How it works

Doc Academy is a platform for accessing free, curriculum-linked resources.

Documentary film helps bring to life some of today’s more complex and challenging social issues. Educators who register through the Doc Academy website can browse, view and download for free, film clips from a curated collection of critically-acclaimed documentary films. The resources are searchable by subject matter theme and classroom activity.

We believe, and teachers confirm, that teaching with documentary films helps teachers meet their students where they are, inviting them to deeply engage in issues they care about. Documentary films also offer an appropriate medium for teachers to weave curricular connections to pressing issues such as climate change, racial justice, immigration and refugee issues, LGBTQ rights, gender equality, moral injury and youth engagement/democracy both within the US and beyond in the wider global context.

Each film has a full complement of standards-aligned lessons, written by and tested with teachers. The plans include a broad range of exercises that develop key literacy skills, starting points for classroom discussion, and imaginative work extensions beyond the classroom.

The lesson plans make it easy to integrate clips into existing lessons or help you create new ones

Use clips and scenes from the films to open up class-wide discussion
As stimulus for roleplay and debate

To prompt writing, speaking and listening exercises
To introduce a new subject, concept or perspective

CLIPS

LESSON PLANS

TOOLKITS

No-one knows what will work best for your class better than you.

The clips and exercises are designed to be used flexibly and interchangeably. Share back with us what worked for you in the Comments section beneath each resource.