Showing a documentary film in the classroom without preparation for follow-up by the teacher is never a good idea. A documentary film, no matter how good, cannot take the place of a teacher. Films cannot ask questions or stimulate discussion. Their primary purpose is to clarify and enhance a teacher's teaching on a particular area of study. Documentary videos are a tool. How effective they are as a tool depends on the teacher and the film's ability to communicate its message. A video needs to be relevant, well made and able to make a lasting impression on students. Care must be taken, therefore, to select a good video that ties in with the specific lesson plan. This article provides a list of documentary films that could prove useful in stimulating thought provoking discussion in high school classrooms on subjects such as Human Rights, introduce elementary students to the solar system, or stimulate artistic expression in grades 2-5.