PBS NOVA

Finding truly engaging science content for teens that goes beyond flashy demos into real inquiry can be tricky. PBS’s NOVA documentaries and digital extras stand out as consistently high‑quality, story‑driven science that pairs beautifully with high school courses. Created by journalists, scientists, and filmmakers, NOVA episodes explore everything from physics to medicine with careful explanations and striking visuals. We love using episodes as “lab‑day” anchors, then following kids’ questions into readings or simple experiments. NOVA is ideal for middle and high school learners who like big ideas and narrative rather than textbook‑style lectures. Some topics can feel dense or advanced, so younger kids may need more scaffolding, but families can always preview and choose. Pro tip: build a weekly “NOVA night” into your schedule, let your teen pick the episode, and have them summarize the main question and findings afterward in a science notebook.