 Humans (2020)
To be human is a diverse thing. We say that because there’s so much to explore; age, happiness, sex and more. Watch a hundred strangers seek these aspects in different playful experiments.
49. You vs. Wild (2019)
The host, Bear Grylls, putting his life on the line, gives the young blood a show they’ve all been thirsting after. In it, you decide the course of action; in that moment of time, you decide Grylls’s fate and make real-time decisions. In this interactive show, it’s all up to you!
50. Becoming (2020)
We think this one should be a pre-requisite for this generation as they enter their preteens. In times when everyone wants to make it big, but nobody wants to work for it. Becoming is a show that emphasizes the need for it by informing about it through the vision of Michelle Obama.
The Best Educational Shows on Netflix: FAQs
Have questions? We know you do. Below are some of the most frequent concerns answered for you- see if they help.
Some of the best educational shows you can watch on Netflix are Emily’s Wonder Lab, Becoming, Blue Miracle, Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History, and many other shows you’ll find in this article.
Yes, it does. Netflix has shown for everyone- kids, tweenagers, teenagers, new adults, adults, and old. You just have to search for the right ones. Lucky for you, we’ve listed all the best ones in this article.
To become smarter outside classrooms and the boring lectures, you can watch educational shows on Netflix. They can be in the face of documentaries, docuseries, tv shows, movies, or cartoons.
A few of the educational shows on Netflix for adults are Abstract, Bill Nye Saves the World, Connected, Dangerous Animals, Explained, High Scores, Human Nature, and many others listed above.
It’s a Wrap!
So these were some of the best educational shows on Netflix for adults and babies. Let us know in the comments which one you are watching and your thoughts on it. If you see the show is unavailable, try a free VPN to change location for Netflix, and you’ll be able to watch it without a hassle!