Evolution explainer videos for kids

July 1, 2020 11:24 AM

I just gave my six-year-old a very underwhelming answer to his "Where did people come from?" question. We love watching science videos on Youtube. What are some good videos that explain evolution at a kindergarten-level?
posted by not_the_water to Science & Nature (6 answers total)

I would first explore natural selection since that can be imagined better than thousands of years of hominid changes. Example: UK moths that were dark winged for camo when the trees were covered in dark industrial soot then "changing" to whiter tones as the new camo when the trees were cleaned up with new laws.
posted by Freedomboy at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2020

I haven't found a kindergarten-level evolution video but we have this beautiful book called "Our family: An evolution story" which tells the story all the way back to the first amoeba. You might also look up "Grandmother Fish, a child's first book of evolution."

Also this is a nice 5 minute video by David Attenborough about the tree of life, though it might be a bit slow/dark for your kid.

My kid loves this story and loves to talk about the "first amoeba" along with the "Big Boom."
posted by hungrytiger at 12:29 PM on July 1, 2020

Do you have access to BrainPop (say through a school or library)? Relatedly, BrainPop Jr has an open access video on "classifying animals."
posted by oceano at 1:50 PM on July 1, 2020

I don't know of any good videos at that age level, but I'd be happy to video chat with you and your kiddo to talk about human evolution (I am a biological anthropologist and regularly teach Introduction to Human Evolution, and also do a lot of outreach to school kids)!
posted by ChuraChura at 4:01 PM on July 1, 2020 [2 favorites]

This is a cute little video and song about evolution that captures the main idea (and is short!)
posted by forza at 4:17 PM on July 1, 2020

The book I Used to Be a Fish has been a big hit at our house. I haven't found any good videos and will be watching this with interest.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 4:17 PM on July 1, 2020