By now, you probably know about TED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing important ideas through brief, impactful talks. TED Talks can be amazing classroom resources that spark meaningful conversations. (Their TED-Ed videos are especially valuable, since they include complete lesson plans for teachers.) We’ve rounded up some of our favorite TED Talks for kids and teens on topics they’ll really enjoy. You’ll find options here for every age and interest!
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STEM TED Talks for Kids and Teens
These videos include TED Talks students can learn from, in ways that will truly engage them. See hands-on science in action, and explore topics in a way kids can easily understand.
The Life Cycle of a Plastic Bottle
Follow the life cycles of three different bottles to learn how plastics affect the environment. (Emma Bryce)
The Science of Skin Color
How did our skin develop so many different hues? Find out in this STEM TED Talk for kids. (Angela Koine Flynn)
How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain
Listening to music engages multiple parts of the brain. And when you play an instrument, you get a full-body brain workout! (Anita Collins)
The Simple Power of Hand-Washing
Worldwide, 6.6 million children don’t make it to their 5th birthday. But the simplest of solutions may reverse the trend—a bar of soap. (Myriam Sidibe)
Science Is for Everyone (Kids Included)
A neuroscientist shares the parallels between science and play with the help of 25 elementary-age children. (Beau Lotto and Amy O’Toole)
History of the World According to Cats
Long ago, wild cats were fierce hunters. Over the centuries, they’ve become the house pets we now know and love. Learn how our furry friends came to be in this fun TED Talk. (Eva-Maria Geigl)
What Is Dyslexia?
There’s probably at least one student in your classroom with dyslexia. Learn how it affects learning and why we should celebrate neurodiversity. (Kelli Sandman-Hurley)
Faster Than a Calculator
Watch this engaging mathematician perform three-digit multiplication in his head faster than his helpers using a calculator can! (Arthur Benjamin)
Squishy Circuits
Kids will love learning how to create circuits using two different kinds of homemade play dough. Don’t be surprised when they want to try it for themselves. (AnnMarie Thomas)
Pancreatic Cancer Test From a Teenager
Jack developed an inexpensive, effective, and non-invasive test for pancreatic cancer. Oh, and he did it all before his 16th birthday! (Jack Andraka)
The Lovable (and Lethal) Sea Lion
Go for a swim with one of the ocean’s coolest creatures, the sea lion. They can hunt for up to 30 hours at a time and reach speeds of 18 mph! (Claire Simeone)
12-Year-Old App Developer
“Where do you go to find out how to make an app?” Thomas was 12 when he taught himself to build apps, and now he wants to inspire other kids to do the same. (Thomas Suarez)
Your Brain on Video Games
Good news for kids! One neuroscientist believes that playing video games in “reasonable doses” can actually have lots of positive effects on our brains. (Daphne Bavelier)
How I Harnessed the Wind
At age 14, a Malawian boy sought a way to help his village combat famine. Ultimately, he built a wind turbine entirely out of spare parts and scrapyard materials. (William Kamkwamba)
An Even Better Way To Tie Your Shoe Lace
It turns out we all might be tying our shoes the wrong way! Learn how to tie a quicker knot from this bright teen. (Hanna Michaelis)
How To Use a Paper Towel
Learn the correct way to use a paper towel in this interesting TED Talk. Spoiler alert: We’re doing it wrong and creating a lot of waste in the process. (Joe Smith)
Is Invisibility Possible?
Find out how scientists are creating real-life invisibility cloaks in this magical TED Talk for kids. (Max G. Levy)
History and Culture TED Talks
Explore topics from history and the arts and make connections with people around the world. These make great TED Talks for middle schoolers and high school kids too.
The Exiled Princess
Would you have guessed that the world’s first-known author was a woman? Find out about her life and writings, dating back 4,300 years. (Soraya Field Fiorio)
How To See More and Care Less
Artist Georgia O’Keeffe was inspired by the shapes and rhythms of nature. Her unique way of looking at the world gave rise to American modernism. (Iseult Gillespie)
Ugly History: Witch Hunts
Some parts of our history are less than savory, including centuries of witch hunts. Take a closer look at this difficult chapter of our past and how it came to be. (Brian A. Pavlac)
How Dictators Rise to Power
Is there such a thing as a benevolent dictator? Find out why the term contradicts itself in this TED Talk that doubles as a cautionary tale. (Stephanie Honchell Smith)
Why Every World Map Is Wrong
It’s simply impossible to make a map of the spherical world that’s accurate. So why do we keep using them, and how can we change them to shift our point of view? (Kayla Wolf)
The Paradox of Poverty
Poverty is a trap that frequently pulls people back down, no matter how hard they try. Why should that be, and how can we overcome it? (Ann-Helén Bay)
The Magic of Pixar
Go behind the scenes with Pixar’s director of photography to see what happens when science and art collide to create incredible three-dimensional worlds. (Danielle Feinberg)
Why Videos Go Viral
Only a tiny percentage of online videos go viral. But when they do, they become part of a cultural phenomenon that fascinates and mystifies us. Here’s how it happens. (Kevin Allocca)
3 Ways To Speak English
What does it mean to be “articulate” in today’s society? Explore one person’s experience navigating three distinct English dialects at home, at school, and with friends. (Jamila Lyiscott)
What Gives a Dollar Bill Its Value?
Ever wonder how inflation works or what determines the value of a buck? Join the workers of the Federal Reserve to find out. (Doug Levison)
In the Internet Age, Dance Evolves
The LXD believes that dance can have a transformative effect. Their stunning street dance performance makes for a TED Talk video kids and teens will want to watch on repeat.
Why a Good Book Is a Secret Door
A popular children’s writer shares the power of imagination in this playful talk. He introduces us to Nico, an imaginative child who brings the message to life. (Mac Barnett)
A Teen Just Trying To Figure It Out
One teen noticed that women, and particularly young girls, are often misrepresented in popular media. Find out what she did about it in this fantastic TED Talk for middle schoolers and other teens. (Tavi Gevinson)
Inspirational TED Talks for Kids and Teens
Encourage students to ask more questions and seek out the best the world has to offer with these TED Talks.
What Makes a Hero?
What trials unite Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins, and more of literature’s most interesting heroes? And what do ordinary people have in common with these literary heroes? (Matthew Winkler)
How Boredom Can Lead to Your Most Brilliant Ideas
Believe it or not, boredom can actually result in your most creative accomplishments. When your body is on autopilot, your brain gets busy! (Manoush Zomorodi)
The Danger of Silence
“Read critically. Write consciously. Speak clearly. Tell your truth.” Explore the sobering relationship between silence and discrimination. (Clint Smith)
How To Start a Movement
How do movements gain traction? In less than three minutes, journey step-by-step through a movement forming in real time. (Derek Sivers)
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Success and IQ are not as interconnected as many might think. This TED Talk reinforces the importance of building grit in ourselves and our students. (Angela Lee Duckworth)
Why I Love a Country That Betrayed Me
Explore patriotism and social justice with this engaging TED Talk that shows you can question a government and still believe in it. (George Takei)
Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator
This relatable TED Talk offers hilarious insight into the mind of a procrastinator. Kids will find the “instant gratification monkey” both funny and all too familiar. (Tim Urban)
The Power of Introverts
The world seems to be made for extroverts, but introverts have power too. Find out why solitude matters, and how it contributes to creativity and leadership. (Susan Cain)
How Bullying Changes Your Life
Both teachers and students will benefit from this TED Talk. It encourages kids who are being bullied to ask for help—and adults to help them. (Fleur Berden)
Don’t Eat the Marshmallow
Students will get a laugh out of this famous experiment about self-discipline, but they’ll learn a lot too. (Joachim de Posada)
Why Lunch Ladies Are Heroes
This meaningful talk illustrates the power of a simple thank-you, and encourages us to celebrate our cafeteria staff and the important work they do. (Jarrett J. Krosoczka)
The Danger of a Single Story
Without context, individual stories can offer harmful understandings of others based on a single narrative or experience. (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
Everyday Leadership
Leadership isn’t about changing the world, but about changing each other’s understanding of the world. (Drew Dudley)
Lacking Motivation? Watch This.
There isn’t a student in your classroom who couldn’t use some tips on how to get motivated when they just don’t feel like it!
What are your favorite TED Talks for kids and teens? Come share in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
