Wars & Military YouTube Channels for Kids

I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but History is not my favorite subject. It never was in school and I don’t like to teach it. I find it all very hard to remember and keep the dates straight. However, my husband loves it and so does our oldest. 

Our oldest will spend hours watching movies and videos about history. His favorite historical aspect to study is World War I and World War II. He can literally talk about it for hours. He loves the planes, the vehicles they drove, the weapons and ammunition – all of it.

Even though I don’t enjoy history, I have learned to appreciate it more now that we homeschool. I still find it hard to remember all the dates and keep things straight, but I definitely appreciate how the wars have shaped our nation and our freedom.

Although cute and entertaining, don’t let the animated videos fool you. Because of the subject matter, I would not recommend most of these videos for younger children. We’ll have some more history YouTube channels and videos for them, but the military and wars videos, I wouldn’t go there.

Whether you have a history buff that loves learning about the different wars and military or you want to increase their interest, these YouTube channels and videos are a great place to start.

NOTE: YouTube can be a wonderful tool when used correctly. We encourage parents to review channels first before your child views it. We do not make any claims to know what is appropriate for your child(ren), that is totally your call. Please review these channels to make sure they align with your homeschooling goals and values.

Revolutionary & Civil War YouTube Videos

Free School – This is a video by Free School solely based on the Revolutionary War.

American Civil War by Cross Seven – This video can be watched by anyone, but also accompanies Claritas cycle 4 week 3. 

American Revolution for Kids – A kid-friendly video all about facts surrounding the American Revolution by Hey! Guess What.

Liberty Kids: The Boston Tea Party – My kids love these videos. We have probably watched them all at least twice. This is their pilot episode and a great lead-in to the American Revolutionary War.

Liberty Kids: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World – Referring to the first shot at the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775, this video shares how the Revolutionary War started.

“A Brief History of America’s Independence: Part 1” (Revolutionary War) – This short video by 321 Learning, is done with a voiceover while you watch quick drawings appear to illustrate. It is such a fun video. And don’t forget to watch Part 2!

The American Revolution – This animated lesson for kids is a classic from Schoolhouse Rock. Safe to say, kids will have fun watching and humming along to this one!

World War I & II YouTube Videos

How did World War I Start? – “Over 17 million people were killed in the First World War and the impact it had on the old empires and the politics of the world was enormous, but what were the causes of WW1 and how did it start?” By KidsKonnect

World War I Summary & Facts – Get the basic facts of World War I in this video. When it started, how long it lasted, who was involved, how many died and more. By KidsKonnect

HOW World War I Started: Crash Course World History 209 – Crash Course dives into the series of complicated events that led to the start of World War I. Continue the discussion here in the second episode.

World War I – summary of the “Great War” – “Retrace on a map a summary of the chain of events of WWI, the so-called “Great War”. This video summarises the origins, course and consequences of this war.” By Geo History

World War II – summary of the deadliest conflict in history – By retracing the origins on a map, the course and even consequences, Geo History summarizes the main stages of World War II, the deadliest war in history.

WWII FOR KIDS – A Kid Explains History Ep 1 – This is a video appropriate for all ages. Taught from the perspective of a young child, Mr. Q, he shares what he’s learned about history just like he’s talking with friends.

World War II Explained in 5 Questions – This video is from Encyclopedia Britannica and explores how the events unfolded that led to World War II.

D-Day History For Kids – As the start to World War II, kids can watch to find out how D-Day actually went down. “Learn about the plans leading up to D-Day and its importance as one of the defining battles of World War 2.” By Bedtime History

World War II Facts for Kids – Facts about the Second World War taught in a fun, kid-friendly way by Hey! Guess What. They also have a What is D-Day lesson for kids.

You might also enjoy: 26 Movies for Kids Based on Wars and the Military

YouTube Videos on Other Wars

Kalinga War – MocomiKids shares interesting facts about the Kalinga War, which “is the most famous war fought between the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka the Great and the State of Kalinga.”

French & Indian War for Kids – This is basic, but it goes through the ideas behind and leading up to the French & Indian War with fun illustrations. By History Illustrated

The Vietnam War – We love PragerU in our house. This video walks you through the reasons why America fought in the Vietnam War, and how and why they withdrew in defeat.

America’s Second War of Independence – Another PragerU video, this one covers the War of 1812.

YouTube Channels for Upper Grades

BBC – This is definitely a channel for older kids and I would still preview it, but if they’re interested in World War I, BBC has a ton of videos!

Simple History – They have a ton of great playlists for various wars. Check these out! The Vietnam War (1954 – 1975), Interwar Period (1918 – 1939), Factions of World War I, Factions of World War II, WWI & WWII Behemoths, Strange Stories of World War I & II, Weapons Collection.

Feature History – I love that they cover some of the minor or lesser-known wars on this channel. Ever heard of the Emu War? It’s there! They also have a fun Evolution of Military 4×4’s video kids would love. This channel has some videos I wouldn’t let even my older kids watch, so be careful to preview or choose for your child.

History Channel – While I believe they follow a somewhat liberal agenda, their videos and episodes on military and wars are interesting. I would also say these are more for high school than middle school.

If video streaming is your thing, check out these other subject-related posts for videos and YouTube Channels:

Educational Movies & Shows for Individual Subjects:

• 29 Educational Science Movies & Shows for Kids
• 45 Movies & Shows for Kids Based on History
• 20 Educational Geography Shows & Movies for Kids
• 28 Kid-Friendly Shows & Movies All About Engineering
• 13 Movies & Shows for Kids All About Mathematics
• 10 YouTube Geography Channels Kids Will Love
• YouTube Channels for Homeschoolers

Find more homeschool resources on my Pinterest boards!

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Annette Breedlove

Annette has been married to her husband and best friend since 2003. Together they are raising their six children to follow the Lord’s will, no matter what. Annette longs for the day when she will meet her angel babies who have entered heaven before her. She enjoys creating UNIT STUDIES and FREE PRINTABLES for homeschool families. You can follow her crazy life at In All You Do where she blogs about homeschooling, homemaking and marriage while trying to maintain her sanity. She is also the owner of Thrifty Homeschoolers where she shares her tips on homeschooling without breaking the bank.