PBS LearningMedia’s
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Youth Media Challenge
Share your understanding of liberty and democracy with classrooms around the country! Drawing on the themes of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a documentary film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, premiering on PBS on November 16, 2025, PBS LearningMedia’s THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Youth Media Challenge invites students to explore Revolutionary ideals—such as liberty, self-governance, and democracy—through media-making.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The legacy and ideals of the Revolutionary era have had a lasting impact on our nation today. PBS LearningMedia invites you to reflect on what you have learned about this era and from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION about the ways people at the time thought about individual and collective independence, democracy, and liberty. You will then create an audio essay, podcast, mini-documentary, short film, photo essay, or infographic with your response to one of the First Person or Show What You Know prompts.
Curricular Connection
First Person
Responding to one of the following questions, create an audio essay, short film, or photo essay. Please choose only one question to answer.
Show What You Know
Responding to one of the following questions, create a podcast, mini documentary, or infographic. Please choose only one question to answer.
Resources and Support
For Students
How to Submit Your Project
When you are ready to submit your American Revolution Youth Media Challenge Project, click the Submit Project button. Make sure you have your submission code from your teacher.
For Teachers
When your students are ready to submit their American Revolution Youth Media projects, sign up for an account. Once you have signed up, you will get a code to share with your students so they can submit their projects.
More Project Resources
Media Skills for Educators
KQED Teach offers free workshops and self-paced courses on media-making and implementing and assessing student media projects.