A story is a great way to open our hearts and minds to a world larger than our own. I use the power of a story and my family's love of TV to help our family create common experiences and thoughtful discussions. I call it Movie Box Monday.

I did some research into powerful, true stories of our world and wrote each documentary title on a single slip of paper. I folded the paper so that the names of each movie can not be seen. Each Monday, a member of my family draws out a documentary name, and we all pile on the couch to watch and learn.

Would my family rather watch fail videos or sports? Sure. Is there occasional groaning when a title name does not sound all that appealing? Sure. But, the time spent together and the richness of a well-told story draws my family in for an evening of intentional (and enjoyable) learning.

Click below for a list of documentaries appropriate for families with school-aged kids based on a larger list from Common Sense Media. Use my list to create your own Movie Box Monday or scroll through the extensive list on the CSM website.

Enjoy!