You learn something new every day. This is especially true if you watch TED-Ed lessons, which use animation to bring to life topics as varied as “Insults by Shakespeare” and “Pizza Physics.” As a holiday gift, we’re bringing you a few of the TED-Ed’s team’s favorite talks of the year. Here, a second look at the lesson How does math guide our ships at sea? from George Christoph.

This video is a triple threat! A fascinating lesson (math with a twist), gorgeous animation and music that really taps into your pathos. Combined, the three aspects make for a truly inspiring video. Watch, and you will want to go out on an adventure!

A few more year-end TED-Ed picks:

Poet Jane Hirshfield talks through The Art of the Metaphor >>

Trevor Maber helps us Rethink thinking >>

Bill Nye sends a sundial to Mars >>

Browse all the great video lessons on TED-Ed >>